Calabar Carniva @10

Calabar Carnival: Celebration time @ 10

By Jimoh Babatunde
The Calabar carnival has been a game changer for the economy of Cross River state and its people since its inception in 2004, when the then governor of the state, Donald Duke, had a vision of making the state the hub for tourism and hospitality in Nigerian and in Africa.
Calabar has become the pride of Nigeria as far as tourism, carnivals and hospitality are concerned. Calabar Carnival is a unique display of African heritage, showcased through music, dance, drama and visual creativity, which is reflected in the design of floats, costumes and make up. Since inception, this festival has grown tremendously in popularity and scope.
It is not uncommon to now have families choosing Calabar as their tourism destination for their annual Christmas break which has made the carnival to grow in leaps and bounds.
So, the 2014 edition of the carnival was chosen to celebrate the successes achieved in the last ten years with the theme “Celebration Time.” Governor Liyel Imoke attested to this when he flagged off the carnival Saturday at the Millennium Park, saying that the carnival has grown in leaps and bounds, becoming the biggest street party in Africa.
According to him, for the first time in the history of the carnival, the state government did not advertise the carnival, yet the crowd that thronged Calabar to witness it was unprecedented.
Hallmark celebration
For the Deputy Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham, this year’s event was significant in the life of the administration as it was the last to be hosted by his government. He said the 10th edition served as a hallmark celebration to usher in the next administration.
“Ten years is no mean feat. For us, Carnival Calabar has grown bigger and bigger as we promised Cross Riverians and Nigerians when we came on board in 2007. With our vision of institutionalizing the event, by allowing private sector to be the main drivers while government regulates, there is greater hope that this Carnival will grow in lips and bounds,” he assured. “He said that the institutionalization of the annual Carnival culminated in the formation of the Carnival Calabar Band Associations who are now the main drivers of the event, emphasising that, “last year you said it was the biggest carnival , but this year from what you have seen is extra ordinary.”
As the present government wound up in few months from now, the Governor Imoke has promised the people of the state and Nigerians that the carnival will not die.
“This year’s carnival is my last carnival as the governor of this state. But I believe it will continue in the years ahead. It has truly become the ambassador event for Africa. We are planning to privatize it. There must be continuity in leadership which is very critical for us. Once we can do that, I believe we will continue to deliver great performances and improve on what we have already done over the years.”

Speaking on the success of the Carnival, Chairman of the Carnival Commission, Gab Onah, attributed the gains of the last ten years to team spirit, strong political leadership, strong governors, humble people and loving people.
Mr. Gabe Onah added that today the private sector has taken full ownership of the celebration with the band enjoying enormous sponsorship.
SpectatorsAfter the flag off of what has become the biggest street party ever in the annals of the African continent by the Governor, Liyel Imoke joined by his wife, the deputy governor and his wife;  the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke;  the duo of Peter and Paul Okoye of P-Square fame, and Senator Ben Ajade, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate for 2015 election in the state, the spectators throng to the street to savour what the five bands have offer .
The Israeli ambassador to Nigeria and the Rwandan Minister of Sport and Culture, Ambassador Joseph Habineza were among the tourists that flooded the 14 kilometers carnival route stretching from the U. J Esuene Stadium through Mary Slessor Way down to the popular Mobile before moving back to the U. J Esuene Stadium in the early hour of Sunday. There was nothing to stop the people and the bands from enjoying themselves as they turned and twisted with magical ease in their various costumes, music, and choreography, depicting their interpretation of the theme of the carnival “Celebration Time”.
The Carnival bands, Passion 4, Freedom, Bayside, Masta Blasta and Seagull, with beautifully costumed girls that captivated the audience with their curves tried to undo one another with their dances and floats. At the end of the day, Masta Blasta band, with its presentation of ‘the Masta’s Fiesta’ which celebrates the people’s values, again came top.
The Masta Blasta band this year opened the people’s eyes to see light through the prism of Masta by celebrating the essence of life which starts with the presence of light and the love which the people need to co exist despite the differences.
Through drumming, the decoration f the static float, the throne and cake that symbolizes the essence of celebration of the 10th anniversary, Masta Blasta won the heart of the judges and people.
Minister commends winner
Speaking on the Masta Band, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Edem Duke, who is a member of the band, said “the band is the largest of the carnival band in terms of population, it has a lot more of the masses as its membership.”
The Minister added that  the band has come to be regarded as the spirit of the carnival, because is an aggregation of people from all strata of the society and it is very informal organization and we all just have fun which culminated in winning the carnival in 2012 , 2013 and 2014.
SIDE KICKSThe announcement of the Masta Blasta Band also known as “The Orange Family” as the winner of the 2014 carnival did not surprise many as the band paraded the Governor, Imoke and his wife with Nollywood stars like Kate Henshaw, Jim Iyke and Angela Okoro and the duo of Peter and Paul Okoye of P-Square fame. Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa who is arguably the face of the Seagull band was missing this year, though she was sighted a day before the carnival at the stadium.
The absence of the former Governor Donald Duke and his wife, Onari Duke, were also missed by the Bayside band.

At 10, Calabar Carnival arrests non-indigenes

Some of the participants

More people from across the country embrace the Calabar Carnival, whose 10th edition was held on Saturday, AKEEM LASISI reports

All-glamorous Calabar Carnival hit a landmark on Saturday, when the third edition held in the Cross River State capital. As usual, it was a feast of beautiful costumes, brilliant colours, ample music mixed with all kinds of dramatic spectacles.

While Five Bands – Passion Four, Master Blasta, Seagull, Freedom and Bayside – showcased their talents at the grand finale, the battle was, as usual, between Passion Four and Masta Blasta. For some five years before 2012, Passion Four, which usually parades smashingly beautiful babes and suave colours, ruled the waves, winning all the way. But Masta Blasta has since 2012 got a rhythm that no one has been able to beat.

No wonder, the band, which has learnt to spice its performances with unpredictable magical, theatrical and musical performances, again won the golden crest for the third time consecutively, with Passion Four coming second. While Freedom Band and Seagull shared the third and fourth positions, Bayside again contented itself with the bottom level, making some people wonder if its handlers and members ever planned to rule again.

Incidentally, while the likes of wife of the Cross River State Governor, Obioma Imoke, and Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, are members of Masta Blasta, Donald Duke is of Bayside.

Although Donald Duke and Senator Ita Giwa, who usually add to the glamour of the event were absent on Saturday, celebrities that include P Square and Jim Iyke were present, with P Square performing alongside Masta Blasta. Besides, beyond the competitive aspects of the carnival, all the bands had a lot to offer tourists.

Also, one of the things that make the Calabar Carnival tick is the passion that indigenes have for it. While the peaceful and clean character of Calabar is ever suitable for such a gathering, the natives identify with the carnival and so, they came out en masse to celebrate the participants. The same feat was performed in Calabar on Saturday.

In a clime where a socio-cultural project of that magnitude comes and goes, with many of such not planned to be sustained, many participants believe that what Cross River State has achieved – hosting the carnival for 10 years without any break – is a big feat. In the past decade, for instance, even the Federal Government has failed to sustain the steam earlier generated by the Abuja Carnival. This particularly applied to the 2014 edition, which, no thanks to security threats and poor funding, was a sad shadow of the earlier ones.

A carnival as big as the Calabar’s is cost-intensive. And like any other tourism product, the investment has to be sustained until it eventually breaks even. Stakeholders say this is an area where the Cross River State government has scored a point. Even when the resources of the state dramatically fell about four years ago, when it lost some oil blocs to Akwa Ibom State, it still managed to keep the carnival alive. Observers thus note that as the outgoing Governor, Liyel Imoke, is moving towards his last day in office, the song on is lips may be that of ‘I have kept faith with the carnival’.

National carnival

Apart from the fact that many tourists from different parts of the country, and a good number from outside, now keep a date with the carnival, membership of the five bands that stage breath-taking performances has since expanded to include people from other parts of the country. Watching the show from afar, one would think that it is only folks from the host state that populate the bands. But like every successful child that all and sundry like to associate with, people from other states now compete to be part of them.

This is what a survey by our correspondent revealed during Saturday’s events. For instance, Sandra Amen participated as a member of Passion Four for the second year. She was one of the front liners whose group dressed in cultural fabrics, with multiple beads dancing on their rosy chests.

An interview with her revealed that apart from the fact that she is a native of Benin City, the lady who works with a property company is based in Lagos. But she has developed so much interest in the carnival that she took time to travel to Calabar and rehearsed with Passion Four.

The graduate of English from the University of Benin, Ekpoma, said, “The Calabar Carnival has become a thing of pride. The fun it gives is great. I want more states to develop similar projects because it also projects a good image of the country.”

Similarly, Doris Sunday, a Business Management student of Rivers State Polytechnic, was also part of the band. According to her, the fun derived from participating surpasses the stress she and her colleagues go through.

Sunday said, “It’s fun; nothing but fun. The stress is nothing to complain about. In the morning, all I need to do is to have plenty rest.”

Benue-born Divine Peters, who was introduced to the carnival by a friend, also savoured the gains of it. He has so much fallen in love with it that his being a contractor did not prevent him from parading with Seagul Band.

Also, Ediomo Linus, Eke Elizabeth and Anita Chioma –all in Masta Blasta – shared their experiences and agreed that the carnival has fostered unity and harmony among Nigerians. Chioma, a Guidance and Counselling student at the Ebonyi State University, further noted that the allowance the bands pay participants is also encouraging, although she did not state how much.

Most of the participants were, however, indigenes, who see the carnival a s a thing of pride. Among such is tender Francesca Edoki, from the Abi Local Government Area of the state. She has been part of Masta Blasta for three years and explained that the carnival is a training ground for participants.

“Apart from the fun it creates, I have learnt a lot by interacting with others. I have learnt how to use different media to create things for the carnival. I am a Visual Arts student at the Cross River State University of Technology. I have learnt better concepts that will be useful for me in the school. I can go back and do paintings with better use of colours,” she said.

For Midred Duke, a Tourism and Hotel Management student of the University of Calabar, the 2014 edition of the carnival provided a double honour. Apart from being an active member of the band, she is from the family of former Governor Donald Duke, who initiated the project and organised it for two years before he left office. Saying Duke did a great thing by envisioning the carnival, she commended Imoke for sustaining the legacy.

She noted, “I have gained many things since I started participating. It is all about love, peace and unity.”

Princess Stella Gomah, one of the older women who featured in the carnival, said one major thing the state has gained is global visibility.

She said, The carnival has been very good for us. It is the first of its kind in Africa. It has exposed Calabar to the world.”

It was thus an excited Governor Imoke that welcomed the hosts and guests during the opening ceremony. He assured the people that the 10 years of the carnival would be like the beginning.

“So far, I thank the people of Cross River State and Nigerians at large for their support. The carnival has become so popular that it always attracts the crowd. I have no doubt that the carnival will continue for the benefit of everybody.”

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Calabar Carnival still waxing stronger –Imoke

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, yesterday, said that after 10 years since the inception of the Calabar Carnival, the annual event was still waxing stronger as when it started.
The Governor stated this while declaring open the 2014 Adult Calabar Carnival at the Millennium Park in Cross River State and stressed that that the ceremony remains the greatest show ever in Africa.
“This is 10 years of the Calabar Carnival, the greatest street party ever and the greatest show in Africa.”
Imoke, who was flanked by his wife, Obioma and the State’s PDP governorship candidate, Senator Ben Ayade, also said the annual event has come to stay.
Earlier, Chairman of the State’s Carnival Commission, Mr. Gabe Onah, pointed out that government has put in place deliberate measures to ensure the sustenance of Carnival Calabar.
“Apart from the carnival commission and its structures, there is a band association in view as well as the right political will,” he added.
The colourful event featured the regular five participating carnival bands which included Master blaster, Seagul, Passion 4, Bayside as well as Freedom band.
The 2014 edition of the Carnival Calabar, with theme ‘Celebration Time’ which is the last for the Imoke’s led administration, also attracted Israeli ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Uriel Palti, his wife among other dignitaries.
Mr. Uriel Palti, the Isreali Ambassador to Nigeria, who participated in the carnival, commended Cross River State Government for sustaining the carnival.
Palti, who described the environment of Calabar as “friendly“, said he was in Calabar with his family to participate in the carnival.
A spectator, Mr. Albert Etim, described the carnival as a street party that united the people.
Ms. Eno Akan, who sells sachet and bottled water, said she had recorded good patronage since the commencement of the carnival.
Akan thanked Cross River Government for sustaining the carnival.

By Jimoh Babatunde

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