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Tag: ‘Calabar festival

  • Calabar carnival: Police, NSCDC assure of adequate security

    Calabar carnival: Police, NSCDC assure of adequate security

    The Cross River Police Command has assured residents and tourists visiting the state of adequate security during the 2016 annual Calabar carnival scheduled to commence December 1.

    This assurance was given on Tuesday by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, in an interview with the journalists in Calabar.

    Ozi-Obeh said that the command had strengthened its security network, with a view to curbing any emergency cases of security in the state at the annual festival which attracts thousands of tourists from within and outside the country.

    “The one month annual festival will be officially flagged off on December 1. We have witnessed the first and second dry-run and there were no security hitches.

    “The command is ever ready to provide adequate security for thousands of tourists that will be coming in for the festival.

    “I want to assure you that we are working in collaboration with other sister agencies to ensure that the carnival period is celebrated peacefully in the state,’’ he assured.

    In the same vein, the Cross River Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Clement Adesuyi assured the people of the state and tourists coming for the carnival of adequate security.

    Adesuyi said that the command would deploy intelligence and uniform officers to different locations in the state to ensure a peaceful Christmas and carnival celebration.

    According to him, one of the objectives of the corps is to protect the lives and property of the citizenry.

    “I want to assure the peaceful people of Cross River and tourists that the state command of NSCDC is on alert to respond to all security challenges within the carnival period and beyond.

    “Our men on uniform and those of the intelligent department will be deployed to strategic locations in the state to ensure a smooth carnival and Christmas celebration,’’ he said.

  • Ita-Giwa, Duke’s wife back Calabar Festival

    Senator Florence Ita-Giwa aka Mama Bakassi, wife of former Cross Rivers State governor Mrs. Owanari Duke and other stakeholders have endorsed this year’s edition of the Calabar festival holding next month.

    Ita-Giwa, who spoke during a pre-carnival masque party in Lagos, organised by OKHMA Global Limited, a Lagos-based marketing firm, said the festival would bring a fresh offering for tourists across the globe.

    She said the festival, which has gone beyond a mere tourism booster, has become a platform to address developmental issues, such as climate change.

    According to Ita-Giwa, the festival has become an intellectual event, provide an opportunity to show efforts of the government to look beyond oil and sell Calabar as a tourist destination to the world.

    She said there would be food festival in this year edition where various foods from Cross Rivers would be showcased to the world.

    Also, Duke said the festival presents a lot of travel, business opportunities for brands and has the entire requirement needed by foreigners who want to book for a flight, hotel either as an individual, corporate or families.

  • Okhma wins Calabar festival marketing rights

    Okhma wins Calabar festival marketing rights

    Cross River State Carnival Commission, the agency which oversees the Calabar Carnival, has announced Okhma Global Limited, a marketing consulting firm based in Lagos, as lead marketing company for the carnival.

    Its responsibilities include, to increase the fund by more than 80 percent of the current revenue from marketing, and also provide marketing and PR consultancy/advisory, strategy implementation, media content creation, production, advertising and sponsorship/partnership acquisitions.

    Okhma Managing Director Mary Ephraim promised the commission that she would exceed its expectations. “For me, leading the marketing effort isn’t business. It represents an opportunity for me to contribute my professional experience to improving an event and a culture I had been part of as a young girl growing up in Calabar. This is something I had always wanted to do. We are grateful to the commission for the opportunity”.

    The carnival also tagged: “Africa’s Biggest Street Party”, was created as part of the vision of making Cross River State in Nigeria, the number one tourist destination for Nigerians and tourist all over the world. The carnival, which begins on every December 1 and last till December 31, has boosted the cultural mosaic of Nigeria people while entertaining the millions of spectators within and outside the state, and boosting industry for all stakeholders.

    “This year marks the 11th edition of the multi-event carnival that has garnered reputation and multiple awards as Nigeria’s biggest and best organised tourism event.

    “The 2015 coincide with the commencement of the new administration of Governor Ben Ayade, who said: “The Carnival is a big brand not only in Nigeria. My biggest wish now is to make it even much bigger. I would like to see the Calabar carnival evoke same depth and passion as the Rio carnival in the international tourism market.”

  • Awesome photos from Calabar Carnival

    Awesome photos from Calabar Carnival

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Calabar Carniv

     

     

     

    Calabar Carnivaal

     

    Calabar Carn

     

     

     

    Calabarr Carnival

     

    Calabar Carnivl

     

    Calabar Carniva

     

    Calabar Carniival

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  • 2Face wows fans at Calabar Festival

    2Face wows fans at Calabar Festival

    In an exhilarating performance to formally kick off the musical component of the ongoing Calabar Festival, African Queen crooner, 2Face Idibia, yesterday, wowed the Cross River State governor, Professor Ben Ayade, and the over 5000 revellers at the popular entertainment hotspot, Cultural Calabar.

    Rendering chart bursting tracks such as African Queen, among others, not even Ayade, whom many have within a short time nicknamed “Digital Governor” could resist the rhythmic allure of the lead vocalist of the defunct Plantainshun Boys.

    In a mammoth audience that had the Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu, House of Assembly Speaker, John Gaul Lebo, State Executive Council members, as well as the State lawmakers, 2Face literally melted into the ecstatic revellers who thronged the venue to unwind.

    A sense of camaraderie permeated the air, as Governor Ayade did the ‘chop knuckle’ fist salute with 2Face who also went into the crowd offering bear hugs, handshakes and ‘hifives’ to everyone struggling to touch and do a selfie with him.

    The performance that lasted three hours also witnessed local acts showcasing their stuff to further animate the gathering.

    Resistance was visibly etched on the faces of the crowd who refused to come to terms with the fact that the show for the night was over, with the shout of; “We want more!!!”, “Two Baba, please don’t go”, among other chants.

    The show which continues tonight with other star performers is expected to kick of at the same venue after the cultural band parade early Tuesday.

     

  • Calabar Festival kicks off with cultural parade

    Calabar Festival kicks off with cultural parade

    There was a boisterous start of the much-anticipated Calabar Festival yesterday, as over 40 troupes; consisting 22 states, 18 local government areas of the state and more than eight cultural groups stormed the streets of Calacar for a preliminary parade.

    The four kilometre parade which took off at  the Millennium Park, through Mary Slessor Avenue, Marian and IBB roads, terminated at  the U. J. Esuene Stadium, featuring an array of cultures, expressed in costumes, dances, traditional instruments and kaleidoscope of  colours  that depicting the Nigerian heritage.

    The parade was part of the 32-day annual revelry that has branded Calabar as a revered tourism destination in the country.  During the festival, which usually ends few days to the New Year, several free shows and entertainment activities are held every evening and late into the nights at a number of venues – the Millennium Park, The U J Esuene Stadium, the Cultural Centre Complex, Marina Beach and Resort, Tinapa and the Botanical Garden.

    Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke who was accompanied by top government officials and representatives of the various participating groups, raised the hope that the festival which is growing in lips and bounds will always introduce innovations that will make it more attractive to tourists each year.

    According to him, “This cultural parade has come to stay and it is very important as we grow the festival year after year. For us, it is an opportunity to celebrate our culture, our heritage and our wealth as a people and it is critical for us as we celebrate our nationhood.”

    Assuring all of an exciting time during the festiva, Imoke said, “It’s exciting, it’s brilliant, it’s colourful and it has a lot of talents on display as people who have tremendous cultural resources are all being displayed here in Calabar as we celebrate.”

    He added: “It’s always exciting to see everyone come from every part of the country to celebrate with us. We have the entire Nigerian nation represented here today. This speaks volumes about our love, our unity, our strength and our future which remains united as one people celebrating one another, appreciate one another and acknowledging the fact that every one of us has something to offer this great nation.”

    Chairman, Carnival Calabar Commission, Mr. Gabe Onah, said over 25 states indicated interest to participate in the parade while foreign troupes were unable to meet up traveling modalities this year.”

  • Excitement as Calabar Festival lights up this weekend

    Excitement as Calabar Festival lights up this weekend

    The streets of Calabar are set to come alive on November 30, 2014, as the annual Tree Lighting ceremony kicks off the much-celebrated Calabar Festival.

    In a statement issued by Mr Nzan Ogbe, Chairman, Calabar Festival Planning Committee, the ceremony will be followed by the HIV/AIDS Walk to commemorate World AIDS Day on December 1. Mr Ogbe further stated, “We are expecting thousands of visitors over the next few weeks. Hotels have reported an increase in bookings and several will be almost full in the days leading up to Carnival Calabar, in the latter part of December.”

    In anticipation of the increased number of travelers, some airlines have increased the frequency of flights to Calabar, including Arik Air which now operates two flights daily. Similarly, bars and sit-outs around the city have reported increased patronage, with tents and canopies being erected to accommodate the growing numbers of fun-seekers.

    According to the Chairman, this year’s Calabar Festival, promises to be best in terms of packaging, organization and security, despite being the last to be held under the administration of Governor Liyel Imoke. “This year’s festival promises to be another 32 days of non-stop entertainment, anchored by Africa’s biggest street party, Carnival Calabar. Adequate security has been put in place to ensure a hitch-free celebration and we guarantee that the ‘green, clean & serene’ ambience of the city will be maintained.”

  • Calabar Carnival: Ita-Giwa to dazzle with Seagull Band

    Calabar Carnival: Ita-Giwa to dazzle with Seagull Band

    NIGERIANS, foreigners and tourists planning to attend the forthcoming Calabar Festival will be thrilled by scintillating performances from the Seagull Band of Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, who was President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters.

    In a statement made available to newsmen, Ita-Giwa said that her band was prepared to stage a performance that would be memorable, owing to adequate preparation and rehearsals that the group had gone through.

    She added that movie stars and celebrities, who are also members of her band, would also feature prominently in the parade that would blow peoples’ minds with unique costumes and glamour.

    Ita-Giwa also thanked the State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, for sustaining the carnival till date and also adding spices to its organisation with local and international presence.

    The statement reads in parts: “Africa’s biggest carnival will hold again this year in Calabar on December 27. As usual, my Seagull Band that has prominently won the King and Queen contest will be hot in grandeur and style this time around. It will catch the eyes of our spectators with unique costumes and dance steps. It is going to be a show of a life time because we have completed rehearsals and they can be assured to see movie stars who are also members of the Seagull Band on parade with me.

    “My band has always won the King and Queen contest and this year, we are ready to repeat the feat; and certainly, we shall blow people’s minds with our sterling performance. I want to also thank the Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, for sustaining the festival till date.”

  • Chevelle Franklyn, Mike Aremu excite at Calabar Festival

    Chevelle Franklyn, Mike Aremu excite at Calabar Festival

    Jamaican-born ace gospel music icon, Chevelle Franklyn, was apparently excited by the popularity of her songs during her performance at the ongoing Calabar Festival. The crowd chorused every hit track, as she entertained them at one of the festival’s segments tagged ‘Voices of Paradise’, which held at the Millennium Park, Calabar.

    Franklyn, who emerged on the gospel music scene as one of the most outstanding Ministers of Music of the 21st Century, performed alongside wonderful dancers that moved the wave of praise to every corner of the arena.

    The spectacular performance by this multiple award-winning psalmist of international repute, proved to the crowd her worth as a songwriter/producer and vocal-capacity singer.

    The visiting musician was not alone at the elevated show. The event also featured sensational Nigerian gospel musician and renowned saxophonist, Mike Aremu, doing what he knows best.

    Aremu, who is noted for his Jazz gospel music style, gave a sterling performance that was greeted with excitement.

    The programme also featured a choral competition by church congregations in Calabar and other choral groups who sang and danced to the popular mantra that ‘Christ is the reason for the season.’

    Other gospel artistes, who ministered in songs, were Marvelous Odiete and C’Mion.

  • Africa’s tallest Christmas tree as Cross River’s metaphor for growth

    Africa’s tallest Christmas tree as Cross River’s metaphor for growth

    THE lighting of the Christmas tree has been a ceremony that usually ushers in the world-famous Calabar Festival, a 32-day long activities of fun and festivities over the years, often performed by the governor of the state midnight of November 30 every year at the Millennium Park.

    Besides boosting the economy of the state, the festival is hoped to be the platform for youths with budding creative talents to achieve their full potentials. Hence realising the importance of this, Nollywood superstars, as people who had excelled due to their talents and creative abilities, were brought in to participate in the lighting of the tree as representative of the intentions of the festival.

    Governor Liyel Imoke speaking at the lighting ceremony assured better quality from the festival this year. He said part of the aim of the festival was to expose talents.

    He said: “Cross River State has got talent and what we have done today is the beginning of the festival, the acts. We have showcased some talents we have never seen before. Some years ago Inyanya performed here but now he is a superstar and that is what we want to see happening in Cross River with our young men and women that have talent, who are creative and create beautiful things. This year’s festival represents an expression of our people and ourselves that as a people nothing can overcome us. We start the festival with the theme for the carnival simply, Aint No Stopping Us. That means there ain’t nothing that can stop us.”

    Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Edem Duke, said it was in recognition of the need to boost creative talents for the betterment of all that a N2 billion project for a creative academy was on-going in IkotNakanda in Akpabuyo local government area of the state.