Africa-Caribbean Postcards (August 2025) - By Yasmin Minnis

Notting Hill Carnival - Identity, Unity & Pride

Carnival, what does it mean to you?

500,000 West Indians recruited from Kingston to Brixton, just after the devastation of the Second World War. Sold a dream of opportunity, but upon arrival, many faced job scarcity, poor housing, and social exclusion. Despite this reality, a vibrant legacy was born.

This weekend, Notting Hill Carnival returns. It’s a sunny bank holiday in London, and the city is gearing up for Europe's largest street party. But 66 years on, it is easy to forget why this celebration began.

Rooted in resistance, rhythm, and resilience.

Notting Hill Carnival began when Trinidad-born activist Claudia Jones organised the first indoor carnival in 1959 to create a safe space for Caribbean people to express themselves through music, dance, and cultural traditions. Following the 1958 Notting Hill Race riots. By 1966, community organiser Rhaune Laslett helped take it outdoors, turning it into the street festival we know today.

What does Carnival mean to me? A showcase of identity, unity, and pride. It’s a living history, a chance to honour the Windrush generation, remember their fight against adversity. Carnival is so much more than a party.

I attended the festival on Day Two, Carnival Monday, the larger of the two days. Whenever I go, I feel a huge sense of pride seeing members of the diaspora from all over proudly showcasing their countries’ flags. The Carnival is a very friendly and social environment, even commuting to Notting Hill, you’re likely to ask someone where they’re from or compliment someone’s vibrant outfit. Carnival brings people together of all ages and backgrounds. Every corner of the festival offers something new. Street performers, live music stages, and steelpan bands are set up throughout the area. Floats with dancers in elaborate costumes move along the parade route with crowds following, and food stalls serve a variety of Caribbean dishes.

Africa Rising Symposium, Evolve Motivate And Yield

I had the privilege of attending the Africa Rising Symposium at the renowned London School of Economics. Being surrounded by such a wealth of expertise, from academics and policymakers to entrepreneurs and creatives, offered me a deeper understanding of Africa’s dynamic growth, its challenges, and the innovative solutions emerging across the continent. The experience provided fresh perspectives and reinforced just how important unity and collaboration within the diaspora are in driving meaningful change.

The first session of the day was a fireside chat with Alex Dadey, ‘From Pitch to Performance: The Grit, Risk and Realities of Getting Things Done in Africa’. Dadey explained how Africa has the seed to succeed but does not have the fertile soil. Knowledge is the seed, and mindset is the fertile soil. He emphasised the need for courage to shift our mindset, to create transgenerational business. ‘We do not have the luxury of inaction’, he stated, urging a move from promise to results. Starting by creating a vision and then being very intentional in pursuing it.

The first panel of the day, Policy In Action: Homegrown Reform and Diaspora Collaborations (B. Ribeiro-Addy, F. Rugamba, TK. Nciza, Dr G, Kioni & Prof G. Faal), focused on unity and relationships both within Africa and internationally. While Africa does not need international aid, it can greatly benefit from partnerships. Success lies in relationship-building, and this is true within Africa as well. The discussion highlighted the importance of moving away from fragmentation and towards a more collective vision for the continent’s future.

A standout session for me was Deal Flow & Delivery: The Builders Changing Africa’s Business Story (J. Kinvi, O. Onibokun, T. Folaranmi & Dr. M. McKinney Hammond). Much of the discussion centred on how Africa’s future depends on young people knowing, caring, and getting involved. The panel highlighted that Nigeria and Ethiopia, the continent’s two most populous nations, both have strikingly young populations, with around ‘60% under the age of 30 and about one in five under the age of 6’. Age is often assumed to equal knowledge, but fresh ideas and bold perspectives can come from anyone. It is damaging to teach the younger generation to be submissive or silent, then later expect them to speak confidently. That’s why it is vital to encourage everyone to speak up, share their experiences, and challenge ideas, so that together we can create meaningful change.

The last panel of the day was Proof of Culture: How Africa’s Creative Class is Turning Cultural Capital into Economic Power (N. Michelle, T. Mavunga, R. Mofe-Damijo & Dr. D. Maisie). I loved this panel; the panelists took a trip down memory lane to D’banj’s hit Oliver Twist, which debuted at number nine on the UK Singles Chart in May 2012, marking the first time a Nigerian song had appeared on the UK chart. They also highlighted artists like Fuse ODG, who helped open the gates to the now-vast Afrobeats scene in the UK. Africa has so much cultural richness to offer, whether through music, art, fashion, or more. The panelists encouraged the audience to stop waiting for permission to create and express themselves

Cricket, Cricket, Cricket

The 2025 Caribbean Premier League (CPL)1 hit the ground running on August 14th. With matches across Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, and Trinidad & Tobago.

But beyond the scoreboard, cricket holds significance in the Caribbean. It’s more than just a sport, it’s a shared cultural essence, a unifying sport running through colonial history, independence struggles, and island pride. From Sir Garfield Sobers from Barbados (one of the greatest all rounders in cricket history) to Brian Lara from Trinidad & Tobago (record-breaking batsman), West Indian cricket has produced legends who embody resilience and creativity, inspiring generations across the diaspora. Today, the CPL carries that legacy forward, blending sport with carnival like celebrations that showcase the rhythm, energy, and identity of the region.

Japan’s Investment Into The Indian Ocean

Japan is making a big move in Africa. At the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, they announced plans for a new economic zone linking the Indian Ocean region with Africa2. The project comes with a £4.1 billion loan and a plan to train 30,000 AI specialists over three years, helping boost skills, trade, and tech across the continent.

This shows Japan wants to play a bigger role in African development. For local businesses and governments, it could mean more investment, better infrastructure, and opportunities to build tech skills. But it’s important to make sure the benefits reach local communities.

This plan is part of a larger trend; Africa is attracting more international investment and growing as a hub for tech innovation, with countries like Japan looking to get involved. Over the past decade, initiatives like this have helped African nations expand their digital economies, develop smart infrastructure, and improve access to education and training. Projects like the Indian Ocean and, African economic zone could play a crucial role in shaping the continent’s economic future, creating jobs, and building skills for a new generation of African innovators.

Sources:

[1] 2025 Caribbean Premier League - Wikipedia
[2] Japan hosts Africa summit and seeks greater economic ties in the region | AP News