As Notting Hill Carnival 2025 approaches, the family of a young father killed in broad daylight continues to search for answers three years on, and the silence remains deafening.
Three years have passed since 21-year-old Takayo Nembhard was fatally stabbed at Notting Hill Carnival, and still, no one has been held accountable. Now, on the cusp of this year’s festivities, both his grieving family and the Metropolitan Police are issuing a renewed plea for witnesses to come forward.
Takayo, who had travelled from Bristol to attend the 2022 carnival, died in hospital after being stabbed in the right groin.
The attack happened on the evening of Monday, 29 August, beneath the Westway flyover in Ladbroke Grove a location bustling with hundreds of carnival-goers at the time.
He had been visiting friends and his sister, hoping to enjoy the vibrant celebration. Instead, the day turned to tragedy. Despite multiple arrests, no one has yet been charged with his murder.
“Takayo left behind a heartbroken family and two beautiful boys. We don’t want them to grow up without knowing someone has been charged with his murder. We don’t blame the Carnival for our son’s murder; it was the action of a small minority.
But if you have any information about what happened that day three years ago, please come forward,” said his parents, Sandra and Vincent Nembhard.
Police Renew Investigation as Carnival Nears
Detective Inspector Richard Kempshall, deputy senior investigating officer on the case, acknowledged the scale of the tragedy and the likelihood that many witnessed the incident.
“Takayo was a talented rapper who attended Notting Hill Carnival, like so many others, to enjoy the day and the event. A mindless act of violence has ensured that his children are without a father. Due to the timing and venue of the attack, it is quite likely that many people witnessed the events before, during or after.”
With Notting Hill Carnival 2025 just days away, police are making a direct appeal to anyone who may have seen or heard anything unusual on that fateful day in 2022. Investigators believe that, in such a crowded public setting, crucial information still lies hidden—possibly among those who haven’t yet spoken out.
How to Share Information
The Met is urging individuals to come forward through any of the following means:
- Contact the force via social media
- Call 101
- Reach the incident room directly on 020 7175 2206
- Quote case number 7478/29AUG22
Time may have passed, but the pain remains raw for Takayo’s loved ones. As London gears up for another carnival, the memory of that violent act lingers—a stark reminder that justice has yet to be served.
