One of the world most anticipated festival "The Calabar Carnival" in Cross River State of Nigeria has been the most consistent festival in Nigeria. Every December, visitors from all over the world converge in Calabar to witness the display of Nigeria's rich cultural heritage in the one week event.
This is an annual special and popular cultural festival that displays African culture and heritage by means of music, dress attire, drama and other cultural creativities of talents.
The carnival which is considered "the largest street party in the whole of Africa" is highly costumed and has over the years attracted over two million spectators annually from various parts of the globe who come to watch the great cultural display of this rare kind, largely covered by so many media industries.
The street party is a segment of the carnival where contigents parade and party in different colourful costumes from one junction to another dancing, dramatizing, networking and taking beautiful pictures.
The Calabar traditional ruler known as Obong in Efik language and his cabinets are not left out, also traditional title holders and worthy illustrious sons and daughters of this wonderful State are all full participants of this great festival.
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Calabar cultural carnival is for all lovers of colours as it is graced with colourful costumes, no wonder it is also known as the festival of colours. Spectators who participate in this unique annual festival are always filled with enthusiasm.
The carnival over the years had promoted unity and created strong relationship between the state and others in Nigeria and the international community.
This year's festival themed "Migration" was deliberately chosen to preach to the youths the painful consequencies of illegal routes to Europe and America.
Hence, Calabar carnival is not just a street party but a lecture, training and formative structure to build new character and create new opportunities for young leaders as was asserted by the Governor of Cross River State, His Excellecy Prof. Ben Ayade.
Therefore, when you see the float, procession, drama and dance, they would be dramatically telling sad stories of dangerous routes which end in slavery and death.
It is not just a dance, you should have the intellect to interpret what go beyond the performances...telling the stories of consequences of illegal migration.
Finally, all is set for this year's Calabar carnival. According to the News Agency of Nigeria report, the Minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed was in Calabar on Monday 18th December 2017 to declare open the final dry run of the carnival and inspected bands, costume making centres, rehearsal sessions and many other facilities for the success of the festival and affirmed them ready.
For all lovers of culture, colour, fun..all roads lead to Calabar, Nigeria!! Let's say "NO TO MODERN SLAVERY"!!!
Calabar is ready to host you, Nigeria is set to welcome you, Africa is happy to accommodate you...
See you in Calabar my Friends.
