Notting Hill Carnival live: Dancers, DJs and drummers on 60th anniversary

Summary

The final day of this year's Notting Hill Carnival sees dancers, DJs and drummers fill the streets of west London - take a look at some colourful images of the costumes and floats
The three-day event celebrates Caribbean arts and culture and normally attracts about two million people each year - here's more on the deeper meaning behind the visual spectacle
At 15:00 BST a 72-second moment of reflection was observed for the 72 people who were killed in the Grenfell Tower fire, close to where the Carnival is held
On Sunday, 243 arrests were made, but police described the mood as "overwhelmingly positive and celebratory"
The Notting Hill Carnival "is about expressing yourself with music", say D Riddim Tribe, one of the biggest bands at the festival
"Living for Carnival": three women tell us they made their own costumes
You can enjoy the Carnival vibes by clicking listen live at the top of the page, thanks to our colleagues at Radio 1Xtra

Are you at the carnival?

Live Reporting

Edited by Manish Pandey and Jack Burgess, with Gem O'Reilly and Nora Fakim reporting from Notting Hill

St Lucia's Carnival ambassadors praise 'multitude of culture' in Notting Hillpublished at 16:33 BST
Image source, PA Media
Ezra D'Funmachine and Hollywood HP are Carnival ambassadors for St Lucia in the Caribbean, and they say they're happy to be representing their country.
Speaking to BBC Radio 1Xtra, Ezra points to Notting Hill Carnival's "multitude of culture, the food, the vibes, the energy".
"[It's] not just the [parade] route, but when you go to the street corners and you see the Jamaicans, the Trinidadians."
He adds: "It's just amazing, experiencing that and of course it's being in a big country. [We're] in London right now, that is not little St Lucia."
Brass bands, 'super punch' and my fourth portion of jerk chickenpublished at 16:13 BST
Jacob Phillips
Reporting from Notting Hill Carnival
Image source, Jacob Phillips
We’ve just walked past a scaffolded stage where a full brass band has been playing near Westbourne Grove station.
Nearby, at the Disya Jeneration sound system, there are flags of every colour - Jamaica, Barbados, St Lucia, Grenada, Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago to name a few.
"It’s just the best festival ever," says the man behind us.
It’s just after lunch time at Carnival and I’m on my fourth portion of jerk chicken of the weekend. I counted over 30 on the grill and I’d love to try and eat them all.
There’s a sign offering for people to use a toilet for £5 and "super punch" on sale behind us.
It’s taken me two hours to get signal. Notting Hill Carnival is in full swing.

'The best day ever': People from around the world soak up Notting Hill vibespublished at 15:56 BST
Nora Fakim
Reporting from Notting Hill
Image caption,
Hannah is from London but has Guyanese and Suriname heritage. "I always have the Caribbean in my heart even if I grew up here," she says
Image caption,
Priyanka (left) is from Guyana. She and her friend Aime (right), from Ireland, came for the atmosphere, with Aime describing it as her "best day ever"
Image caption,
Gianni and her daughter Nnusaybah are originally from Trinidad. They are celebrating Trinidad and Tobago’s independence day today. Gianni says her grandmother "used to play in the masquerade bands", and now she's celebrating with her daughter
Image caption,
Kevin and Leslie have been coming to Carnival since "before Elliot (centre) was born". "We’ve come here to represent Grenada, where I’m from," Leslie says
'Carnival links me to my identity,' DJ Jada Pink sayspublished at 15:41 BST
Amy Clarke and Barry Caffrey
BBC London
Image caption,
Jada is performing a set today at Notting Hill Carnival
Jada Pascall, a DJ who performs under the stage name Jada Pink, says Notting Hill Carnival has connected her to her heritage since childhood.
"Being a third-generation Caribbean descendant - my dad's from Dominica, Grenada, and my mum's from Saint Lucia and Guyana - Carnival links me to my identity," she says.
Jada's performing a set today and feels the event gives a chance for Caribbean communities to celebrate their culture openly and proudly, with the carnival's west London home being key.
Quote Message
It wouldn't be the same if it was anywhere else because it wouldn't have that tie to the Windrush."
Jada Pascall

'Soaking up the last days of summer,' says local who attends every yearpublished at 15:31 BST
Image source, Nat Klepacova
Image caption,
Nat Klepacova (bottom left) with her friends at Notting Hill Carnival today
Nat Klepacova, who lives in Notting Hill, has been going to Carnival for many years.
Speaking to the BBC from the festival, she says people today are in a "wonderful mood, soaking up the last days of summer".
"We've got some sun, which is really nice," she says, adding there are "amazing vibes all around".
Asked what draws her back every year, Nat says: "I'm from W11, all the girls here are also from the area."
She says she regularly bumps into people she knows, such as friends, family and teachers from her old school.
Quote Message
It's a chance to celebrate with our community and to celebrate the incredible cultural heritage of Notting Hill."
Nat Klepacova
'Carnival is about expressing yourself with music,' D Riddim Tribe saypublished at 15:15 BST
Manish Pandey
Live editor
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Performers have been playing instruments through the day at Notting Hill Carnival
D Riddim Tribe areone of the biggest bands at Carnival, with over a decade of experience.
Like every year, they have been heavily involved this time as well.
Steven from the group tells me the event is about "expressing yourself... it means freedom", adding it's important to remember the roots of Carnival and that it "started from struggle".
"It's about expressing yourself in terms of the music."
They have been performing Soca music, which is a high-energy Caribbean genre.
"It's the music we usually enjoy when it comes to Carnival," he says.

72-second silence to be held in memory of Grenfell Tower fire victimspublished at 14:55 BST
Image source, PA Media
In a few minutes, at 15:00 BST, there will be a moment of reflection at Notting Hill Carnival.
A 72-second silence will be held to remember the 72 people who were killed in the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017, close to where the Carnival is held.
Met police say 243 arrests on first full day of Notting Hill Carnivalpublished at 14:52 BST
Breaking
Image source, EPA
In an update, the Metropolitan Police says 243 people were arrested on Sunday during the first full day of Notting Hill Carnival.
The previous released figure was 169 arrests.
The Met has broken its figures down as follows:
- 97 arrests on the approaches to Carnival, and the remainder "within the event footprint"
- 61 people were arrested as a result of live facial recognition identifications
There will be a further update from the force this evening.

Dancers in extravagant outfits fill west London's streetspublished at 14:33 BST
Image source, EPA/Shutterstock
Festival-goers from near and far are lining Notting Hill's roads this afternoon.
We've seen dazzling feather outfits with all the colours of the rainbow. Here are some of the latest pictures we've received.
Image source, PA Media
Image source, Reuters
Image source, EPA/Shutterstock
Bob Marley's grandson: Performing at Carnival is 'a blessing'published at 14:14 BST
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Carnival-goers pictured standing in front of Bob Marley graffiti at Notting Hill Carnival in 2012
Music artist Soul-Rebel Marley has called performing at this year's Notting Hill Carnival "a blessing", having played on the Rampage Sound stage on Sunday.
The grandson of Bob Marley says he does not feel pressure from his family's musical history, instead describing it as "a guiding light".
With this year's festivities being his first ever time going to a Carnival event, he tells BBC Radio 1Xtra:
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Just seeing how the Caribbean culture intertwined with the British and London culture; it's amazing to see."
Soul-Rebel Marley

Vibrant floats make their way through Notting Hillpublished at 13:46 BST
Image source, Reuters
If you've been to Notting Hill Carnival before, you'll most likely have seen large, brightly-decorated floats winding their way slowly through the crowds. The floats are usually adorned with dancers, loud speakers and DJs.
They are a staple part of the parade and serve as mobile stages that showcase the festival's culture, music and performance.
Some of the floats this year are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the carnival.
Image source, PA Media
'I smashed it' - one of Carnival's first female DJs remembers 1985 eventpublished at 13:24 BST
Freya Scott-Turner
Live reporter
Image source, LINETT KAMALA
Image caption,
Linett Kamala at Carnival in 2019
"For me, it was natural to just say 'why can’t a girl DJ?'," recalls Linett Kamala, who was one of the first female sound system DJs at Notting Hill Carnival, spinning records for the first time there back in 1985, aged 15.
Frustrated by the lack of representation at Carnival, she approached a friend's brother who was in his own sound system crew - these are DJs and technicians behind the enormous speaker stacks that blast music.
Linett spent a year practicing the techniques before her first Carnival gig, she says.
"I smashed it, I was proper happy... I grew in confidence in that exact moment."
Though there's been progress for female selectors, there's "lots more to do" in getting them the recognition they deserve, says Kamala, who is building up a network of female DJs from around the world.
She is also on the Carnival's board, and can be found this year in a brand new "chill spot" for learning more about Carnival culture. Kamala's set it up on St Stephens Gardens - called the "LIN KAM ART chill spot", named after the foundation she runs.

Beads, jewels and crystals sparkle at Notting Hill Carnivalpublished at 13:01 BST
We have seen plenty of glitter and sparkle on show during Notting Hill Carnival, as people showcase their elaborate outfits.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Reuters
Making their own costumes - the women putting a stamp on Carnivalpublished at 12:39 BST
Lizzy Bella
BBC Newsbeat
Three women making their mark on celebrations this year are Saffiya, Tyra and Amondine.
They've been telling BBC Newsbeat about making their own costumes so they can join the mas bands, an idea which has also helped them save money.
Image source, Tyra
Image caption,
Tyra enjoys seeing what people will wear during Carnival
Tyra says she looks forward to seeing how people express themselves.
"It’s really interesting to see what people wear," says the 24-year-old, adding "people don’t wear that anywhere else, it’s always representative of your culture."
Image source, Saffiya
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Saffiya is a big fan of Soca - a high-energy Caribbean genre
Meanwhile Saffiya says she is "living for Carnival".
"There’s hardly any Soca events in the UK, and I am a massive Soca fan, so that’s what I’m most looking forward to," she says, referring to the high-energy Caribbean genre.
Image source, Amondine
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Amondine loves the "buzzing" vibe of Carnival
For Amondine, Carnival is all about coming together.
"People who aren’t from the Caribbean culture also come to celebrate. It’s a nice way to get everyone together," she says.
"It’s just so lovely that 60 years on, the community still lives."

Smiles on display as Carnival is in full flowpublished at 12:21 BST
It's all smiles at Notting Hill Carnival as a range of revellers pose in their unique and extravagant outfits throughout the festival.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, PA Media
'The costumes originate from our culture'published at 12:13 BST
Gem O'Reilly
Reporting from Notting Hill
Image caption,
Colu is getting glitter applied in one of the tents
I stopped by a glitter tent to chat to two women bedazzling each other. They told me about why it's a key part of Carnival.
Tashma says "glitter just brings out the whole vibe and adds the cherry on top".
Her mum is from Barbados and her dad is Jamaican, and she says "people forget that costumes originated from our culture".
"It's not just putting on glitter - it brings everything to life," she says.
Meanwhile Patricia is wearing an outfit inspired by ancestral traditions of the Yoruba tribe, designed by Alan Vaughan.
She says "it's important to carry the ancestral presence".
"If they didn't come before me, I couldn't do this so I'm paying tribute to them."
Image caption,
Patricia's outfit is inspired by ancestral traditions

Listen: Radio 1Xtra live at Notting Hill Carnivalpublished at 12:05 BST
Nadia Jae and Seani B from Radio 1Xtra are at Notting Hill Carnival today, soaking in the sights and sounds of Europe's largest street festival.
You can listen live at the top of this page.
Carnival is a 'teaching tool' which 'brings people together'published at 12:01 BST
Amy Clarke and Barry Caffrey
BBC London
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
Allyson Williams has been involved in the event for the past 45 years
One of the founders of Notting Hill Carnival was Vernon Williams, who moved to Britain from Trinidad and Tobago in the 1960s.
Sixty years on, his widow Allyson Williams remains at the heart of the event, having been involved for the past 45 years.
She feels the carnival is a "teaching tool" that helps younger generations understand the history of Notting Hill and the Windrush generation.
"We have to continue with the education of the children in terms of acknowledging their ancestors as well."
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
Gladwin Wright says the event brings people together
Meanwhile, Gladwin Wright, known as Gladdy Wax and one of the UK's longest-running sound system operators, has been involved with Carnival for almost 40 years.
For him, the event's enduring appeal is its ability to bring people together.
"Music itself brings people together, but Carnival certainly brings them together for more reasons than one and it's not about animosity, it brings them together in a loving way, harmonious way."

Dazzling outfits light up Notting Hillpublished at 11:48 BST
The sun is shining in west London - for now - and Carnival attendees are dazzling with colourful and eye-catching outfits.
Some of the latest pictures show sequins, feathers and bejewelled head pieces.
Image source, PA Media
Image source, Reuters
Image source, PA
From Rotterdam to Notting Hill - three friends fly in for Carnivalpublished at 11:37 BST
Nora Fakim
Reporting from Notting Hill
Image caption,
Sophie (left), Rachel (centre) and Sara (right) have come from the Netherlands for Carnival
Sophie, Rachel and Sara have flown in from the Netherlands to take part in the long-running Mangrove Mas Parade at Notting Hill Carnival.
"We took part in the parade in Rotterdam, but now we’re ready for the real one," Sophie says.
For Rachel, Carnival is all about "the energy, the colours, the music".
"And, most importantly, the cohesion of all the vibes and cultures coming together," she says.