Notting hill Carnival
The development of Carnival in the Caribbean, particularly on the island of Trinidad, can be traced to the period of enslavement and the pre-Lenten Mardi Gras masquerade balls held by the French plantation owners. The enslaved Africans were forbidden from participating in these balls and developed their own festival drawing on African dance traditions that satirised the slave owners through masquerade and song. Following the full emancipation of enslaved Africans in 1838 many free men and women took to the street and continued these traditions. The history of Notting Hill Carnival represents the resilience and cultural diversity of the communities of London. Despite the political pressures Notting Hill carnival has grown and thrived and represents a space for challenge and community cohesion.