Calabar Carnival: Nigeria’s Grandest Street Party

Large numbers thronged the streets of Calabar last weekend during the 2024 Calabar Carnival. Africa’s Biggest Street Party drew an estimated two million participants in the southern port city of Calabar, Cross River State. The carnival captured a display of the full richness of Nigerian culture through music, dance, and fancy dresses.

Organized throughout December, it saw 14 competing bands showcase their flair at the event. Among others, the winning band, Calas Vegas Band, lifted the trophy a second time in a row, impressing judges and spectators alike for its ingenuity in performances and clothes worn. That says it all about creativity and the ability to entertain the crowd, as they turned onlookers into a frenzy along the 12-kilometer parade route of the carnival.

This year’s theme, “Our Shared Prosperity”, highlighted unity and cultural cooperation among different ethnic groups in Nigeria. Costumes echoed this theme with some referencing manilla bracelets, an old currency used during Portuguese trade; while others echoed the city’s historical involvement in the Atlantic slave trade and colonial-era British West African currency. The University of Calabar troupe beamed with pride as their institutional logo was emblazoned on their outfits.

The carnival was not only a feast for the eyes but had pulsating, infectious rhythms of Afrobeats as giant speakers blasted music into the air. Renowned Nigerian artists Runtown and Iyanya were headliners in the concert, attracting large crowds that cheered them on, further raising the merriment another notch. People attending the show said they had a blast, citing designs and costumes at the show. According to Grace Job, a first-time carnival attendee, this year’s event has been overwhelming in energy and artistry.

The Calabar Carnival plays an important factor in the culture and the economy of Cross River State. It brings in all forms of tourists-from those in the Nigerian diaspora seeking their identity to those Nigerians who come simply to have fun. The governor, Bassey Otu, says that his administration will boost tourism and pride in culture since the state works to make it an international event in subsequent years.

Essentially, it is not just a couple of decades of vibrancy in cultural expression that the 2024 Calabar Carnival is celebrating but really the rich history and unity in diversity of Nigeria. From colorful regalia to dancing through the streets, one could feel the prevailing spirit of joy and resilience embraced by the people, making this a year to remember at the Carnival.