The first dry run of the Carnival Calabar 2024 took place on October 13th, marking the beginning of the annual festivities.
The event was flagged off by the Governor of Cross River State, represented by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Elbert Ayambem.
He was joined by band leaders, members of the State Executive Council, and the newly posted Commissioner of Police.
The dry run saw various carnival bands rehearsing the official route, with non-competing groups such as the University of Calabar band also participating.
Tourists and tour operators were present to witness the start of what promises to be another exciting carnival season.
During the opening ceremony, the Chairman of the Carnival Commission, Sir Gabe Onah, praised the enduring spirit of the citizens who have supported the Carnival for two decades.
He emphasized the significance of this cultural celebration, which has earned its place as Africa’s biggest street party.
In addition to announcing the successful start of the Carnival Calabar season, Onah disclosed that the Carnival will be performing at the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) event, taking place in Algiers, Algeria from October 15th to 19th.
The event, sponsored by Afreximbank, is a major platform for the creative and cultural industries, offering an opportunity to showcase the rich heritage of the Carnival Calabar on a global stage.
“This is a big stage for our carnival revelers to gain the visibility they deserve,” Onah said.
“We are hopeful that this global recognition will strengthen our ties with Afreximbank, which is in discussions to become the title sponsor of Carnival Calabar for a period of three to five years.”
Onah further hinted that the partnership could lead to the renaming of the festival to the Afreximbank Carnival Calabar, solidifying the event’s status as a premier African cultural showcase.
