CALABAR CARNIVAL: THE BIGGEST STREET PARTY IN AFRICA

The calabar carnival usually tagged “ the biggest street party in Africa”  is a yearly event organized by the Cross River State government of Nigeria. It’s a unique and popular cultural festival that showcases African culture and heritage by means of dressing, drama, music, dance and other cultural inspirations by talented Africans, most especially Nigerians. The carnival plays host to thousands of visitors from all parts of Nigeria, Africa and indeed the World. 

THE HISTORY OF CALABAR CARNIVAL

Calabar carnival  has come a long way, it was launched back in December 2004 by the then governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke. It was conceived as part of the aspiration of making the Cross River State in Nigeria the Number one tourist destination for Nigerians and tourist from all over the world .it starts on every 1st of December and does last through till the 31st of December with series of different cultural activities and  The regulatory body for the Calabar Carnival is the Cross River State Carnival Calabar Commission.

EVENTS HELD DURING THE CARNIVAL

There usually are a plethora of activities lined up for the calabar carnival. The major events mostly are

Cultural displays

Fashion shows

Music performances

Boat regatta

Christmas shows

Carol night

CULTURAL PARADE

This is the main event of the calabar carnival. . Participators are organized into bands that are required to display costumes, skills, talents, masquerades and dance routines during the parade that proceeds through a 12km route along the streets of calabar to the admiration of spectators and also viewers from all over the world. It’s usually very colourful. 

Participation in the band is open to everybody, Nigerians and non- Nigerians alike and its purely voluntarily. There are five main bands for the carnival and anyone  from anywhere can join any of them. The bands are usually represented by their colours.

The bayside band  (blue)

The freedom band (yellow)

The seagull band  (red)

The master blaster band (orange)

The passion 4 band (green)

Each band is expected to develop their own concept in ch for the parade. Special costumes are made  by the band’s management to be worn by band participators

INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION

The calabar carnival has grown to become a global festival attended by thousands of foreigners and plays host to some of the biggest carnival brands in the globe. International carnival bands like via vai samba of brazil, flag twirlers of Italy, carnival troupe of belize, circus oasis of france ,flamenco of spain and a whole lot of bands from south Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Ghana.

YOURS TRULY HAVING FUN IN LAST YEARS CARNIVAL

VIDEO EXCERPT OF THE CALABAR CARNIVAL

SOME COLOURFUL  PICTURES OF CALABAR CARNIVAL FESTIVAL

images source here

video source here

This year's carnival parade is nextweek wednesday, the 27th of december 2017, am all prepared and eagerly looking forward to having an enjoyable time at the carnival parade, and i will donning my steemit tshirt and doing some steemit promotion on the side, i am inviting any steemian coming to the carnival to join me in the promotions.

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