Calabar Carnival
The Calabar Carnival which has become an annual state event to look forward to takes place each year on the 26th of December as a high point of the series of activities organized by the State Government to celebrate both the end of the year and Christmas season.
It has always been a showcase of talents, the performing arts and culture and an exciting rallying point not only for residents but also for indigenes living away from home.
This years theme: Sustaining Earth’s Treasures Through Our Culture.
History of the Carnival
The Carnival Calabar formally started in the Millennium year 2000 and was initially listed as one of the events to mark the Cross River State Annual Christmas Festival. Featuring models of the major landmarks of Cross River State like the famous Export commodity - Cocoa pod, the low land Gorilla of the last rain forest of West Africa, the leopard of the Ekpe Cultural group, the Old Residency building which once served as seat of Government for the entire colonial Nigeria and presently hosting the museum of slave history, the Mary Slessor Caravan and many more.
The Carnival Parade today, is a direct result of progression of ideas and the gradual awareness that came with it. The years that followed saw band members now adopting the drumming and singing style of the African in the Diaspora that was consistent with our village square band play form.
Mrs. Onari Duke, wife of the former State Governor decided to introduce costumed characters in the 2004 edition to give it depth and colour for variety and progression. This was highly successful especially the blend of these costumed characters and the landmark models on the float.
This experience was to gain momentum with His Excellency, the Ex-Governor leading a twenty man team from the State to the Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago to play in the carnival of 2005 in the Safari Band. Their contributions were to be rewarded with this band coming tops as band of the year 2005. The effort of the Cross River State born Ambassador Eddy Agbe, Nigerian Ambassador to the Island of T & T must be recognized here, as his ground work formed the plank for our full participation in the Caribbean Carnival.
Carnival Calabar Bands and their Leaders include:
- Bayside Band - Donald Duke.
- Freedom Band - Capt. Henry Brisibe.
- Master Blaster Band - Chief Gershom Bassey.
- Passion 4 - Mr. Chris Agibe.
- Seagull Band - Senator Florence Ita-Giwa.
A unique feature and a further enrichment is the inclusion of the trado-cultural group in the Carnival Band. The Governor's vision was to ensure that cultural values and contents form a major component of the experience. Thus a band of cultural dance troupes drawn from across the state are participating for a total experience.
Men and women of repute from the Performing Arts, Entertainment, Academia and show business were also contacted as adjudicators to witness this blend of ideas and potpourri of cross cultural parade.
In acknowledgment of our Ancestral history coupled with cultural similarities that exist between Cross River State and the Island of Trinidad & Tobago, care has been taken to bring back lost details due to harsh conditions that left no room for artistic expressions and differences in climatic conditions as well as influence of foreign culture which probably deprived the African diaspora from retaining costume content, songs, meanings and dance style. The band themes range from freedom, emancipation to equality, valour and grace.
In all these, the cultural content has been heightened to play up trado-originality and above all the cultural African content of a successful colour blend that excite the imagination and propel the spirit.
His Excellency, the Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Liyel Imoke is pleased to welcome all friends and well-wishers from other states of the Federation, Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean to this year's Carnival Calabar.
After a near six-year gestation period, Carnival Calabar has come to stay.