The Katumba Halloween Carnival Parade is taking over Bold Street this October

Audiences of all ages are invited to Bold Street in the city centre on Saturday 28th October when it is promised that a ‘portal will open up between worlds’ around 7:30pm.

Every October, Katumba holds the much awaited Katumba Halloween Carnival Parade in Liverpool City Centre; a mesmerising combined arts, outdoor production, which is always linked with Black History Month in its themes.

Passersby at this year’s event may have to watch out as perilous creatures known as ‘zonbi’ may be out to spook and taunt human souls using their thunderous beats and drumming cacophony!

Guided by the cultural roots of Co-Founder & Creative Director Juliana Landim’s Afro-Brazilian heritage, the carnival this year will explore the conventional appropriated depiction of ‘zombies’.

Juliana explained:

“The Kongo word for ‘soul’ – Nzambi – eventually transformed into ‘zonbi’ as enslaved Africans were taken to Haiti. Amidst this cultural fusion, the Voudou religion emerged, intertwining African traditions with the Caribbean.”

She continued:

“This year, Katumba has been focusing on seeking funding for their Carnival, whilst developing our outreach programme with support from the Liverpool City Council and in partnership with local organisations such as International Slavery Museum, National Museums of Liverpool, Asylum Link Merseyside and the Liverpool Caribbean Center. We want to bring the benefits of our Music and Movement programme for Physical and Mental Wellbeing to a wider and more diverse audience.”

The Halloween Carnival in 2023 will focus on this outreach programme, as Katumba take a step back from their usual multi-art spectacle to provide a stage for their community to showcase the Afro-Brazilian Drumming and Movement art form.

Katumba invite you all to Liverpool City Centre on Saturday 28th October, where their ‘flash mob’ style parade will ‘captivate the senses’, whilst celebrating both Black History Month and the spirit of Carnival Arts celebrating Hallows Eve.