Rosaria: I started when Romero de Manguera, who was then a teacher at the London School of Samba, came down to Brighton – where I was living – to do a workshop. He invited a group of us to go up to Carnival to perform with the London School of Samba. How do other carnivals compare to it?
I’ve danced at a few festivals in Spain, Germany, France and have been to Rio. But in London you get the proximity to the audience and the diversity in performing groups. I prefer the parades where there are no barriers, so you really feel closer to the audience. How long has samba been around at Carnival?
I think it has been a relatively recent phenomenon. It wasn’t there from the beginning. I know it was on a few years before I started. Now there are more schools and groups and it’s increased considerably in terms of the following. What does samba bring to Carnival?
It’s live music, live percussion and in some of the schools you’ll get someone playing the cavaquinho and singing. The music still has a very strong African influence, obviously, but it has also a very Latin American flair. The outfits are very different. Brazil brings in its own tradition of carnival-making and that influences the costumes that are worn by Afro-Caribbean performers, and the other way round. What are your costumes going to be this year?
This year I am going to be parading with Maracatu Estrela do Norte, a Brazilian group, and we will be wearing outfits inspired by the Maracatu tradition. One year I paraded with Paraiso School of Samba and the theme was the World of Cinema, so my section was all dressed up as Charlie Chaplin. Another year we were dressed up like indigenous Indians. Are there any stand-out memories from your past 12 years of Carnival?
The first one, definitely, when I was the Queen of Bateria for the London School of Samba, dancing with the then carnavalesco, Henrique da Silva, in front of the judges. We had about 200 people in the band and the school had hundreds of performers. To have that responsibility, dancing in front of the band and having the support of the whole of the school, that was amazing. Norman Jay, three decades of running the Good Times sound system. How many years has Good Times been at Carnival now, Norman?
Norman: This is the 30th, because we didn’t do it last year. But I guess technically speaking it is our 31st year. What does the carnival mean to you?
There’s a lot of symbolism attached to it. I was born less than a mile from where I play every year, at the junction of West Row and Southern Row. All the good things that have happened to me in the British club music scene began at Carnival. It’s been a great catalyst for change, uniting all the different music tribes, and been a showcase for the Afro-Caribbean experience in the UK. How did you originally get involved in Carnival?
I used to go there as a child. I used to love watching the old school reggae sound systems that used to be there, and that kind of inspired me to want to come along and bring my own special brand of music, which is what we did back in 1980. How did that first year go?
Well, it was a baptism of fire. We grew up very quickly that weekend. A lot of the established sound systems didn’t take kindly to a couple of young bucks coming in and setting up amongst them. It was the street version of the old Wild West. Only the strong survive and all that. How has the carnival changed?
It’s evolved musically. Any new development in UK street music – jungle, grime, dubstep, reggae, any music that goes on to influence the mainstream – always has its first public airings at the Carnival. How would you sum up the mindset of Carnival?
Well, it’s just the celebration of life and of living and working in London. For a few days there is almost a utopian spirit. It’s harmonious. You get generations of families who you’ve watched grow up. It’s always been a really cool mix of black, white, asian, gay, lesbian and anyone else who wants to enjoy the biggest free street party left in the UK. Is there anything special you’re looking forward to this year?
We were sorely missed last year. My Twitter feed and phone went into meltdown from all the emails and texts. A lot of people depend on us, especially in these times, the overall vibe of the country’s been crap. But we’ve got a couple of really good days at the end of August. All I do is provide a soundtrack to some fantastic people having the time of their lives on the streets for a few days. Lionel McCalman, leader of the oldest steel band in the UK. What’s the history of the Nostalgia Steel Band?
Lionel: The band was formed in 1951 when a group came over from Trinidad. Eventually, in 1964, they became known as Nostalgia Steel Band. The band took part in the first Carnival in 1965, and have never missed one since. We’ve taken part in every one of them. I’m the second leader of the Nostalgia Steel Band. I joined the band in 1983 as a guitar pan player. The previous and only other leader, Sterling Betancourt, retired after over 40 years with the band. I took over approximately ten years ago. So you’ve been at the festival every year since then?
Since 1983 I’ve been at the carnival every year. I have not missed one! How many will be playing in the band at the carnival this year?
I would say 85 to 90, is what I expect my band to be. Truth be told, there will probably be a lot more, but I’m catering for 90. How did you end up joining the band originally?
I used to come out every year for the parents and children’s Carnival Committee, which was run by my aunt. We came to the UK in ‘64 and started to get involved in the early 1980s. I would go to practise the steel drum, but I had my commitment to my aunt. Then I broke free and played in the steel band. I have done so ever since. How do you guys differ from other steel bands?
The Nostalgia Steel Band is probably the only traditional steel band in the UK. By that we mean we carry our instruments around the neck, in the tradition of the old steel pan players. All the others who play in the carnival, they’ll be on floats on big trucks going by. But we don’t do that. We were the first steel band to be formed in the UK, our history goes back further than everyone else’s. How important do you think your music has been in the history of the carnival and now?
This is what steel bands used to be, these are our roots. If anyone has any interest in the origin theory, the origin of culture, the origin of Carnival, then they need to go all the way back to us, when we started.This year's Carnival takes place on Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th of August. Here's a map so you can locate the Makers while you're down there:
