Mixed grill at Abuja Carnival
Every November since 2005, Abuja hosts the national carnival. This year didn’t fall short of the expected turn out as it witnesses a greater participation than last years’. With the first edition celebrated in 2005, the Abuja National Carnival has been an avenue for inter- cultural integration and interaction between different cultures across Nigeria. it […]
Every November since 2005, Abuja hosts the national carnival. This year didn’t fall short of the expected turn out as it witnesses a greater participation than last years’. With the first edition celebrated in 2005, the Abuja National Carnival has been an avenue for inter- cultural integration and interaction between different cultures across Nigeria. it has also become a platform to showcase the rich cultural and tourism potentials of the country.
In spite of the security challenge in the country wherecitizens wlak and intermittently look over their shoulders, the Abuja Carnival held with the security agencies providing adequate security measures. This years’ theme was tagged ‘Carnival for peace and harmony’. “The theme was designed in line with the prevailing socio-political situation in the country,” said Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke during the opening ceremony.
Activities marking the second day of the 2012 edition of the Abuja National Carnival commenced on Sunday morning, November 2012 with the procession of horsemen, camels and their gallantries from the Equestrian Centre in Yakubu Gowon Barracks through Aso Drive to the Eagle Square on Shehu Shagari Way where the Durbar was held.
The Durbar, a competitive event was identified as a culture which depicts the decoration of camels and horses to exhibit sportsmanship in acrobatics in an occasion of traditional chivalry, displaying military loyalty to the emirates, especially in northern Nigeria.
An Egyptian spectator Waleed Omar said “I never miss the Abuja carnival, because of its diversity and rich cultural grill. The Durbar is what I enjoy most. I stay in Kano, but for security reasons the Durbar hasn’t been held during the last sallah celebrations in Kano. So, the carnival has provided a good opportunity to come and watch the Durbar with my family. My kids enjoy watching the horses and the elegancy that comes along with the Durbar. Asides the Durbar, the other side attraction has been wonderful. As long as I’m in the country whenever the carnival is on, I am sure to sacrifice whatever I have to do to come and relax. If the government gives it the necessary support and encouragement, this carnival can be taken to a different level.”
Other events were the children fiesta which held at the Millennium Park in Asokoro, traditional food fair at the Parade Ground in Area 10, Garki and the cultural night also at Area 10, Garki.
The children featured drama sketches, fashion parades and music presentation with the theme in focus. The food fair had different Nigerian traditional dishes on display, ranging from Egusi, efo riro, ogbonno, edikinkang, banga, ewedu, ofe nsala, afang, miyan kuka, miyan taushe among other soups to go along with eba, amala, pounded yam, akpu, semovita, tuwon shinkafa, masa and other delicacies. There were also pizzas from Egyptians on ground.
“I particularly love the food fair. I try not to miss it as I know that I can get to taste something different from the normal meal I have at home and at a cheaper rate too. Asides that you can get to interact with different nationalities and Nigerians from other parts of the country,” Mr. Akinwale Adegoke, a civil servant said.
For Hajara Kali, another Egyptian says “the food far is a good opportunity for foreign spectators like us to learn one or two things about Nigerian dishes. I love the vegetable soups and pounded yam. My kids love the masa. It is time for I and my family to relax and we enjoy it a lot.”
Other aspects of the carnival that stand out are the masquerade, boat regatta, command and cultural night, poetry night as well as youth musical show.
The four-day event had 31 states participating. A spectator, Amos Adamu, civil servant says “the Abuja carnival is indeed a break from the struggles of everyday life. It is the only opportunity we as Nigerians have to bring our culture together. I have interacted from different state contingents from the east and I have learnt one or two things from them. It is a mixed grill of diverse cultures and entertainment all put together in one big event. I give Kudos to the organizers of this event.”
Though the carnival was put together to showcase the Nigerian integrity and cultural values some spectators had a different view. Adekemi Kayode a graduate of Economics who came to watch the carnival, says “this is not the right time for Nigeria to be wasting such monies on things like carnival. We have more pressing issues to attend to than organizing carnivals of this magnitude. This is just an avenue for some people to eat their own share of the national cake. It is all a waste of money. The government should be thinking of how to create more jobs than wasting money on irrelevant things,” she said in anger.
Another spectator feels the event is a good initiative, but it should be better planned. “I think the organizers should think about holding such an event during festival periods where there would be ample time for families to come out and enjoy the carnival. For example when I learnt it was closing today (Thursday), I had to make my kids skip schools so that they could come and watch the event. I had to also do half day at work so that I get a chance to bring my kids down here. If it is scheduled during xmas or sallah periods, this way more income and investment can come into the country. It is a colorful event that most people would not want to miss,” Mrs. Okeke Irene, civil servant with Federal Ministry of Finance said.
Speaking on behalf of the carnival committee, its Artistic Director Professor Rasaki Ojo Bakare said the event turned out to be successful though they had the challenge of funding and sponsorship from private investors. “A lot of things happened this year in the positive that has never happened before. There was an increase in the number of foreign participation; even participation from within the country, we had about 31 states of the federation in attendance including the FCT. But there were challenges as we had to do some things on credit that is the aspect we want the government to look into, because this is a national carnival with international participation and reputation. There is no reason why the Federal Government should be allocating little to this national carnival when the states is allocating huge sum of money, so government will have to think about that very seriously”
Reacting to opinions that the carnival was done at a wrong timing, Prof Bakare said “there is no time conflict, a good number of our people still behave like people who are not exposed. In any part of the world, these things happen and when they happen there are some normal programmes that are disrupted, it is not only in Nigeria. Countries host Olympics and other events, go and find out over there too, some normal activities have to be disrupted for as long as the events last.
“Schools are closed down for seven days maximum for Abuja carnival; how does that make students to fail? We all went to school. So, because schools have closed down for seven days to accommodate carnival participants, there are so much noise about it. In Abuja here, where do you think we can accommodate the kind of human traffic that we experienced in Abuja during the carnival? Where are the facilities, the Games Village that was built by Federal Government for such activities has been sold. Even if the money was there and you put everybody in all the hotels in Abuja put together cannot accommodate 10 per cent of the people who came for the carnival. So we have to be realistic when doing certain things,” he said.
Prof. Bakare said he was not privileged to know how much was given to stage the carnival, but added that it wasn’t enough, stressing the need for the government to do more concerning funding. “In funding we always have challenges; government should fund this carnival well. They have seen what they can do for the country in economic empowerment. Look at these youths who have been engaged by different activities since June and July when they started the planning of this carnival, it has been keeping them busy. So, economically you are empowering them, socially you are taking them away from evil and from criminal activities, because they are positively engaged.
“Asides the image of the country, look at the foreign participants who came. Look at the delegation who came from the USA that witnessed the closing ceremony. What I am saying in essence is this; the Federal Government should fund the carnival very well. We know that eventually our private sector will begin to do better in the area of sponsorship because sponsorship is the problem in Nigeria.”
The carnival was declared closed on November 27th by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim at the Eagle Square. This year’s edition ended with Rivers State emerging the overall winner.
“The carnival keeps getting better and better every year. I have been following it every year. I think it helps to relax the tensed situation we are presently experiencing in the country now. If we cannot go out for other events, we can at least get a taste of it in our own country,” Chima Ifeanyi, a photographer said.