…As cultural, junior carnivals heighten excitement for crowd
The power week of Carnival Calabar, which is in its 20th edition this year, is underway and has not disappointed in terms of the anticipated excitement.
While many activities of this year’s carnival have been successful, with more on the offering, some highlights so far include the cultural carnival and the junior carnival, which held on December 26th and 27th, respectively.
At the cultural carnival, it was colour, glamour and heritage on live theatre as the 18 local government areas in Cross River State paraded the streets of Calabar in celebration of their respective culture and heritage in style.
They were joined by cultural troupes and some ethnic groups across the country.
From Cross River, neighbouring South-South and South-East states, Benue, Nasarawa and to far northern and South-Western states, the spectators, numbering in thousands, had more than enough unscripted entertainment on the street.
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The reality is that the performances and displays by the cultural groups and LGAs were in line with the Carnival Calabar 20th anniversary theme, ‘Traces of Times’.
From the Millennium Park Roundabout at the heart of Calabar metropolis, where the cultural carnival was flagged off, to the routes stretching to some kilometers before culmunating at the stadium, it was fun all the way.
It was more fun for the spectators at the various adjudication points where the LGAs and cultural troupes danced, sang and displayed their heritage in order to impress the adjudicators for good marks.
One of such highlights was at Rabana adjudication point where the crowd kept cheering like never before for the spectacular shows put up by the performers.
Simply put, the cultural carnival was a generous show of traditional food, colourful costumes, dances, music, lifestyle exhibitions and historical storytelling by the participating LGAs and communities including: Abi, Akamkpa, Akpabuyo, Bakassi, Bekwarra, Biase, Boki, Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, Etung, Ikom, Obanliku, Obubra, Obudu, Odukpani, Ogoja, Yakurr and Yala.
But the excitement was heightened on December 27th at the Junior Carnival, where the children displayed their innocence, sang and danced with pure hearts.
There were children across the competing carnival bands.
The first to display was the Seagull Band, which put up spectacular performances. Next came Calas Vegas, one of the new bands, which also thrilled the audience and made great efforts at interpreting the carnival theme,
‘Traces Of Time’ with its displays and dances.
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But Freedom Band was spectacular too. They themed their display ‘A Republic On A Clock’, reflecting on the journey of Nigeria as a country, the First Republic, military takeover, civil war, among others. The band’s acrobatic performances, fire display and energetic dances kept the grateful crowd cheering.
Also came Bayside Band, which tagged themselves ‘Forest Angles’.
The band focused its displays on creation, and the once beautiful, peaceful and abundant nature.
Then came the human destructive activities, defrostation and developmental projects that led to extinction of nature and its wild.
The display pushed for environmental conservation, rebirth and regeneration of nature to secure the future of humanity.
Also on the junior carnival parade was Passion 4 Band, which tagged its performance ‘Growing Dreams: Weaving the tapestry of time’.
The band’s Queen of Innocence was a delight to watch. She displayed the time past when things were a their best, when life was valued more than anything, when humans were peaceful and coexistence was the mainstay for all.
The rest of the band captured life when there were no phones, just slates, when learning was interactive, and good teachers, who then were the only source of knowledge.
Of course, Diamond Band, which won the Best Performing Band in the 2024 junior carnival, was out to retain its position with enthralling performances.
The band interpreted ‘Traces of Time’ with its presentation tagged ‘The journey home’, taking people to the beginning of time.
The band pointed to the ‘Whispers of the Ancestors’, ‘Songs in the dust’, among other sub-themes in its presentation.
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The interpretation was great as children rode tyres, some flew kites, some three ropes and other games people did when they were children. As expected, the crowd cheered to the relatable storyline and displays.
The Masta Blasta Band wrapped the carnival procession with equally enthralling presentations.
Despite its shorter route and less adjudication points, from Mary Slessor, Rabana, to the U.J Esuene Stadium Calabar, the Junior Carnival 2025 was spectacular.
It ended with even greater fun as the children were treated to a lavish party at the stadium.
The Bikers Parade and the main carnival still await the crowd on December 28th and 29th.
