Carniriv, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Carnival will return to Notting Hill Carnival for a second year with a resplendent creative float depicting Rivers culture and its impact on shaping the African Diaspora.
Led by Zmirage UK in partnership with the River State Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA), Rivers at Nottinghill 2013 will join People’s World Carnival Band to showcase the best of Carniriv. Current plans include a contingent of 14 masquerades who will join the float in order to give it added cultural value.
Last year the float attracted an adhoc crowd of mainly Nigerians and Africans generally. Apart from the nationalistic identity, their attraction to the float was mainly because of Afro Beat music emanating from it The music which has become very popular in the UK was refreshing on the parade route at Notting Hill and has encouraged People’s World this year to accommodate this presence in a more creative and inclusive manner.
In developing the collaborations between RSTDA and People’s World, the creative float will be dedicated to Afro Beat music along the route on 26th August. This is a major development born out of the collaborations last year and as a unique offering will form a part of the Rivers at Notting Hill Carnival project. To this end People’s World is inviting indigenes of River State in particular and African generally to join the band in costume on Monday 26th August in celebration of this unique collaboration especially in the 50th Anniversary year of African Union
Also included in the collaboration this year is De CORE, who is currently partners with People’s World. This collaboration has been fuelled by a small grant from the Arts Council that makes it possible for De CORE’s artists to work alongside artists from River State on the designs and construction of the float.
As a means of publishing Carniriv to the world, a London bus campaign will be launched across key areas in London on the 19th August. This advertising campaign is an attempt by the RSTDA to lure visitors to Carniriv for ‘7 days of pure fun’ scheduled from 15th – 21st December in Port Harcourt Nigeria.
A special reception featuring a performance by the visiting Rivers masquerade is scheduled at the Africa Centre for Friday 23rd August 7pm -11pm. At the reception guest will get an insight into Nigeria’s first Carnival and what to expect over the 7 days of Carniriv. It will also give you an opportunity to register for joining the float at Notting Hill.
For further information and how you can get involved in parading with the Rivers float please contact:
Zmirage – 07553 549 599 / 07944 597 530; People’s World Carnival Band = 07710 642 029; De CORE: 07870 724 276
Email: zmirageuk@gmail.com
