Carnival director finds ‘nothing wrong’ in Norman Lowell float

Perhaps taking the welcome lifting of the ban on satire from Maltese Carnival to its logical conclusion, float-maker Brian Bonnici’s contribution to this year’s festivities was a satirical smorgasbord. But apart from taking the mickey out of local politicians – a tradition that is returning with gusto – Bonnici’s float, entitled ‘Malta Taghna Lkoll’ also dedicated a section to the ever-sensitive reality of irregular migration. 

Depicting migrants in stereotypically ‘traditional’ African garb – recalling South African Zulus – the float also features a portrait of Norman Lowell – leader of the far-right party Imperium Europa, who was charged with inciting racial hatred in 2008. 

“I don’t think there’s anything racist or discriminatory about Brian’s float,” Carnival director Jason Busuttil said, when asked by MaltaToday whether the float could be considered racially insensitive. “We take pride in the fact that carnival is once again open to satire, and I think Brian’s float is just taking full advantage of this.”

Asked about whether the large portrait of Norman Lowell – attached to the open palms of the float – could be misinterpreted as glorifying the controversial far-right leader, Busuttil pointed out how other political figures were also given the same treatment on the same float. 

“I don’t think it makes a difference whether the political figures are depicted as floats or in photos... you’ll find photos of the President and Bishop Charles Scicluna on the float too, in fact. It’s all done in the spirit of satire,” Busuttil said.

Neither did Busuttil find anything wrong in the way the African figures were depicted on the float, insisting that it should all be taken in the spirit of carnival. 

“The way I took Brian’s message is: these people are now among us, and we should be free to include them, even in carnival processions. 

“Another side of the float shows an African woman being crowned as Miss Malta… I think it’s just a bit of good-natured provocation – it’s just trying to gauge how people would react to something like that,” Busuttil said. 

He added that the Church was the only aspect of Maltese society that float makers are treating with “caution”, but that he also expects this to give way soon enough. 

“I think that the country has matured as a whole, and will nowadays accept satire across the board,” Busuttil said, adding that his standard for satirical carnival remains the carnival in Viareggio, where “you will see not just one, but several floats depicting African migrants, and where float-makers won’t shy away from depicting either political or religious figures”. 

Busuttil also contended that despite inclement weather, this year’s edition was “one of the biggest carnivals ever organised in Malta”, saying that lifting the ban on political satire last year helped to “awaken people’s curiosity” about carnival once again.