At 15 years old, Linnet Kamala became Notting Hill Carnival’s first ever female DJ. 40 years later, she’s still behind the decks and determined to help young producers succeed
40 years ago Linett Kamala stepped behind the decks as Notting Hill Carnival. The pressure was on and at first, people laughed, but she soon turned their jeers into cheers, as she became one of the first female DJ’s to perform at Notting Hill Carnival.
Linett didn’t realise she was making history when she grabbed the mic back in 1985 – she just wanted to have fun. “I was 15 at the time, and didn’t know I was doing anything historic,” she told The Mirror.
“But I could tell people were thinking, look there’s a girl, because they were taking pictures and I silenced any critics with my selections. I then had the confidence to take the mic as well, and literally from that moment as a kid my confidence grew.” Linett’s story comes as Notting Hill Carnival issues major route changes ahead of their 2025 celebrations.
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Music has always been a part of Linett’s life. From as young as seven she was handling records and recalls sweet childhood memories of being on her dad’s shoulders at Notting Hill Carnival. Paired with her Jamaican heritage and her dad’s status in a band for the Carnival, getting involved with the sound system of a cultural event so enmeshed with her life felt like a natural path.
Four decades on, Linett has made a name for herself. In 2016, she founded Lin Kam Art, a space which focuses on Carnival and festival culture through events, workshops, programmes and even lecturers, aligning with her Presidency at the University of the arts London Alumni of Colour Association. Linett has shared her vision on Carnival in Ted Talks where she describes the event as ‘a force for healing.’
Now, Linett is keen to pass the mic onto the next generation of young producers and has made it her mission to highlight the deeper meaning of Carnival – a celebration which is far beyond a street party.
“Some people don’t understand it, it’s called the Notting Hill Carnival because there was a racist murder there, and this was the centre point of changing the Race Relations Act. It was birthed on these streets. So much has happened here that we stand for – this is our culture and we know the history of the struggle,” she told us.
That connection is why so many, particularly those of Caribbean heritage, dedicate so much time to preparing the event, often taking on the financial responsibility themselves. “Some of us fund this out of our own pockets,” Linett explained. “We appreciate if we have sponsorship from people that want to support, but I think that needs to be addressed, as the Carnival has inspired so many other festivals around the world and even launched careers.”
Lin Kam Art producers Chase and Mwathi are two young prodigies working closely with Linett to help bring this year’s Carnival to to life. “Everyone wants to make it happen to show the culture and come together,” Chase told The Mirror. “On the day, we’ll be at a wellness space where you can speak to elders and learn more about Carnival’s history.”
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While Linett is gradually passing the baton, she’s still keeping her legacy alive behind the decks and this year will see her bring a piece of Jamaica to the streets of West London with her. You’ll find Linett with the Platinum Sound system but she’s keen to focus on the production side of the music as she creates a “new space for young producers at Carnival.”
Following her recent trip to Jamaica for a Lin Kam Art project, Linett is “bringing the voices of the children in Jamaica to play through the system. And we’re bringing indigenous, authentic, traditional Jamaican Junkanoo.”
It’s a fitting full-circle moment for Linett, who once stepped up to the decks as an eager teenager and is now creating space for the next generation to take the stage, while making sure Carnival’s heartbeat stays rooted in its history.
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