Cal Carnival 2009: Africa’s biggest street party

Wednesday, 06 January 2010 17:22

THE sensation and aesthetic coordination that characterised the just concluded Carnival Calabar has sent a signal to carnival lovers and tourists the world over, that Cross River State is not only out to be identified as a pace-setter in the global ranking of carnival organisers, but is also in a build up to position the state as a leisure and holiday destination in Africa.

Conspicuously, the Carnival Calabar 2009, with the theme: Calabar, land of our birth, our people, our culture,” which played host to Nigerians at home and in the diaspora on December 27, brought out the cultural coherence, co-existence and affinity that bond the diverse ethnic groups in Nigeria together, through the display of fascinating dances, costume and constructive artistic impressions and designs that showcased the ingenuity and heritage of the people of Nigeria, their pride and identity, and who they represent.

The 12-kilometre carnival float, flagged off by Governor Liyel Imoke at the Calabar Millennium Park, took the train from the Calabar Stadium through Mary Slessor avenue, via Marian road through MCC road down to Murtala Mohammed Way, and back to the stadium amidst entertainment and performance which attracted unprecedented crowd, that flooded the carnival route in their numbers.

However, the Carnival Calabar  by all standard  improved tremendously, going by the innovation, which greeted the durbar performance, among other new entrants, sponsors, and the great support by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).

It was of note that the Carnival fell on a Sunday, and this made the event to start behind schedule ( 3 p.m.) to allow people church services. However,  the lateness in time, did not in anyway disrupt the carnival fun, but showed the people’s sensitivity to socio-cultural activities and deliberate passion to sustain the carnival, as they all lined up along the carnival route, old and young, boys and girls, men and women, from all walks of life for an all-time cultural carnival night out that ran from 3.00 p.m. on December 27 to 3.00 a.m. of the next day.

Interestingly, the event presented four-time winner, Passion Four Band, and Seagull band as Carnival Calabar 2009 bands of the Year in the senior category, which was held sameday. Five competitive carnival bands namely Freedom Band, with its traditional yellow colour, Masta Blasta Band  - orange, Bayside Band – Blue, Seagull Band – Red and Passion Four- Green were judged at four adjudication points  on their ability to interprete the theme of the year’s Carnival Calabar .

The 12-kilometre-long carnival procession reputed to be “Africa’s Biggest Street Party” which was based on best decorated float, carnival move, makeup/costumes, best interpretation of the carnival theme and  reflection of the carnival spirit. People of diverse nationalities participated in the carnival, explained its  acceptability as an international event.
In the children’s category, the highly improved Seagull Band emerged the Junior Carnival Band of the Year and also won the Queen in both the senior and junior categories, and Junior King category, while the Freedom Band won the Junior Queen.

Next was Masta Blasta Band led by Chief Gershom Bassey with the topic Government and Women, Hunters, Farmers and Harvests and followed by Pyramid of Egypt, Gold of Africa, Diamond, Coal, Crude Oil/Black Gold, Golden Revelers and Slavery.

Bayside Band led by the immediate past Governor of Cross River State; Mr. Donald Duke and his wife Onari, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, Mr. John Odey Minister of Environment and Mr. Julius Okpotu Commissioner for Environment and Professor Offiong Offiong Commissioner for Education was the third band in the procession.

It carried such sub themes as Cradle of Human Civilization; Tourism, Nature At its Best – Skill; West Africa, Rich in Happy Friendly People, Pioneers in Learning; Bravery, Resilience and Talent.

The fourth band, Seagull which has Senator (Mrs.) Florence Ita-Giwa as its leader, was supported by Hon. Uduak Akiba of the State House of Assembly, Mrs. Patience Ozokwo, (Mama Gee) Shane George, Rita Dominic and Kalu Ikeagu all of the Nigerian Nollywood came up with a sub theme of the Story of A People – The Efik, followed sub titles like the Origin, the Sojourn in Ghana; Adventure in Arochukwu, Pains and Tears; Uruan Settlement; Creek Town Settlement; The Advent of the Missionaries, the Efik Kingship; West Minister Coronation; and the Homage to the King by Benin, Tivs, Ife Empire and Sokoto Caliphate.

Others included Southern Senatorial District – Fishing, Central Senatorial District – Farming, New Yam Festival and Northern Senatorial District – Beehive, which were supported by signposts carrying the names of continents. Passion Four Band led by Chris Agibe, a one time Commissioner in the state, carried a floating banner with the sub theme, A Feather to Becheve (A Journey to Greatness) Tiny Toes and Green Fingers, Footprint in the Jungle; Ships on Our Shores; Valley of Pains – Slavery, Cut off – Veginal Mutilation, Hunger and Poverty; Pains of Pleasure – Leboku, Carnival Calabar, Shippery Slopes of Knowledge and Wisdom (Hope Waddle Training Institute and Malabo) Fulfillment in Becheve, Faces and Harmony of Becheve and Burden of Becheve with a concluding Sub topic of “Ye are Sons and Daughters of the Land Not Bondmen – Greatness is our Heritage”.

The non Competiting bands included Apache Aliens, Lagos Dolphing, First Bank with its logo, International Association of Lions Clubs, Fire Service, Civil Defence, Immigration Service, Prisons, Mobil Police, NYSC, Nigerian Navy, and Nigerian Army while Rotary International Clubs, Oceanic Bank, Bournvita, Amber Tinapa, Prayers to all Nation a.k.a Prayer City and Christ Embassy presented carnival floats.

Some personalities and dignitaries who participated in the procession included Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke with a very strong supporting team in lion skin attire which gave Masta Blasta its much needed pep and backed by carnival floats tagged Dance of Victory, Sights and Sound of Africa, the Plundering of Africa/The Cradle of Civilization (Africa) and the Deputy Governor Mr. Efiok Cobham and wife, Glory added colour to the Freedom Band.  Another notable person was High Chief Edem Duke, who is deeply involved in the hospitality industry.

The carnival which saw some non-competiting bands participating had the Governors of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva and Rivers State Amaechi Rotimi taking part after it was flagged off by the host, Governor  Imoke of Cross River State, assisted by his wife, Obioma and Deputy Efiok Cobham and wife, Glory.

Freedom Band, led by Captain Henry Brisbe, which was the first in the procession, interpreted the theme of the carnival under tribal wars, era of slavery, and tribes, including Efik, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and countries like South Africa, Kenya, Cote D’Iviore, Niger and Senegal, with different costumes and dance steps to match.

Next was Masta Blasta Band led by Chief Gershom Bassey with the topic "Government and women, hunters, farmers and harvests" and followed by Pyramid of Egypt, Gold of Africa, Diamond, Coal, Crude Oil/Black Gold, Golden Revelers and Slavery.

Bayside Band, led by the immediate past Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, and his wife Onari, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, Mr. John Odey, Minister of Environment, and Mr. Julius Okpotu, Commissioner for Environment, and Professor Offiong Offiong, Commissioner for Education, was the third band in the procession. It carried such sub- themes as cradle of human civilisation; tourism, nature at its best – skill; West Africa, rich in happy friendly people, pioneers in learning; bravery, resilience and talent.

The fourth band, Seagull, which had Senator (Mrs.) Florence Ita-Giwa as its leader, was supported by Hon. Uduak Akiba of the state House of Assembly, Mrs. Patience Ozokwo, (Mama Gee) Shan George, Rita Dominic and Kalu Ikeagu, all of the Nigerian Nollywood, came up with a sub-theme of the "Story of a people – the Efik, followed sub- titles like the origin, the sojourn in Ghana; adventure in Arochukwu, pains and tears; Uruan settlement; creek town settlement; the advent of the missionaries, the Efik kingship; West Minister coronation; and the homage to the King by Benin, Tivs, Ife Empire and Sokoto Caliphate.

Others included Southern Senatorial District – fishing, Central Senatorial District – farming, New Yam Festival and northern Senatorial District – beehive, which were supported by signposts carrying the names of continents.

Passion Four Band, led by Chris Agibe, a one-time commissioner in the state, carried a floating banner with the sub theme, a feather to becheve (A journey to greatness) tiny toes and green fingers, footprint in the jungle; ships on our shores; valley of pains – slavery, cut off – Vaginal mutilation, hunger and poverty; pains of pleasure – leboku, carnival calabar, shippery slopes of knowledge and wisdom (Hope Waddle Training Institute and Malabo) fulfillment in becheve, faces and harmony of becheve and burden of becheve with a concluding sub topic of “Ye are sons and daughters of the land, not bondmen – greatness is our heritage.”

The non competiting bands included Apache Aliens, Lagos Dolphing, First Bank with its logo, International Association of Lions Clubs, Fire Service, Civil Defence, Immigration Service, Prisons, Mobile Police, NYSC, Nigerian Navy, and Nigerian Army, while Rotary International Clubs, Oceanic Bank, Cadbury, Amber Tinapa, Prayers to all Nation (a.k.a Prayer City) and Christ Embassy presented carnival floats.

Some personalities and dignitaries who participated in the procession included Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, with a very strong supporting team in lion skin attire, which gave Masta Blasta its much needed pep backed by carnival floats tagged dance of victory, sights and sound of Africa, the plundering of Africa/the cradle of civilisation (Africa) while the Deputy Governor, Mr.  Cobham, and wife, Glory, added colour to the Freedom Band.  Another notable person was High Chief Edem Duke, who is deeply involved in the hospitality industry.