Above: the Notting Hill Carnival

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Notting Hill Carnival officially began Sunday in London, the 47th edition of one of the world’s most famous Caribbean diaspora festivals.

The West London neighbourhood began with a procession of carnival bands on Sunday morning (which will also be the case on Monday morning).

London’s carnival is a feast for the senses, with an emphasis on food: sizzling jerk chicken, scrumptious curried goat and street food from across the Caribbean.

The musical acts traverse the region, including calypso, soca, steel pan and reggae.

The festival, which launched in 1966, is held every August Bank Holiday. It has included millions of attendees in recent years as what become the largest street festival in all of Europe.

The Carnival concludes on Monday evening.