The History of Caribbean Carnival: Power, performance and play

Explore the cultural history of Caribbean Carnival, from plantation roots to political protest, resistance and celebration. Followed by Q&A.

What lies beneath the hedonism, rum, beads and bikinis of Caribbean Carnival?

Far more than a spectacle, Caribbean Carnival is a living archive of resistance and reinvention. In this talk, Prof Emily Zobel Marshall uncovers carnival’s plantation history, its development after emancipation, and its roots in Black political protest.

We’ll also explore the ritual masquerade traditions that shaped carnival, alongside the influence of African cultural practices carried across the diaspora. Prof Zobel Marshall shows us how carnival has always been more than just a celebration; it's a space where communities can speak back to power, turn social rules upside down, challenge legacies of colonialism and enslavement, and imagine more hopeful futures.

**Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7:30pm - come down early to grab a good seat!**

**Follow us on IG @seedtalks**

Speaker Bio:

Professor Emily Zobel Marshall is a poet, activist and Professor of Postcolonial Literature. Of French-Caribbean and British heritage, she researches African diasporic cultures, trickster folklore and Caribbean carnival.

Presented by Seed Talks

This is an 18+ event