A reveller dressed in carnival costume dances along the route of the Notting Hill Carnival in London. EPA
A reveller dressed in carnival costume dances along the route of the Notting Hill Carnival in London. EPA
A reveller dressed in carnival costume dances along the route of the Notting Hill Carnival in London. EPA
A reveller dressed in carnival costume dances along the route of the Notting Hill Carnival in London. EPA
A reveller dressed in carnival costume dances as he follows the traditional procession route, after the normal Notting Hill Carnival festivities were cancelled. Reuters
A reveller dressed in carnival costume dances as he follows the traditional procession route, after the normal Notting Hill Carnival festivities were cancelled. Reuters
A lone reveller dances in the streets of Notting Hill on what would have been carnival day. Reuters
A lone reveller dances in the streets of Notting Hill on what would have been carnival day. Reuters
Notting Hill Carnival festivities were cancelled amid the Covid-19 outbreak. Reuters
Notting Hill Carnival festivities were cancelled amid the Covid-19 outbreak. Reuters
A lone reveller dressed in carnival attire dances in the streets of London. Reuters
A lone reveller dressed in carnival attire dances in the streets of London. Reuters
A lone reveller dances in the streets of Notting Hill on what would have been carnival day. Reuters
A lone reveller dances in the streets of Notting Hill on what would have been carnival day. Reuters
Another man dressed in carnival costume was spotted dancing in the streets after the normal Notting Hill Carnival festivities were cancelled. Reuters
Another man dressed in carnival costume was spotted dancing in the streets after the normal Notting Hill Carnival festivities were cancelled. Reuters
A lone reveller dances in the streets of Notting Hill on what would have been carnival day. Reuters
A lone reveller dances in the streets of Notting Hill on what would have been carnival day. Reuters
A lone reveller dances in the streets of Notting Hill on what would have been carnival day. Reuters
A lone reveller dances in the streets of Notting Hill on what would have been carnival day. Reuters
A reveller dressed in carnival costume dances after the normal Notting Hill Carnival festivities were cancelled. Reuters
A reveller dressed in carnival costume dances after the normal Notting Hill Carnival festivities were cancelled. Reuters
A lone reveller dances in the streets of Notting Hill on what would have been carnival day. Reuters
A lone reveller dances in the streets of Notting Hill on what would have been carnival day. Reuters

Lone revellers brighten Notting Hill's empty streets on carnival day - in pictures

The famous London carnival may have been cancelled this year, but not for everyone

Reuters

September 01, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

The Notting Hill Carnival, a highlight of the British summer, may have been cancelled this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but a couple of colourful individuals were determined to bring some festival spirit to west London's quiet streets on Monday.

The carnival, seen as a symbol of interracial tolerance, dates back to the 1960s and celebrates Britain's Afro-Caribbean community. It usually attracts more than a million visitors over the August Bank Holiday weekend, but its parade has been replaced this year by an online festival.

However, one man danced along the route of the procession on an unseasonably cold day in a purple headdress and shorts.

Separately, another man in a black and yellow outfit dodged London taxis as he celebrated the public holiday, which did not have the usual road closures in place.

Crowds on Ladbroke Grove during the Notting Hill Carnival in 2018. AP
Crowds on Ladbroke Grove during the Notting Hill Carnival in 2018. AP

Notting Hill's streets, usually packed for the holiday, were virtually empty, and neither man had trouble maintaining social distancing during their informal processions.

London's police urged people to stay at home and avoid large gatherings over the holiday weekend, and no crowds related to the carnival had been reported by mid-afternoon on Monday.

Singer Adele stoked an online debate by posting a picture of herself wearing a Jamaican flag bikini top with her hair in Bantu knots on Instagram, in honour of the carnival.

Some accused Adele, who is white and hails from London, of cultural appropriation, but opposition Labour lawmaker David Lammy said the Hello singer had captured the carnival's spirit.

"This humbug totally misses the spirit of Notting Hill Carnival," he said in a tweet in response to accusations of appropriation.

"Adele was born and raised in Tottenham, she gets it more than most. Thank you Adele. Forget the haters."

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Plastic tipping points
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE SQUAD FOR ASIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP

Men’s squad: Faisal Al Ketbi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Kathiri, Thiab Al Nuaimi, Khaled Al Shehhi, Mohamed Ali Al Suwaidi, Farraj Khaled Al Awlaqi, Muhammad Al Ameri, Mahdi Al Awlaqi, Saeed Al Qubaisi, Abdullah Al Qubaisi and Hazaa Farhan

Women's squad: Hamda Al Shekheili, Shouq Al Dhanhani, Balqis Abdullah, Sharifa Al Namani, Asma Al Hosani, Maitha Sultan, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Maha Al Hanaei, Shamma Al Kalbani, Haya Al Jahuri, Mahra Mahfouz, Marwa Al Hosani, Tasneem Al Jahoori and Maryam Al Amri

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

On Women's Day
More from Con Coughlin
Kareem Shaheen on Canada
While you're here
Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

the pledge

I pledge to uphold the duty of tolerance

I pledge to take a first stand against hate and injustice

I pledge to respect and accept people whose abilities, beliefs and culture are different from my own

I pledge to wish for others what I wish for myself

I pledge to live in harmony with my community

I pledge to always be open to dialogue and forgiveness

I pledge to do my part to create peace for all

I pledge to exercise benevolence and choose kindness in all my dealings with my community

I pledge to always stand up for these values: Zayed's values for tolerance and human fraternity