Written By Linus Obogo, Assistant Editor
To many tourists and fun seekers, the annual Calabar Carnival has come to represent something of a pilgrimage. They look forward to it with great eagerness. To them, it is one glorious moment in the state’s annual calendar of events. It holds so much for them- the razzmatazz, the glitz, frills and thrills.
So, it was once again welcome to Calabar, welcome to destination Cross River State, welcome to nature and welcome to hospitality, as the 2012 edition of the Calabar Carnival got off to a rousing start with the lighting of the Christmas tree, on December 1, by the Cross River State Deputy Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham at the Millennium Park.
The Christmas tree lighting was followed by a four-kilometer paradise city walk against HIV/AIDS as well as the opening of the Calabar festival village at the Cultural Centre Complex. Gospel musician, Buchi, thrilled fun seekers with his characteristic reggae flavoured tunes.
On the list of artistes gracing the festival are Akon, 2Face, Femi, Flavour, Iyanya, Davido, Timaya, Duncan Mighty, Naeto C, Ruggedman, P-Square, Mo Eazy, Jukebox, Jonathan Butler, Kunle Ayo, Moses Phillips, E-Ben, Tiwa Savage, Omawunmi, Nigga Raw, Sunny Neji and J Martins.
Others include Basket Mouth, Jimmy Jatt, Julius Agwu, Wizkid, Wande Coal, May D, King Feladey, Mr. Xto, Effiom Trombone, Ras Kimono, Blaccky, Big Bob & Da Bingy Soldiers, among others.
Also listed are Gen. Brown Bread, Chantaman, Prince and Princess, Betsy Akan, MI, Ice Prince, D’Prince, Real Pound and Monkals.
There will also be a command performance by Brazilian group, Vai Vai Samba Band School of Brazil, winners of Rio 2012 carnival.
While lighting the Christmas tree, Cobham, who was assisted by his wife, Glory, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Larry Odey, Masakela, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values, Mrs. Sarah Jibril and representatives of sponsors and development agencies, said the 12-year-old event has grown bigger in scope and volume.
Cobham maintained that the state government will continue with the festival because it is a celebration of love, hospitality, courage and resilience of the people in the face of challenges.
The deputy governor commended the sponsors for identifying with the festival in different ways and described the lighting ceremony as a tip of the iceberg as the best would come during the other days of the festival.
A Special Adviser in Governor’s Office, Mr. Nzan Ogbe, who described the festival as a great gift which the state has for the nation, said it is one of the best ways in its rebranding process.
Ogbe appealed to the Federal Government to partner the state in the 32-day event which is delightful to the soul.
The Group Managing Director/ CEO First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, in his address, said as a partner, the mutually beneficial partnership has enabled the bank to return value to a key stakeholder community by improving the social and cultural calendar of the state of the state.
According to Onasanya, who was represented by Mrs. Nkiru Harry Eze, the bank prides itself on its corporate social responsibility and sponsorship initiative which reflect its commitment to being a major contributor to the socio-economic and cultural development of the country.
Modelled after the Rio Carnival of Brazil, the Calabar Carnival is unarguably a carnival every Nigerian has been proud of and one that hold its own among other world famous carnivals. Going by the sheer number of foreign tourists at this year’s edition, there is no doubt that the Calabar showpiece has brought Nigeria some level of honour and respectability in carnival presentations in the world.
Uniquely, the Calabar Carnival which has come with its own colours, enthusiasm, liveliness, spirit of participation, competition, and the ambience of the city is a world apart from the three cloned cultural carnivals presently in the national calendar of carnival seasons; which include the Abuja National Carnival, the Lagos carnival and the Port Harcourt carnival.
The tree lighting event attracted a vast concourse of fun seekers, tourists, as well as ecstatic residents.
The well nurtured venue literally came on fire, as soon as the lightening was over. In attendance were the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Glory Cobham, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values, Mrs. Sarah Jibril; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Larry Odey; Mr. Nzan Ogbe and Nkiru Harry Eze, who represented the Group Managing Director/CEO, First Bank, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, among other personages.
An elated South African music icon who could barely contain his excitement about what he beheld of Calabar delved into a subtle marketing of the state to the global audience: “It is one of the safest places in Africa with peace loving people. I am proud to be part of the festival as it is a win-win situation for everyone.”
For the first time as well as regular visitors to the state capital, the air of celebration wafts strongly across the Calabar skyline. This could be felt as the aircraft makes a landing on the tarmac of Margaret Ekpo International Airport. At the airport proper, the festivity was already in full gear.
Having been economically disempowered with the loss of her 76 oil wells, the state government has since turned the attendant economic challenge into an opportunity by looking inward and harnessing the vast tourism potentials that abound in the state.
This explains why no stone is being left unturned by the government at ensuring that all that is needed to bring about a memorable carnival is put in place. As part of government’s deliberate policy, all streets in the state capital are swept and decorated, lawns are pampered, buildings given an added gloss. Every year, the fever of Calabar Carnival spreads like a virus and morphing gradually into a contagion. Nobody is left behind in the carnival train. It is this kind of fervour that has come to define the warmth, hospitality and tourism culture of the state.
According to Mr. Ndubuisi Allor, Chief Executive of Allor Holdings, “a period like this is what makes Calabar and indeed Cross River State a unique place to be.” No doubt, Calabar is now to many people a place to be, a place of an unforgettable experience, a paradise on earth, a fun seeker’s hideout, a getaway from the madding crowd.
As it is customary with the organisers, there is a conscious effort to surpass the previous year’s edition by offering lip-smacking packages in terms of scope and content. Each edition must be memorable with the experience boldly etched in the mind.
Speaking on this year’s edition of Calabar Carnival and what makes it unique, Special Assistant and Chief Press Secretary to Governor Liyel Imoke, Mr. Christian Ita said: “The uniqueness of this year’s event is that while it is still called Calabar Carnival, the focus of the government under Governor Liyel Imoke’s administration is to make the entire state a tourism destination. So it is ‘Destination Cross River State’. In other words, this administration is taking the scope of the carnival beyond Calabar to include the entire state. It is a deliberate policy of this administration to consciously market Cross River State as a tourism brand to the whole world.
Before, during and after the carnival, our visitors can decide to take a tour of other tourism sites spread across the state. It is a total package. Apart from showcasing the cultural heritage of the state, in terms of music and entertainment, there are a variety of activities lined up for the carnival. They include royal dance, fashion show, drama, DJs parade, adult and children carnival day run, beauty pageants, the green concert, golf clinics, skating competition, dancing competition and novelty football competition, among others. These underline the distinctive and multifaceted nature of the Calabar festival as a unique global carnival brand.”
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