After a two-year hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the annual Calabar Carnival kicked off on Thursday, 1 December 2022.
Briefing the media in Abuja on Tuesday, Cross River state commissioner for culture and tourism development, Hon. Eric Anderson said the break caused by the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020 had led to much economic loss to the state in the tourism sector.
He, however, said the pandemic period had given the state much ample opportunity to think deeply about rebranding the carnival with additional concepts and packages for the maximum benefit of all delegates and the state in particular.
The state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade on Sunday, 16 October 2022 flagged off the first dry run for the carnival with the theme ‘Agro-Industrialisation’.
Speaking about the theme, Ayade explained that it was carefully chosen to send a message to the global community that Africans can depend on themselves for food.
The governor kicked against the high dependence for food by African countries on western nations in spite of the vast arable land God has blessed the continent with.
“The theme for this year is agro-industrialization way to go,” he said.
“For any nation that is committed and serious, that is the way to go. The greatest insecurity is hunger. There is no insecurity more threatening to man than the insecurity of hunger.”
Calabar Carnival is a colourful all-December event that features musical concerts, fashion shows, food competitions, art shows, street parties, masque events, and sporting events. It runs from 1 December to New Year’s eve, 31 December.
There will be seven bands competing in this year’s carnival, unlike previous years. The two new bands are Diamond band and Calavegas.
Some of the events to be held during the carnival include award ceremonies; beach soccer; Calabar praise and worship, which will feature Mercy Chinwo and other gospel artistes; bikers day; Miss Africa beauty pageant; old school party with old school musicians and their bands performing.
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