The vibrant rhythms of the Notting Hill Carnival echoed through the streets of London on the enchanting days of August 27-28.
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Originating in 1966, the Notting Hill Carnival celebrates the history of the Caribbean community in London, despite the racism and prejudices they faced. This was partly inspired by the killing of Kelso Cochrane, a young black man living in North Kensington, in 1959. Following his death, local community activism began to grow, leading to the organization of a children's festival to foster closer ties among residents. This event evolved into the Notting Hill Carnival.
In London, a multitude of participants and a multitude more of spectators converged for the iconic Notting Hill Carnival, an event that unfolded for the 55th time, drawing thousands into its vibrant celebration.
The first carnival in Notting Hill drew around 500 people. Since then, it has grown to become Europe's largest street festival, attracting hundreds of thousands of attendees to London. Typically, the parade showcases about 50,000 performers and over 30 sound systems, drawing over a million visitors over the weekend.
Occasionally, the event experiences disturbances, prompting the deployment of thousands of law enforcement personnel to the venue.
The vibrant two-day festival also commemorated the arrival of the first labor migrants from the Caribbean region on British shores 75 years ago. These individuals were invited after World War II to address the labor shortage, marking the genesis of the "Windrush" generation named after the ship that transported them to the kingdom.
The Notting Hill Carnival is considered the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world after Rio de Janeiro's carnival.
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