Twenty Nigerian States To Feature At Calabar Cultural Parade

The 2022 edition of the Calabar Cultural Parade and Carnival scheduled for December 26 will feature 20 Nigerian States.

The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Development in Cross River State, southern Nigeria, Mr. Eric Anderson, during a chat with Voice of Nigeria explained that the cultural parade was one of the signature component of the annual carnival.

Anderson said that for this year, the cultural parade would feature different traditional displays by twenty states from Nigeria as well as Cross River’s 18 local government areas.

He said, “the cultural parade would open the Power Week. The Power Week is the days building up to the carnival proper, where this time around, we will be showcasing 7 bands rather than the original 5 competing ones.

“So, come December 26, which is Monday, the Cultural Parade featuring a variety of masquerades and traditional dances from Plateau, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Oyo, Ogun, Kano, Bauchi, Benue and others will be on the streets. We usually take off from the Millennium Park through Mary Slessor Avenue and to Marian Road,” he further explained.

Other activities

According to the Commissioner, the Power Week would feature the Bikers’ Parade on December 27 and Miss Africa Beauty Pageant while the Carnival Calabar proper will be on December 28 and the International Carnival to hold on the 29th.

Anderson stated, “for the International Carnival, we are expecting not less than 10 countries. There should have been more countries participating, but some still have travel protocols. But, considering that this is the last of the event to be hosted by the governor, Professor Ben Ayade, it is going to be the biggest ever.”

On the earlier scheduled third carnival dry run billed for Sunday December 11th, he said that “we had to reschedule the last dry run due to certain political activities. The last dry run has been moved by a week and that would be Sunday December 19th by one o’ clock in the afternoon.

“The first and second gave us a glimpse of what to expect at the carnival, but this third dry run is going to be the mother of all dry runs because we are using it to perfect all arrangements including security. The aim is to give tourists, visitors and guests including spectators across the globe the best experience of the 2022 Carnival Calabar,” he said.

The Commissioner further stated that other activities such as ‘Praise and Worship Night’ where international gospel singers like Mercy Chinwo, Joe Praize, Jimmy D Psalmist and Moses Bliss amongst others would be on stage at the U. J. Esuene stadium, Calabar on December 23.

Others, he said included ‘Arabian Night’ at the governor’s lodge and ‘old school party’ slated for December 30th at the Glass House in governor’s office.

Confidence Okwuchi