– Yes the rain, but it did not dampen
the spirit of revelers!
‘Summer, summer,
summertime
Time to sit back and unwind
Summer, summer, summertime
Time to sit back and unwind’
Time to sit back and unwind
Summer, summer, summertime
Time to sit back and unwind’
So goes the refrain in
Will Smith’s hit song, Summertime. Indeed summer is a time ‘you can't speed
through two miles an hour’; that is if you are on holidays. You are not in any
particular hurry, and schedules can be put off or cancelled.
This perhaps, explains why
I could not bring this and subsequent dispatches on a real time basis. Summer
is gone, practically, and schools except for the Ebola ‘insurgency’ should have
started in earnest; but bear with me….
Sitting on Bus 2X specially arranged
as a direct shuttle to Notting Hill Station Gate from my part of the city, I
was convinced it was not a mistake to venture out on this very rainy day; more
so I had persuaded some members of my family to go along with me. The
weatherman accurately predicted the second and final day of 2014 Notting Hill
Carnival, also a bank holiday, was going to be showery.
The Notting Hill carnival has become a
major item on the cultural calendar, not just for the United Kingdom, but
across the world. People look forward to that date annually and visitors come from
other cities and countries particularly as it is in the middle of summer;
though global warming changed the weather pattern on this year’s occasion. Over
one million people were expected at the event.
With my background in theatre and
dramatic arts, I not only wanted to take in the sights and sounds of the
carnival, I also needed to see it from an organizational point of view. What
are the ingredients of pulling off such a world class event; are there lessons
to be learnt and applied even in other locations and purposes? What and who
were the precursors: I had many questions going on in my mind.
From its humble beginnings in 1964,
the Notting Hill carnival has evolved to become Europe’s biggest street
festival. A vivid spectacle, it represents London’s multicultural past and
present where the Caribbean communities celebrate their culture and traditions.
The two-day event showcases fantastic live music ranging from reggae, dub,
salsa, soca floats, steel bands, uplifting beats, jerk chicken and fried
plantain, food stalls, colorful costumes and much more. The first day tagged
children’s day, has more family friendly costumes and parade, whilst the second
and concluding adult day features more daring costumes and performances.
Putting up such an event,
of course tasks the police, fire service and paramedics, not leaving the creative
efforts that performers come up with to ensure fun and variety. At the end of
the first day of the carnival, police had reportedly made 95 arrests, including
five for possession of offensive weapons, 35 drugs arrests and 10 for common
assault. As one of the largest operations in the Metropolitan Police force's
calendar, Chief Superintendent Robyn Williams said the force's priority was to
'facilitate a safe and vibrant carnival'.
She said: 'Carnival very
much presents us with two extremes; those who want to enjoy the sound systems,
cuisine and have a good time and those who use it as an opportunity to commit
crime.' However she warned visitors to be alert and take steps to reduce their
vulnerability to low level crime by not wearing valuable jewellery or holding
mobile phones on show and considering how much they drink. Asked about the
planning which goes into the police operation, she said: 'Let me put it this
way, on Tuesday morning we'll begin planning Notting Hill Carnival 2015.'
 |
| Rain Drops! |
The event was originally introduced
to improve race relations in the Nothing Hill area. Organizers said this year
marked the first milestone in the build-up to the event's 50th anniversary in
2016. The carnival has become increasingly popular in recent years and now
contributes an estimated £93million to the local economy.
Well apart
from my bag of questions, I was there to have fun with my family. And yes we
did contribute to that economy as we could not do without some Filipino rice and steak, washed down with the ubiquitous
coke; before heading home.
Last Line: Wherever
you are, it is possible to live in peace and dominion. Deuteronomy 30:16 ‘For I command you today to
love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees
and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you
in the land you are entering to possess’ NIV.
Do you love God? To find out more about God and how you can have a
relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, visit any Bible believing church near
you, or: CHAPEL OF DESTINY RESTORATION CHURCH, 2 Akinlabi Lane, off Mobolaji
Bank Anthony Way, by Round About Bus Stop, Ikeja. Lagos.
