This is me on my way to Carnival in 2006. I’m wearing a purple Nike shirt, a fake ‘Dookie’ chain and I’ve got a Bapestar shaved into my high top. This was from my MySpace profile and I was trying to channel ‘Do The Right Thing’ mixed with a more modern style hence the Bapestar
Images and text: Nick Bamigboye
This was taken back in 1977. I was with my friend Reggie Yates, pictured, who is now Godfather to my son. I can’t remember much about the day because I was so high! But I do remember that I was wearing Carrera sunglasses.
Images and Text: Charles Kenneth Aihun
This picture was taken in 1996 and I was 12 years old. My aunt used to live on Cambridge Gardens and I would stay there when I visited London. I’m wearing a Houston Rockets Basketball vest and I remember the Etnies shoes I was wearing at the time. I think it was my second ever carnival and my dad would take me around. There used to be a stage under the Westway off Ladbroke Grove and I remember hearing Tim Westwood play there. No carnival was complete without a visit to the CMC Matrix sound system on the corner of All Saints Road. They just played Jungle music at that time. Carnival is important to me as it was my first introduction to West Indian culture, something that has been very influential in my life. The celebration of that culture is an integral part of the West London landscape.
Images and text: Seth Bradley
For me, Carnival ended in Ladbroke Grove, but started 6 am on Thorpebank Road, Shepherds Bush, when I was awoken by aromas of curry goat and roti’s sizzling on mother’s stove.
Those photographs would’ve been circa 84-87. My mum followed Ebony Steel Band and even though it felt like a chore at times, I enjoyed the atmosphere and putting on a show. I only played Carnival once in ‘85 (top picture), I was cold and didn’t like the idea of wearing makeup and walking for over 12hrs, but as soon as the music hit my tired 9-year-old legs got carried away with the energy of the floats and I knew right then I wanted to perform.
From here on in my experience with Carnival would no longer be following floats, but battling some of the sickest street dance crews in London under the sound systems of All Saints road, until one day I’d be known as one of the best!
This photo was taken in 1991. I had just met John who is my husband and the father of my children. I got this job as a promotional girl for a charity in London. In this picture I was working at Silverstone Grand Prix . It was a great day, fun times being a Ferrari girl, I met drivers in the pits and think I brought John with me who sulked all day. And also ironic because when I met John I was living in my car and my whole life was in two bin bags.
Rosamund Tallon
I was into a shop called ‘Flip’ at the time as I lived in Covent Garden. It sold recycled vintage clothes mainly from US. I think the jumper came from there and possibly the skirt. I was very into colour in my clothes and hair so would add lots of that. I also frequented jumble sales and generally dressed as cheaply as possible.
I think the picture was taken in Brighton by my best friend Wendy . It was October 1980, and Thatcher had just delivered her this Lady’s Not For Turning speech. I was in my third year at Uni studying photography. Visible Girls was my absolute passion!
I was in Brighton for direct action, a Reclaim The Night march with my band of feminist friends. 15,16,17’s 'Emotion’, a Lovers Rock song, was one of my favourite tunes at the time.
By Anita Corbin
This my school friend Imogen in Ralph Lauren in 1999, doing her make up whilst listening to a UK Garage tape. We were 14.
This is us on a school trip to Florence in 1999.
This is my mate Bryn, aged 16. We were watching videos after college, it was around 2002. This photo was taken at my friend Jesse’s parents house, where we would hang and smoke weed a lot, during and after college. We were into raving, squats, Jungle, Drum n Bass
We used to cycle around the suburbs of West London playing rave tapes off Walkman speakers we’d attached to our bikes with gaffer tape. Bryn was and is an environmental activist.
Cesca Dvorak