7:11pm Saturday 20th June 2009
By Rebecca Lowe
THOUSANDS of revellers swamped the streets of Tottenham this afternoon to celebrate London's second largest carnival.
Colombian street dancers, Mauri stilt walkers and Ghanaian dragons were among the attractions at the event, which aimed to promote the rich cultural diversity of the capital.
Around 5,000 entertainers, 25 floats and 500 police officers crowded the streets as the procession made its way along Tottenham High Road and up Bruce Grove, concluding its four-mile journey in Bruce Castle Park at 1pm.
A further 85,000 visitors descended on the park to enjoy the five stages of live entertainment, international food zone and comedy tent.
Tottenham MP and carnival president David Lammy said: "This event just gets bigger and better every year. This year we've had a higher standard of floats and entertainers than any other.
"It is a hugely diverse celebration, and a great opportunity for different communities, especially young people, to come together."
Among the performers were inclusive circus group Cirque Nova, which runs workshops for the homeless and disadvantaged in West Green Road.
Each performer was paid £150 to join the festivities, and artistic director Jean-Marie Akkerman said he hoped it would encourage them to turn professional.
"This is our students' first gig as employed artists," he said.
"We want to show them that there are more opportunities out there than just normal nine-to-five jobs, and this is the sort of thing they could look forward to if they turned professional."
Homeless stilt walker Jamun Aziz, 24, trained one day a week for six months to prepare for the carnival. He said: "I'm really enjoying myself. I work part-time as a chef, but this is something a little different."
Carnival king and queen Agatha and Gerald White, from Beaufoy Road, were lauding over their subjects for the fourth year.
Originally from Barbados, the couple have lived in Tottenham since 1964.
Mrs White, 67, said: "The carnival is lots of fun, waving at the crowd and seeing all your friends.
"People see us and bow and curtsy, even long after the event. It's all very silly, but we love doing it."
Carnival executive committee member Bill Guy, 77, was one of the founders of the event 12 years ago.
He said: "We originally wanted to do something to bring a little community spirit back into the area.
"I used to work a lot with Tottenham MP Bernie Grant, one of the first black MPs in the country, and he did huge amounts to bring the black and white communities together.
"When he died ten years ago he said: 'Keep going, Bill.' And that is what I proposed to do with this festival."
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