2023: Full Revival – Heritage Exhibitions, Art Installations & Star Performances
2023 witnessed the Butetown Carnival in full bloom once again, with an enriched program that honored its legacy while celebrating the present. Supported by major partners including the Arts Council of Wales, the Senedd, Welsh Government, and the Wales Millennium Centre, the Carnival over the August 2023 bank holiday was a vibrant two-day festival . Organizers placed special emphasis on connecting past and future. In the week leading up, a “Then and Now”panel discussion was held with elders and young people, reminiscing about Carnivals of decades past and discussing its evolving role . There was also a Butetown Carnival Archive exhibition hosted at the Pierhead building and the Senedd, displaying curated images, videos, and even vintage costumes from Carnivals dating back to the 60s . This gave attendees and passersby a sense of the Carnival’s rich history and its importance to Cardiff’s multicultural story. Lead organizer Keith Murrell paid tribute to the pioneers like Olwen Watkins and Vivienne “Chalkie” White, saying “They created a heritage and wealth that was there for us to claim and build on. We were able to stand on their shoulders.” This reverence for heritage set the tone in 2023.
At the same time, the Carnival was bursting with contemporary creativity. Key highlights of the 2023 Carnival included:
• A community-built art installation: Small World Theatre led residents in creating a giant Phoenix sculpture, with people contributing handmade “feathers” throughout the summer. The finished Phoenix, unveiled at Carnival, symbolized the community’s rebirth and unity in recent years .
• Spectacular live performances: The main stage welcomed international stars like Horace Andy (the legendary Jamaican reggae singer, known for his work with Massive Attack) and the Akabu Queens (the world’s first all-female reggae band), who headlined to delighted crowds . Sharing the bill were home-grown talents such as 12-year-old singer Luchia who wowed audiences – highlighting Carnival’s role in nurturing local artists . Cardiff’s own rising stars and community groups filled out the lineup, from hip-hop dance crews to Somali folk musicians.
• Interactive workshops and activities: Throughout the weekend, free workshops invited people of all ages to join in – e.g. a Somali music workshop where participants learned traditional songs, and a steelpan drumming workshopintroducing the rhythms of Caribbean calypso . These activities underscored the participatory, educational facet of Carnival. Families also enjoyed face-painting, carnival arts and crafts stations, and a pop-up funfair in Loudoun Square – echoing the fairground tradition of old.
• A larger-than-life parade: The 2023 parade was the biggest since revival, with dozens of costumed troupes and floats. Floats reflected the theme of “celebrating community resilience” – one group carried a banner of a phoenix rising, while another float by Oasis (a refugee charity) depicted the sea journey of migrants (tying into past themes of water) . The parade danced its way from the Butetown community, down Bute Street and into Roald Dahl Plass outside the WMC, finally ending at the Senedd. Spectators were treated to a moving sea of color and sound: feathers, flags, African drums, Caribbean soca beats, Welsh folk costumes, and more in one big joyful stream. As the South Wales Echo described, Cardiff Bay “exploded with colour, energy, and joyful celebration” during the 2023 Carnival .
The 2023 event truly felt like “Carnival is back”. Attendance surged, with people from across Cardiff and beyond flocking to the free festival . Many remarked on the powerful symbolism of seeing a Carnival parade in front of the Senedd – a recognition at the heart of Welsh civic life of the culture that Tiger Bay has given to the nation . For Butetown residents, 2023’s Carnival was a point of pride, showcasing their history via exhibitions and their talent via stage performances on an equal footing. After the challenges of the pandemic, the full-scale Carnival brought catharsis. In the words of Cardiff-born reggae artist Aleighcia Scott, who performed again in 2023, “It’s a part of the heart of the culture of Cardiff and it’s open to everyone to be all together… being able to share those moments with the people who attend is so nice” . The Carnival’s successful fusion of past and present in 2023 solidified its place as one of Wales’s premier cultural events once more.
