Isis Carnival Club is a not for profit community arts organisation, primarily involved in Notting Hill Carnival cultural activities. The Isis movement began in 1993, and was formally launched in 1997 as a constituted community arts association – Isis Carnival Club. From its inception in 1993, Isis has and continues to be a dominant cultural avenue for expression, for families, the youth and the young at heart!Two young men, who simply wanted to enjoy the “Ole Mas” carnival traditions of Grenada and Trinidad, founded the Isis Carnival Club.

Ole Mas is carnival satire at its best and, a time to play on, and render our take of the contemporary stories of the time. Isis Carnival Club’s core objective is to keep alive the heritage of “Ole Mas” within UK carnival culture. The historical context of Ole Mas finds its roots in slavery, where the slaves had to find creative ways to share current events and information. The slaves developed their version of the English Town Crier, however with larger doses of satire, irony, sarcasm, and cynicism included in the delivery.Today our town criers are the Calypsonians and Soca artists who keep us abreast of community shenanigans, happy feelings and political commentary.

 

Contemporary carnival for Isis, is very much about continuing that tradition.