Hello Steemians, I'm happy to join thr 2nd week of Steemit Engagement program. Today, i will joining the contest for @steem-pakistan community which requires us to share a famous festival in our country. I will be talking about the biggest festival in Nigeria which is the famous Calabar Festival. Let get down to it.
About Calabar Festival
The Calabar Festival in Nigeria is also hailed as "Africa's Biggest Street Party" and exalted as the "Pride of Nigeria". It is one of the top-biggest festivals that has been ever pulled up in the history of Nigeria. If you haven't heard about this festival then it is proposed that you are an alien or you probably live in space. This festival is known to be one of the flavors that make Christmas a sweet experience. You wouldn't want to miss it for anything.
The Beginning:
The birth of the Calabar festival started back in 2004 in the city of Calabar, Cross River State. The South-Eastern part of Nigeria. When Donald Duke the governor of Cross River, Nigeria, decided it would be the ultimate way to boost tourism, local economy, hospitality, and showcase local heritage. He wanted to pivot Cross River State into the number one tourist landing place for both Nigerians and foreigners. It was indeed a success!
Now, the festival is held every month of December as an event to mark the Christmas celebration. Over the years, the quality of this festival keeps improving as it has currently become the crowned-biggest festival in Nigeria (king and No 1 biggest festival in Nigeria). The festival it's a month stretched event from the 1st of December but was reduced to a couple of weeks by Governor Benedict Ayade due to the COVID Pandemic.
During the 2017 festival, Governor Benedict said in his speech that the festival is to exhibit Africa as the richest continent and an endowed place where the youths should be proud to belong.
HOW IT IS CELEBRATED
The Calabar Festival is a unique festival organized in a Trinidadian style, held in an African city (Calabar) without pre-existing Caribbean impact or control. It is a street cavalcade hosted by the traditional ruler of the state, organized by bands with sections of performance dressed in identical costumes and masks.
An exceptional and famous cultural festival that showcases African culture and heritage through music, drama, dressing, dancing, competition, floats, and other cultural creativities of talented persons
The Calabar Festival Programme:
The Festival has kept the same timetable of activities since it first began. The activities/programs are subdivided into four parts;
- The Millennium Week: starts from 1st – 10th December
- Sports Week: from 12th – 17th December
- The TINAPA Family- Fun Festival: from 19th – 24th December
- Carnival/Festival Week: from 25th – 31st December
THE MILLENNIUM WEEK:
The Millennium week is usually the first week of the month and features entertainment in line with Christmas preparations. This includes Christmas decorations and a Christmas fair.
it also features food contests, Coronación los Reyes y Reinas del Carnaval of the bands, Marcha de la Solidaridad, Carnaval infantil etc.
Calabar Festival Christmas:
Yeah, even Christmas isn't forgotten when it comes to the Calabar Festival. There is a room/ Christmas village that is set up for whoever wants to gyrate with a Christmas spirit during the festival.
Calabar Carnival African Food Expo:
Do not pass over the Calabar Festival African Food Expo. This is a pure acme of the festival. You will be able to try loads of amazing meals that you have most likely never had in past. The air is filled with so much inebriating savor.
THE SPORTS FESTIVAL WEEK:
The Festival wouldn’t be juicy without sports in it. During the festival, you can watch the popular soccer tournament known as The Carni-Cal Cup. There is also a golf tournament, boat regatta, and various other sporting activities.
THE TINAPA FAMILY-FUN FESTIVAL:
The TINAPA Family-Fun Festival features activities such as; a Christmas lighting event, talent contests, cultural parades, a Christmas fair, fireworks shows, an African food festival, and various family activities.
Calabar Carnival Activities:
Calabar Festival officially kicks off with a Tree-Lightening ceremony. In the first three weeks of the festival, there are musical performances, a solidarity march, street parties, food competitions, fashion shows, art shows, traditional dances a prestigious essay writing competition, and masque events.
Some of the main activities could include; J’ouvert Band fetes, the Christmas Party Cultural festival, the children’s festival, and the crowning of the festival Kings and Queens for each band.
THE MAIN CARNIVAL/CARNIVAL WEEK:
The main carnival week is the final week of the Calabar Festival and when the best part takes place. The week that draws the most tourists.
Some of the popular activities include:
- The Bikers parade occurs in the morning on- the 27th of December
- Miss Africa beauty pageant occurs on the eventing - 27th of December
- Band of the Year Competition and Calabar Street Parade - 28th December
- Wonders on Wheels - 29th December
- Green Carnival. The event culminates in a street party held on the evening - of 30th December.
- New Year’s Eve Fire Works display- 31st December
The Calabar Carnival Parade:
The parade takes place over a 12km parade route featuring about 50,000 bacchanals who perform in five major carnival bands and 10 non-competing bands. The parade watches the carnival groups compete against each other intending to win the title for the best band. it is quite an exhibition.
It is filled with gracious colors, live musicians, steel bands, sparkles, DJs, incredible floats, and costumes. Calabar Festival live music performances. The festival also features so many local and international artists. This includes Luke Dune, 2face Idibia, P-Square, Kirk Franklin, Fat Joe, Nelly, and many others.
THE FIVE BANDS OF CALABAR
The Calabar Festival has five major competing bands that features about 10,000 participants and are distinguished by different colors and name. Each band has five kings and queens decorated with an amazing costume that depicts the year’s theme.
Red-Seagull Band
Seagull Band is recognized for its typical red color and is known for its patriotism. Everything about the Seagull band depicts Nigerian carnival costumes, Calabar costumes, and Calabar dances. Rumors have it to be the most coordinated and stylish band. The Seagull Band are menacingly proud to show off its roots.
Green-Passion 4 Band
Passion 4 Band is known as the most successful band of all time. It holds the highest competition title more than any other band. They are often regarded as the most outstanding band of them all. The band also consists of two sections- " the children" and "the adults"
Blue-Bayside Band
Bayside Band is referred to as the leadership band as it is led by the creator of Calabar Carnival and the former governor Donald Duke. It is known for its aquamarine color and allows anyone including foreigners to join the band.
Yellow-Freedom Band
The band of freedom is often ranked among the top three bands since the genesis of the Calabar Festival.
It is known for its distinctive color-yellow.
Orange-Masta Blasta Band
The Masta Blasta band is known as the largest band with over ten thousand members from all corners of the world.
They are known as the orange band and are popular for their inclusivity!.
Interestingly, all the Calabar Festival events take place in the city of Calabar. The majority occur in the Calabar Stadium and the Calabar Cultural Centre. While the parade marches through many streets in the city of Calabar.
The festival didn't hold the last year in 2021 due to Covid-19 complications. Hopefully, I'm looking forward to attend the next festival. I will like to invite @daytona475 and @cryptogecko to join in this contest.
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friend I fell in love with the Calabar Festival of Nigeria a beautiful the biggest street party in Africa" a fun way to enjoy Christmas I want to go ok..
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Hahaha... You are welcome to attend the festival. I will personally show you around. Thank you for spending time to read my article.
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It is a pity that due to covid they did not do the carnival again, I hope that next year or this year it will return and that the whole situation of the pandemic no longer exists.
It looks like a very beautiful carnival. I liked many of the images. It looks like the Brazilian carnival, on the other hand, that food looks very tasty, thanks for sharing.
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What vibrant celebrations 🤩 The colorful costumes are similar to carnival in Rio de Janeiro, I believe. I'm not an alien but this festival and the fact about the Masta Blasta band are very new to me. I'm glad I found this contest. I already know lots of traditions all around the world and yet I have so many to read too... This world is fascinating!
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Hello @ reminiscence01 this festival looks interesting, entertaining and picturesque. I confess something to you, I think I live in space because I had never heard of such a festival hahaha, but I imagine that in all countries there should be festivals to encourage tourism in the area.
Thank you for mentioning me in your publication, it has been very good to know the groups that participate, which by the way I like the Seagull Band more
Greetings!
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Wow!!, I have never heard of this part of the Calabar region, this looks too much fun, and the image settings are pretty as well.
Thanks for sharing with us, learnt something new about Calabar people today.
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Thanks man. I'm glad you learnt something about the festival.
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