The Kinetika Bloco performing Roads to Freedom
at Brighton Children’s Carnival
(photograph John Varah)

Roads to Freedom an Exploration of Freedom and the role of the arts, looking at the arts as a tool of change and form of political expression. This was continuation of Kinetika’s projects over the last four years which have essentially explored the different cultural influences that have shaped the development of Carnival in Trinidad, and in turn Carnival in the UK.

In 2005 Roads to Freedom explored how carnival in Trinidad arose out of the Emancipation of Slavery and looked at the African influence in Carnival through costume, music and dance.

The project is a collaboration between The Kinetika Artists, The Kinetika Bloco, Same Sky, Paddington Arts Elimu and Spiritus with Dorothy Stringer, Norwood, Eveline Lowe and Larkhall schools.

The Story

The band illlustrated a story through a series of flags, inspired by the Asafo Fante flags from Ghana. The flags depicted graphic images, symbols and key words that visually narrated the theme behind each section and as a whole took us on our journey from pre-colonial Africa to 21 Century Europe. Workshops in schools featured in the design and the making of the flags.

The Kinetika Bloco dancers at Brighton Children’s Carnival
(photograph Bob French)

The Dorothy Stringer dancers at Brighton Children’s carnival
(photograph Bob French)

 

The Kinetika Bloco at Brighton Children’s Festival
(Photograph by Bob French)