Carnival Calabar’s tenth year of colour, culture

Themed ‘Celebration Time’, it started with the tune of Kool & the Gang’s ‘Celebration Time’ hit as the crowd fell in line behind the governor to begin the 12-kilometre street party. Outdoing themselves once again in colours, costumes, creativity, choreography and style, the five bands, Passion 4, Masta Blasta, Seagull, Bayside and Freedom paraded themselves […]

Themed ‘Celebration Time’, it started with the tune of Kool & the Gang’s ‘Celebration Time’ hit as the crowd fell in line behind the governor to begin the 12-kilometre street party. Outdoing themselves once again in colours, costumes, creativity, choreography and style, the five bands, Passion 4, Masta Blasta, Seagull, Bayside and Freedom paraded themselves in an effort to define the theme of this year’s event.
Dance, style, dexterity and presentation were the order of the day as old, young, fat, slim, family and single blended in a classless jamboree, partying as groups familiar with one another and as groups bound together by one sole goal, celebrating the yuletide the Carnival Calabar way.
Nimble feet, agile bodies and deft fingers, danced and played to songs by indigenous artistes like Wizkid and Davido, as well as Western ones like John Legend and Kelly Rowland amongst others as the bands in a ‘fight for their lives’ sought to impress the adjucators at each of the four points they were stationed on the Carnival route which climaxed at the UJ Esuene stadium.
Passion 4 displayed the beauty of Nigeria’s unity and diversity in the various costumes and dances of different regions across the country as they celebrated Nigeria at 100.
Senior citizens were not left out of the party as they danced to the new dance of ‘Sekem’ holding their waists to its rhythm.
Masta Blasta heralded by drummers, showed no disparity in its male and female participants as each matched the other in the same measure of strength and energetic performances.
Gallantly ushered into the arena by its majestic king and queen just after its colourful trumpet themed float, Freedom band thrilled audience with contemporary and acrobatic steps.
In their reds, the Seagull participants visibly lacked the cheer of Nollywood stars that usually was a highpoint for most present.
It wasn’t much different for the Bayside band who waited at least 20 minutes to come on stage as selection of their music was being made. Midway, having to lip dance their steps or some members having to go off stage when the wrong music or no music came up at all, members were not dampened and saw their performance through to the end.
Each group had exceptional performances which served as exciting moments for guests, like acrobatics and balancing acts.
A major point for all were the performances of the P.Square duo, dressed as pirates. Also in costume was Governor Imoke, Nollywood stars Jim Iyke and Kate Henshaw, among others.
Chioma Eze participating for the fourth time as a member of the Passion 4 band said the thrill and excitement of the Carnival is the relationship the band extends to its members. “This is the reason I keep coming back,” she said.
Although gets an allowance for her role, “the opportunity to participate is more rewarding,” the Lagos resident added.
Mrs. Egor Efiok who has served as an adjucator for the Carnival three times said the groups were judged on every font including, their interpretation of the theme, presentation, ingenuity and performance amongst others.
On the most difficult part of fulfilling this role, the film producer said: After all said and done, we must be fair in our judging and be seen as such.” She added that it’s important to recognise that the groups have put in efforts, but those who have put in the most usually standout. “Some groups are very organised and present their synopsis in good time to give you an pre-knowledge of how they have translated their ideas,” she said.
This, Efiok informed, helps with the judging process.
Winning teams were Odupani Local Government Area (Cultural Parade); Seagull band (Junior King); Freedom band (Junior Queen); Masta Blasta band (Senior King); and Seagull band (Senior Queen). Winners in the children’s carnival were, Seagull band (Best costume and Best reflected carnival spirit) and Masta Blasta (Band of the year).
In the adult carnival winners were, Passion 4 band (Best costume), Masta Blasta band (Best reflected carnival spirit). Masta Blasta for the third time running was crowned Band of the year.
Abandoning celebrations in their home countries, Israeli envoy to Nigeria, Uriel Palti and Rwanda’s former envoy to Nigeria, Joseph Habineza were there to witness the fete for themselves.
Palti who arrived Nigeria two years ago, was visiting Calabar for the first time. He said: “It is a dream come through for any ambassador representing in Nigeria to come here. I was told 800 thousand people are expected here and ten million are watching it.”
Palti was grateful to the Nigerian Tourism and Development Corporation (NTDC)  boss, Sally Mbanefo, who was conspicuously absent this year as well, for making it possible that he was there with his wife.
Bringing a Rwandan cultural troupe to perform last year, Habineza said: “It is was very significant that the group was part of the carnival because Cross River and Rwanda have almost the same topography. We like peace, we like enjoyment and I wanted to give Nigerians a taste of Rwandan culture.”
Seemingly all well put together, spectators however commented on issues they considered lapses and unbefitting for a tenth anniversary. Guests, who attended the fiesta in an unprecedented number, were not altogether pleased by what they got.
“This year, there seems to be less floats and members in bands,” Silvia Ekah complained, adding that ‘the bands are also very late in organising themselves and putting forward their presentations and performances.’ “Their disorganisation is so visible. How can Masta Blasta spell its own name as ‘Masta Blaster’?,” she queried.
Another, Ernest Adedirigbe commented that ‘a lot of the costumes were like rags.’ He said: “I noticed that many of the participants held them in place with pieces of ankara fabrics they may have retrieved from the waste collection of tailors. For a tenth anniversary, it doesn’t seem like anything went into its preparation at all,” he said.
Describing the carnival as ‘a vision which has been converted into a commercial success,’ being the main attraction of the 32-day Calabar festival, Chairman of the Cross River state Carnival Commission, Mr. Gabe Onah said: “our future is to move it to the private sector so that sustainability will be achieved.”
On the biggest legacy Onah said it is that: “Nobody can stop the carnival. It has a life of its own.” Informing that three percent of the visitors at the carnival were foreigners from various destinations, he added that there were no worries of the private sector taking over the carnival next year. “We must continue as a responsible government to provide the enabling environment and protect. Not to take it over but to stay behind and encourage them,” he said.