AFRICA’S BIGGEST STREET PARTY- CALABAR CARNIVAL FESTIVAL

High expectations ponders the minds of Cross Riverians as well as Nigerians over the preparations of the Calabar Carnival 2015 as few concludes that the carnival might not hold this year as it is in its tradition that the first of its three dry runs holds in the month of October, the second November, and the last December some weeks to the carnival proper, but noting was done through out October. Rumor also has it that the children canival has been scrapped out of the programme of event this year but await final info from the planning commitee. We are glad to announce to those who would be interested in participating in this years carnival that reheasals has began in all band locations.

The Calabar Carnival Festival which is celebrated annually from December 1^st to 30^th has become Africa’s biggest street party. It indeed fuels and conserves the culture of the Nigerian people, entertains millionsof spectators within and outside the State, boosting industries and stakeholders, and promoting the vision of making Cross River State the number one tourist destination as people from other State in Nigeria as well as other countries of the world mark Cross River State as a must be towards the end of every year.

History

Africa’s biggest street party as it is known started 2004 in Calabar, Cross River State under the governance of Mr. Donald Duke who had conceived Cross River State being the largest tourist attraction not just in Africa but to the world at large and with the high level of tourism and hospitality, Cross River State is actually on her way to achieving this goal as it is crowned the most peaceful State and the pride of Nigeria. Since then it has opened doors to brand visibility for consumers and market awareness to various companies and industries in and outside the country.

Programmes

The Festival includes music performance from both local and international artists, the annual Calabar Carnival, Bikers parade, Boat regatta, Beauty Pageant, Fashion shows, Christmas Village, traditional dances and the annual Ekpe Festival and many others which bring in thousands of tourists at the time of the year.

Calabar Carnival Bands

Bayside Band, Freedom Band, Masta Blasta Band, Passion Four Band, and Seagull Band are the five registered competitive carnival bands.

Bayside Band

Bayside Band Bayside Band is one of the five Carnival Bands registered in the annual Christmas Festival of Cross River State of Nigeria. Membership in the Band is open to all Nigerians and foreigners. The Band is easily identified by its characteristic and distinctive aqua marine colour. Bayside Band is a corporate body with charity and sustenance of carnival parade as its objectives. Its corporate structure comprises a 7-member Advisory Board and an administrative office headed by a Program Manager. The control and management of the Band is vested in the Advisory Board which meets quarterly to consider all transactions relating to the band. Funding of the Band is derived from membership contributions, gains of year round entertainment activities which includes but are not limited to theater shows and orchestra.

Freedom Band

Freedom band which is identified with the colour Yellow was founded Capt. Henry Brisibe and Mr. Larry Esin in 2005. Since its establishment, the band has consistently been among the best three in all previous editions of the Carnival Calabar event. From time, they have given maximum patronage to our local artists and designers in the likes of DeMotif and many others and promote the use of indigenous material in the making of their outstanding costumes and props. His Excellency, Barr. Efiok Cobham, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, is presently the grand patron of the band.

Masta Blasta Band

The Masta Blasta Band also known as "The Orange Family" is the largest & most entertaining of the 5 principal bands of the annual Carnival Calabar.

The Masta Blasta Band was established in December 2005. Also known as the "Orange Family" our band has a membership base of over 10, 000 members from all over the world. We are the largest and most entertaining of all the 5 competing bands on parade during the annual Carnival Calabar (the largest street party in Africa).

We have evolved over the years to become a brand name of choice and reference point, through the charismatic leadership of the band leader in the person of Chief Gershom Bassey. The Masta Blasta Band is the only band that accommodates and caters for the "belonging" need of all segments of the society. Theirall-inclusive approach to the Carnival Calabar encourages an enviable synergy between family, friends and embraces the participation of both local and international visitors to the joys of taking part in an international carnival parade.

The Orange Family is currently the overall champions of the 2012 and 2013 Carnival Calabar. We are on record, as the only band that has won the most prices in all categories of the competition within a single year, in the entire history of the Calabar Carnival.

Passion-4 Band

Passion 4 is the most successful band in Carnival Calabar, having been six edition Champions and two editions first runners up in the eight years of the existence of the competition aspect of the carnival. Passion 4 has been declared as Africa’s most outstanding band by all its adjudicators as the band continues to grow in creativity, organization and style in the Africa’s biggest street party.

Passion 4 whose former leader and founder’ Mr. Chris Agibe now serves as the Executive Secretary of the Cross River State Carnival Commission. His task is to handle the Carnival in whole and extend the creativity of Passion 4 to all the other bands. Its new band leader is Barr. Attah Ochinike, the Attorney general and Commissioner for Justice of Cross River State.

Passion 4 which is also the green band is the only band that creates a level playing field for children and adults to have fun. The band is every sponsor’s ideal platform for partnership and the mileage we offer is next to none.

Seagull Band

Seagull band is one of the Carnival Bands registered in 2005 for the Cross River State annual Christmas festival. It is the most stylish and co-ordinated body with the main objective of promoting and sustaining the Tourism and Hospitality industry and at large, to enhance the status of he under privilege through charity. The band display the African Culture through aesthetics, talents and innovation, paraded annually during the Carnival.

Seagull Band is identified by its eye catching distinctive colour – red and maintains defined hierarchical structure it is the band that recognizes and celebrates our own Nigerians and other artistes, movie starts and beauty queens. The band is under the dynamic and charismatic leadership of the vibrant distinguish Sen. (Princess) Florence Ita-Giwa (OON) who is ably assisted by Mrs. Affiong Effiom (Fulbright School) Lecturer in Theatre and Media Studies, University of Calabar, Nigeria.