Janine
For many in Leeds, the end of summer is marked by one unmissable event: the Leeds West Indian carnival.
With its pulsating rhythms and stunning parades, this year’s carnival was not just a showcase of Caribbean culture, but a celebration of the city’s resilience and unity.
This year’s carnival parade wound its way through Harehills Avenue, Spencer Place, Roundhay Road, Barrack Road, and Chapeltown Road, before concluding at Potternewton Park.
I caught up with Simon Namsoo, one of the committee members behind the Harrison Bundey and Mama Dread Masqueraders that took part in the parade. The theme of this year’s parade was Peace and Unity.
A theme, which Simon explains, is much more important now than ever. He added: “We felt that this year is one of the most volatile times that we have lived in because of all the global conflicts.
“Our costume consisted of African colours and emphasised a message of peace and unity.”
On the day, more than 70 people joined the troupe, and more than a quarter of those were asylum seekers and refugees. The troupe’s focus on peace and unity reflects its core values of inclusivity, offering a welcoming space where people from marginalised and stigmatised communities can come together.
Through this celebration of diverse cultures, the troupe creates a sense of belonging and solidarity, counteracting the divisive rhetoric and recent rise in right-wing violence.
“Having refugees and asylum seekers on board is something we are very proud of and we are glad to have them on board,” Simon explained, adding: “Refugees and asylum seekers are often stuck in hotels with very little sustenance money and no access to public funds.
“This is about giving them the opportunity to come out and get involved in a creative project where they can have a day on the road and have fun, which is something we are proud to be a part of. It has taken on even more significance this year because of the recent right-wing riots that were being stirred up and the attempts to burn down their hotels.
“What has been refreshing with the trouble we have seen this summer is communities have come together. Most people just want some unity and peace in their community and that is what we are promoting.”
Simon is no stranger to the world of carnival. Originally from Trinidad, he grew up immersed in the vibrant tradition where attending parades at a young age ignited his enduring love for the celebration. For him, carnival holds a deep personal significance, rooted in those early memories that continue to shape his passion for the culture.
Carnival in the Caribbean, especially in Trinidad, has its roots in the era of enslavement, evolving from the pre-Lenten Mardi Gras masquerade balls once hosted by French plantation owners.
Enslaved people used to create their own celebrations and they mimicked the slave owners’ parties and imitated what they wore. They would use anything they could get their hands on to make musical instruments. Once slavery was abolished, carnival took on its own life and journey.
However, like many carnival committee organisers, Simon is concerned that the future of carnival may be lost unless the younger generation continue to keep it alive. He explained: “It is about keeping that tradition, keeping that mass alive, educating young people and getting young people actively involved in it.
“My hopes are that we can maintain a profile and maintain a level of community and family education about carnival and about keeping it on the road. That is the only way it is going to survive. We call it, keeping the mass alive.”
