An annual event celebrating black culture in Brighton and Hove will turn into a carnival for the first time this July.
The Brighton BASH Carnival, a community celebration organised by BARCO (Black Anti-Racism Community Organisation), will bring people together for music, dance, food and celebration.
A parade with the theme of flags and masks within St Ann’s Well Gardens will take place on Saturday 27 July, with the event running from 11am to 7pm.
Now in its fourth year, the event has tripled in size from 1,000 attendees outside St Peter’s church in 2021 to 3,000 in Jubilee Square last year.
Bud Johnston, founder of BARCO said: “Brighton deserves a carnival and parade that celebrates more.
“Forget being tolerable and performative, the Brighton BASH Carnival is an intentional statement that all are welcome here.
“We need as many supporters as possible to make this a reality.”
The BASH – an acronym for Building Alliance, Solidarity and Hope – Carnival is a family-friendly, diverse and inclusive event which aims to honour and amplify the voices, traditions and contributions of black communities.
The carnival organisers hope to have around 5,000 people taking part in the parade this summer and grow the event into an even bigger street parade next year.
The free event is supported by Brighton and Hove City Council and Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club, among other community organisations.
BARCO, which was set up after crowds of over 10,000 protested in anti-racism rallies in Brighton and Hove in 2020, aims to improve the lives and experiences of black people living, working, studying and visiting Brighton and Hove.
Sounds good to me.
Me too, anything fun with good food and music, and I’m in!
Yes we never have any parades and funfairs in Brighton. What a great and original idea
pipe down
You know why don’t reinvent the wheel, Chris? Are you okay bud? You’re not normally like this.
There is no such thing as black culture.
Black Caribbean British? Nigerian? South African? Even within those African countries there are many ethnic groups and religions.
Just as there is no “white culture”! We don’t jumble Russians in with Irish for example.
Insulting.
Who’s a miserable little git then? Hope you won’t be at any celebration I go to – whatever the culture. :-0
There are common threads that unite individuals within the Black diaspora, such as resilience in the face of oppression and a shared history of struggle for equality. While it’s important to recognise the nuances within Black culture, denying its existence altogether undermines the efforts to celebrate and uplift marginalised communities.
It’s an interesting point, but I think you may be wrong.
Are you white? I am.
I suspect that elsewhere in the world there is something referred to as White Culture. It’s just a thing – it may not be quantifiable or pinned-down, but as a term, we sort of know what it refers to, and if it communicates something, then that is all it is required to do.
So, it may be vague, but who cares? It sounds great. I hope I’m here for it.
Irish festival pls paid for by Council
How about a “born in Brighton” festival ?
Organise one then.
I did St. Patricks day in Dublin with some friends of mine; took us to the places the locals go to. Was a great time. Also did a tour of the breweries as well. Preferred the Jameson one to the Guinness one, funnily enough!
2020 the peak of the now largely discredited and fraudulent BLM movement ? Is there a connection between BLM and BARCO and BASH ? I do hope not.
That’s like saying 1 white paedophile male or 1 white male serial killer is responsible for discrediting all white males
Jimmy Savile and Rolf Harris
And the whole institution that is the BBC
Looks like it will be a great day out for all the family. A good chance for everyone to get together and enjoy each-others presence and cultures along with some great food, by the sounds of it 🙂
Which culture? South African, north African, Jamaican? Need I go on…
“Black” accounts for ca 14% of the population, Asian ca 65%, the rest of us ,,, not so much, Problems caused World Wide, USA and their mates ca 99% bit of an imbalance I think, and no, the US is not doing us any favours by bombing the Peace out of anywhere they feel like.
Not sure we need a black carnival, sounds pretty racist to me. Why not just a Brighton carnival which celebrates all races that live in Brighton. You know, as we are a fairly inclusive city.
Pretty sure Caribbean culture is the polar opposite of African culture other than the colour of one’s skin.
It’s understandable to advocate for inclusivity, but labelling a Black carnival as racist overlooks the historical context and purpose behind such events. While Caribbean and African cultures have distinct characteristics, they share significant historical connections and experiences, particularly through the legacy of slavery and colonialism. Recognising these shared experiences fosters solidarity and understanding among diverse communities.
Sounds amazing can’t wait good vibes good food amazing music and performers and all put together by a brilliant team.
I’m sure no one could possibly find a single reason to be upset about this (checks comment section). Wow…
I learnt a long time ago that you’ll never please everyone, and that’s okay. Misery craves company, and I’m afraid we are going to have to disappoint her today, right Iggy? Honestly, I’m craving some proper jerk chicken. I’ve never been able to make it well at home!
These so-called anti-racists are in fact racists. Try setting up an organisation called WARCO (White Anti-Racism Community Organisation) and see how much support that gets. It would probably be banned.
We are absolutely thrilled to have been chosen by BARCO for their BASH ! St Ann’s Well Gardens has been a Pleasure Park for more than a hundred years and celebration is in our DNA . This event which ends at 7 pm will bring happiness to hundreds of people and is free for everyone to enjoy . In 1900 ‘Music on the Lawns’ cost one penny so prices have gone down ! Pippa from the Friends of St Ann’s Well Gardens .
Why not just a day of celebration whatever your race or colour ? A carnival, why segregate and discriminate? Aren’t we trying to integrate? This seems to be the opposite and why do we need to particularly celebrate black history and culture, is it any more important than white or Asian ?
While celebrating diversity and fostering integration are important goals, it’s crucial to recognise that historically, certain communities, like the Black community, have faced systemic oppression and marginalization. Black History Month isn’t about segregation or discrimination; rather, it’s an opportunity to acknowledge and honour the often overlooked contributions and struggles of Black individuals throughout history. It’s not about asserting superiority or importance over other cultures but rather about rectifying historical omissions and promoting inclusivity. By celebrating Black history and culture, we enrich our understanding of humanity as a whole and move towards a more equitable society.
We are not all the same. It would be very dull if we were all the same. Where would the fun be in that?
But this isn’t segregation, it’s celebration. All welcome, and everyone together, to just celebrate and enjoy the nuances. Black, white, red hair, short, fat, lanky, nerd, Asian, hippy, petrol-head, Australian, bookworm, – whoever, all together just loving it and bouncing off each other. I can’t see a downside at all. It sounds like a perfect world to me.
Look at the middle-east, then realise, and treasure what we have. It’s events like this that might help eventually make the world a better place. Don’t analyse it, just embrace it.
This is amazing news Bud Johnson so proud of you. Sharing music, culture and food its spreading love and there’s no law against love.
Bring on the drug dealers from london