Calabar's Christmas of colour, pomp

by Agozino AgozinoDubbed Africas biggest street party, the 2014 edition of the Calabar carnival held people spellbound with itsthrilling music and dance.Coming with the usual festival tree lighting ceremony in November, the 32-day jamboree reached a climax on December 26 and 27 as five bands competed for supremacy, each with thousands of costumed revelers with their kings and queens decked in resplendent attires. The carnival, which was in its 10th year, had grown in leaps and bounds, attracting millions of tourists and fun seekers from across the globe annually.The carnival held in Obudu, a tourist centre of international standard, that keeps attracting international and local tourists.This was followed by a festival displaying the rich culture of the people from all the municipalitiesof the local Cross River State.Now an integral part of the Christmas season and boosted by visiting international artistes, participants get to savour the life and culture of the Efik people of South-South Nigeria to the effect that Christmas in Calabar is exquisite and incomparable.The just ended edition was no different. Parading beautiful dancers dressed in their hot bikinis, sequins and feathers.They were the sexy showstoppers of the Africas biggest street party. Swaying to beats of pop music, the revelers displayed spectacular costumes from all of the five carnival groups, complete with everything they have got to show to the world.In 2004, the State government decided to maximise the Efik welcoming charm to its advantage by developing its tourism sector into a world class centre with beautiful beaches, historical sites, stunning flora, waterfalls, lakes and numerous festivals throughout the year, Cross River certainly, has a lot to offer the first-time visitor.Beyond the natural tourism assets such as Awa Falls, Afi Mountains, Canopy Walkways, Ikom Monolith, Drill Monkey Sanctuary and the States natural parks, there are several manmade attractions, including Tinapa business and leisure resort, the Obudu Mountain resort and an annual marathon race.Visibly elated, Governor Liyel Imoke and his wife, Obioma, dressed in ancient Egyptian costumes, led other dignitaries to the Millennium Park take-off point of the carnival.
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