Leeds West Indian Carnival is a sea of colour

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 7, Dancers at Leeds West Indian Carnival 2025, Carnival celebrations have been held in Leeds for the 58th year
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The 58th Leeds West Indian Carnival has been celebrating black culture in the city.

The carnival has been held in Chapeltown since 1967 after it was started by Arthur France, who arrived in the city with a group from St Kitts and Nevis.

"It's so important that we celebrate our black culture here in the UK," he said during the celebrations on Bank Holiday Monday.

"We're going for love every step of the way.

"We've won already because we're here."

Kathy Williams, director of RJC Dance, which is involved in the carnival, said the company's theme in 2025 was about "roots and all connecting".

"It's about the rainforest, sustainability, being eco-friendly," she said.

"These are the generations who will take carnival into the next millennium and save the planet."

Ms Williams said the carnival was about "emancipation, community, culture, history and sustainability".

RJC Dance costume designer Rhian Kempadoo-Millar said there had been a "sustainable trilogy" of outfits for 2023, 2024 and 2025.

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