Creativity on Display as Calabar Shuts down for 2023 Carnival
Eme Offiong, Calabar
The Millennium Park and surrounding areas along the 12 kilometre route for the ten thousand revelers was shut down for the 2023 Carnival Calabar.
The excitement, which greeted this year’s edition of the carnival, filled the air as each of the seven bands rolled out their floats creatively decorated with colourful art pieces thoughtfully showcased to outdo one another.
This year, the State Chief Judge, Justice Akon Ikpeme, the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Jane Inyang and the Ministers of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu as well as Sports, Senator John Owan-Enoh graced the flag off.
Prior flagging off the carnival, the governor, Senator Bassey Otu commended the commission for organising another great street party that would place Cross River on the world tourism map again.
Otu said, “we are bringing back carnival on a bigger platform where it could be truly referred to as an international brand. This is essentially to make sure that Cross River is really the tourism destination in Nigeria.”
In a brief remark, the chairman of the Cross River State Carnival Commission, Mr. Gabe Onah said, “2023 marks another exciting chapter in the history of the world renowned and Africa’s Biggest Street Party, Carnival Calabar. The excitement by revelers and spectators including the number of sponsors is an indication of the growth of the carnival since its inception in 2004.
“The theme for this year is the ‘Season of Sweetness’ and the seven bands are ready to thrill spectators to the best interpretation through dance, costume, carnival spirit and more. We know that the carnival, which is of international standards is being beamed to over 50 million viewers with thousands more on the streets of Calabar to see culture, creativity and true spirit of hospitality of the Cross River people,” he said.
The seven competing bands include Seagull, Freedom, Masta Blasta, Bayside, Passion 4, Diamond and CalasVegas.
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