The Calabar Carnival attracts delegates from up to 35 countries and 20 Nigerian states every year. For last year’s edition, the chairman of the Carnival Calabar Commission, Mr Gabe Onah, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that participants were expected from Vietnam, Bangladesh, Italy, Brazil, Malawi, Kenya and many others.
Onah said that delegates from other countries would actively participate in the carnival that took place between December 1 and 30, 2019.
The aim is that more of Nigeria’s cultural and tourism content will be showcased to these international delegates at the carnival because of the need to encourage inbound tourism.
The sound of a beating drum can be heard from miles away, a chorus of voices ring across the city echoing from every corner. The crowd erupts in large cheers as dancers thrill them with movements that are pleasing on the eye.
The traditional African dances are performed by dancers adorned in vibrant colourful attires with smiles on their faces. This is what the much famed Calabar Carnival looks like.
The first-ever Calabar Carnival was initiated in 2004 by the then governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke and tagged “Africa’s Biggest Street Party”.
Duke’s vision was clear, the state would go on to become a hub for tourism and hospitality in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. The Calabar Carnival isn’t just any fancy street party, rather it has metamorphosed into a yearly event that blends dexterity in colours, cultural diversity, choreography skills, musical concepts and costumes of five different bands.
It has become an annual state event to look forward to and takes place each year on the 26th of December often lasting till the 31st. It is a high point of the series of activities organized by the Cross River State Government to celebrate both the end of the year and the Christmas season.
The Carnival has always been a showcase of talents as an array of colourful and interesting costumes are usually on parade at the Calabar Carnival.
The different groups wear attires symbolizing different spheres of societal constructs. A quite wonderful sight to behold, it’s no surprise tourists swarm the place during the carnival season.
At the Carnival, annual highlights include performances from Calabar’s five major bands; Bayside, Freedom, Seagull, Passion 4 and Masta Blasta.
Since its inception in 2004, there has been a theme for each year. And since 2015, the Carnival Calabar themes have been of the present-day relevance and global in appeal.
