People & Culture

Calabar Carnival 2018: 14th Edition Of The Largest Street Carnival In Africa (pics)

By Muyiwa Olayinka

Gov Ben Ayade at the carnival

The Holy Bible asserts that when you sow a seed on a good ground it will germinate and bring forth good fruits in multiple folds. Mr. Donald Duke (Governor of Cross Rivers 1999 to 2007) had this in mind when in year 2004; he muted the idea of Calabar Carnival. The young man in his early 40s who sowed this seed knew he was making history with the vision of making the state a hub for tourism and hospitality in Nigeria and Africa.

Donald Duke

The idea did not drop into his mind as if he was in a trance or acting on impulse; it was as a result of his peripatetic nature imbued the young man to have a world view. He must have had the Notting Hill Street festival (London) or Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in mind and wondered why this can’t be replicated in his home state of Cross River.

It is a good thing to sow a seed, the other issue is the followers and successors to embrace and make sure it is watered for it to grow to produce a bountiful harvest. Successive Governors after Duke left office in 2007 ensured that the good seed was continuously watered tended for it to grow to have bountiful harvest.

Governors Liyel Imoke and the incumbent, Professor Ben Ayade identified with the dream, keyed and ran with it, and today Calabar Carnival has become the largest street Carnival in Africa after 14 years of its inception!

Duke is a Presidential aspirant on the platform of Social Democratic Party SDP. If given the chance to rule Nigeria, he will be able to make Nigeria a tourist destination. Tourism contributes largely in no small measure to the economy and GDP per capital income of Western world like USA, UK, France, and others like UAE (Dubai), Brazil  Egypt, Kenya, Tunisia to mention a few.

This is a success story that all black Africans should be proud of. A street carnival that started with less than thousands people have grown to attract millions of tourists all over the world trooping en mass to Calabar (the state capital) to savor the rich African culture. The greatest beneficiaries of this carnival are the indigenes that have embraced, guarded and nurtured it. They own and protect it jealously.

The theme of 2018 edition is “Africanism” and was designed to showcase to the world the current state of Africa and where the continent ought to be.

The Calabar Carnival is a government initiative in collaboration with the private sector. It is a community based initiative that is backed by relevant laws and registered in the World Trade Mark with 72 countries in Madrid Protocol.

The carnival begins every 1 December and lasts until 31 December. It has boosted the cultures of the people of Cross River state and Nigeria, entertaining millions of spectators and boosting tourism and commercial activities.

One of the unique activities lined up for the carnival are five competing bands, namely; Master Blaster, Passion 4, Seagull, Freedom and Master Blaster and a winner will be announced. The carnival route is about 12km with effective security cordon.

Passion 4 band won the 2018 edition leaving Seagull as the first runner up and Freedom Band as second runner up.

Nigeria, Africa watch out for the 2019 edition!

 

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