Denzil Forrester, Jah Shaka, 1983

Notting Hill Carnival, the biggest street party in Europe, happens in London this weekend, celebrating the rich cultural legacy of the area, and attracting over a million visitors to the area to dance alongside the hundreds of performers and colourful floats. It has its roots in the strong historic music scenes rooted in the capital, from the south London sound system underground to East London’s dub scene. Denzil Forrester’s paintings from the 1980s depict iconic DJs from the dub scene, such as Jah Shaka, capturing life in London’s black British communities and celebrating the spirit of diversity and integration that comes to the fore during Carnival.