Revelling for peace - Inner City Carnival aims to unify communities

For the past 15 years, Evelyn Forbes has spearheaded the execution of Inner City Carnival, and though she said that the event is 'underrated' by many within the society, she does not plan to quit anytime soon.

"Our event is purpose-filled. It is to bring peace and to unify the communities of the inner city," Forbes told THE STAR.

"I know women and men who have dispersed from the end of one community to the next, but when it pass through, they join in on the march. People who leave from the top of Tower Hill, and move to Waterhouse, but never return, our carnival brings them out and they meet up on persons they have not seen in years," she said. "We travel through Tower Hill, Marl Road, Cockburn Pen, Waterhouse through Compound and people do look forward to the celebration."

As a supporter of Downtown Kingston Carnival, Forbes and her family expressed that both events deserve some highlight for being created as a social intervention and has seen growth.

"Nuh leave we out," Forbes said, adding that, "once people see downtown or Kingston 11 dem dash it weh. Nuh body nah pay we nuh mind and we hardly get promotion and we offer such a sentimental experience."

Forbes, affectionately called Mumma Carnival, said her most memorable Inner City Carnival execution was done more than 10 years ago.

"The best carnival I can think of that we have done is in 2010. That's also when Pepsi came on board. Nowadays, you have to have a link to someone who works in corporate to get a little support. We have to fund everything ourselves and it's a family thing. It includes myself, my spouse and our children."

There are approximately 10 different design categories for Inner City Carnival and about 120 costumes are made for the occasion.

Inner City Carnival, unlike Downtown Kingston Carnival, is not joining the other bands on July 10 for the grand road march. Instead, it will be held the following Sunday, on July 17.