Notting Hill Carnival, 2019

Recording of Channel One Sound System at Notting Hill Carnival 2019, 72 second silence for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Transcription: Notting hill carnival how you feeling?

We must be silent out of respect for the people of Grenfell, at precisely 3 o clock we will have 72 seconds of silence please. 72 seconds silence for the people of Grenfell. We still remember them, because some o’ we had friends, some o’ we knew people, some o’ we still know the people who still alive, so we have to give thanks. So at precisely 3 o’clock we go for the silent treatment for Grenfell, 72 seconds. Rastafari.

Does everybody agree (crowd cheers) We can do better than that still. Does everybody agree (crowd cheers) We can do better than that still. Does everybody agree (crowd cheers) Rastafari. So I’m not too sure if my watch will tell the right time, but you have to tell me. (crowd) ...four more minutes! Alright, three more minutes. We’ll do 72 seconds, it’s very important. Rastafari.

(music)

Alright the time has come. The time has come. I want everybody to please be silent because this is very important. So this carnival, we decide to what we need to do. So 72 seconds please. Who has a watch? Rastafari, please. Rastafari. We'll start now.

(silence)

Rastafari. Two times… (cheers)

Image: © Eddie Otchere / Museum of London