Carnival 'brings people together in harmony'

Literary activist and writer Khadijah Ibrahiim models a carnival costume created by technicians in the University of Leeds' School of Mechanical Engineering and High Esteem Carnival Designs

Thousands of people have been celebrating the Leeds West Indian Carnival.

The event is the largest of its kind in the UK outside London.

The famous parade started at 14:00 BST on Monday, with road closures in place until 22:00.

The carnival's founder, Dr Arthur France MBE, said the event brought people from all walks of life together to celebrate.

Founder of the Leeds West Indian Carnival, Dr Arthur France MBE

He told BBC Look North: "The carnival does what the government cannot do.

"It brings people of all races, colour, class and creed together in harmony."

This year's parade route has been changed to minimise traffic disruption, with troupes doing two laps before returning to the park for a final performance.

Kearn Williams, a Leeds West Indian Carnival trustee, said: "We are here to make music, we are here to be merry, we are here to celebrate.

"It's so important that a community like this - of ethnic minorities in particular - can have a space to celebrate themselves."

Two of the colourful participants of Leeds West Indian Carnival 2024

Mr Williams said the carnival tradition could be traced back to 1834, when slavery in most British colonies, including South Africa and the Caribbean, was abolished.

He said while coming together to celebrate, carnivals were also viewed as a form of protest against racism and a way to "reclaim space".

"Carnival's history, even beyond the UK, has always had this space of revelry and rebellion," Mr Williams said.

"It was always used as a space to enjoy their freedoms but also to rebel against the systems that had been."

Leeds West Indian Carnival featured an array of sparkling costumes

This year's carnival troupes did two laps of the new route - the first lap to allow judges to evaluate the costumes and the second lap for the troupes to enjoy the celebrations.

Mr Williams said it was hoped next year's route would be "bigger and better".

Tashi Brown, who worked on costumes for the event, said community engagement was a priority.

"It is now becoming more about unity, bringing the community together and celebrating everyone's differences," she added.

Leeds City Council has asked people to help "keep Carnival alive", as it asked for donations to ensure the event continued into the future.

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