London

A-Z guide to Mas parade floats

Rooted in the spiritual and ceremonial significance of African masking traditions and the pre-Lent ‘carnevales’ held by European Catholics, slaves would mock and mimic the flamboyant masquerade balls of their owners.

On emancipation, these festivals took to the streets and later the indigenous fabrics of Indian indentured labourers also had an influence. Today, mas parade groups do important community work throughout the year and give young Londoners the chance to learn costume making, DJing or dance skills. The painstaking process of preparing for Carnival starts in October, when groups decide on which story or theme they will explore with their costumes. Best bit? Everyone’s encouraged to join in. Feature continues

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Arawak
THEME: Viva Las Vegas
Look out for one of the biggest mas bands at Carnival with members dressed as Vegas showgirls and boys. They’re the only band with their own private loo and chill-out bus, too!
www.arawakcarnivals.com

AUC Mas Band
THEME: Creatures of the Earth
Look out for a small band of just 30 masqueraders
www.glimacarnival.com

Bachanal Mas
THEME: Paradise
Look out for a big group of more than 350 masqueraders, divided into five sections: Temptation, Heaven Sent, Enchanted Dream, Bird of Paradise, and Fool's Paradise.
www.bachanalmas.com

Barbados Carnival Committee
THEME: Bajan roots and rhythm
Look out for the band straight out of Barbados!
www.glimacarnival.com

Batala
THEME: A celebration of the Afro-Brazilian culture of Salvador de Bahia
Look out for lots of noise! Great samba from this Portsmouth-based band
www.batalaportsmouth.com

B-Dark Inspiration
THEME: The Rhythm of Life
Look out for big wings and costumes in bright yellow, green, red or white. They won last year’s Best Adult Small Band category.
www.bdarkinspirations.org

Beeraahaar Sweet Combination
THEME: Tutti Frutti Sweeties
Look out for a teaching band who promote the traditional art of mas making throughout the year; they have been ‘on de road’ for 15 years.
beeraahaar.smartchange.org

The Bride
THEME: It’s a new season, it’s a new day
Band Leader Angela Essien
www.glimacarnival.com

Burrokeets
THEME: The Symphony Of Life
Look out for eye-catching piano-key costumes.
www.burrokeets.mfbiz.com

Calabash Carnival Band
THEME: Jab jam mas
Look out for a rapidly improving band since their 2003 debut.
www.myspace.com/thecalabashcarnivalclub

China Arts Carnival Club
THEME: Painted faces and waist drumming
Look out for the only Chinese mas band.
www.china-arts.co.uk

Coco Tea Mas Band
THEME: We welcome the world
Look out for a small group of 35 led by Maureen Mahon.
www.glimacarnival.com

Cocoyea Carnival Club
THEME: Spirit of the Caribbean
Look out for the leaders of the soca parties in pink, blue and purple costumes.
www.cocoyea.com

Dragons Sporting and Social Club
THEME: Masque of the Red Death
Look out for around 150 masqueraders, led by Peter Winchester.
www.glimacarnival.com

DUKA Mas Domnik UK
THEME: Reunite and celebrate
Look out for the ones celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of this charity.
www.duka.org/uk

Flamboyan International Carnival Arts
THEME: Come celebrate with us
Look out for their red flamenco-style costumes. These are a veteran bunch and elders in the Carnival community.
www.flamboyan.co.uk

Flamingo Carnival Arts Ltd
THEME: Best of Flamingo
Look out for the band celebrating 25 years of Carnival.
www.flamingo-carnival-arts.co.uk

Fox Carnival Band
THEME: Bag it up!
Look out for Fox waging a war against plastic bags by turning them into costumes!
www.foxcarnival.com

Fusion Community Carnival Arts
THEME: Rise of the Phoenix
Look out for this Neasden-based community group.
www.fusionarts-online.co.uk

Genesis Carnival Company
THEME: Ancient Warriors
Look out for a band with a legacy. They were founded by none other than early Carnival’s Vernon Williams. Today it’s his children who
man the ship.
www.genesiscarnivalcompany.com

Glorious Backstage Arts
THEME: Back From Space
Look out for black and white sexy cows, adults in reds and blacks, kids in pink and green and the large samba group Rhythm of the City.
www.glimacarnival.com

Goldstars Vision Mas Band
THEME: Sankofa (or ‘back to basics’)
Look out for 50 Ghanian masqueraders bringing Africa to the streets of Notting Hill.
www.goldstarsvision.org.uk

Heritage Social Arts and Dance
THEME: Egyptian
Look out for stunning costumes in celebration of Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt’s first female pharaoh, from this vibrant young mas group based out in Bethnal Green.
www.myspace.com/heritagesocialartsanddancegroup

Image Mas Band
THEME: African culture troops
Look out for a small band of 30 masqueraders.
www.glimacarnival.com

Inspiration Arts/Trinbago Carnival Club
THEME: International tribal journey
Band leader Roland Noel.
www.glimacarnival.com

Invaders Carnival Club
THEME: Celebration Time
Look out for girls in purple, brown, green or multi-coloured costumes.
www.invadersmassband.co.uk

Isis Carnival Club
THEME: The Golden Legacy
Look out for bikinis with beautiful beadwork and families participating together.
www.isismas.co.uk

Jamaican Twist Carnival Club
THEME: Streamertail (the Jamaican humming bird)
Look out for 350 dancers from Jamaica, the South Pacific and Brazil.
www.jamaicantwist.com

Jamboulay Carnival Arts Promotion
THEME: Somewhere (a melody)
Look out for a young urban band.
07958317012

Lagniappe Mas Band
THEME: Bird Sanctuary
Look out for 1,000 paraders wearing vivid red and gold costumes.
www.lagniappe.co.uk

LewQuash Nostalgic
THEME: Spirited Bliss
Look out for a real olden-times atmosphere, this family-run band aims to recreate the original spirit of Carnival.
www.myspace.com/lewquashnostalgic

London School of Samba
THEME: The Green Man
Look out for costumes representing the passing of the seasons.
www.londonschoolofsamba.co.uk

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