Will Expand Cross Rivers’ Creative Economy’s Offerings
The Executive Chairman of the Cross River State Carnival Commission, Chief Gabe Onah, speaks on efforts to expand Carnival Calabar as a one-spot global tourism festival, among other salient issues. Charles Ajunwa brings excerpts
What makes Carnival Calabar 2025 different?
Remember, in 2019 carnival Calabar was at its height until COVID-19 came and shut down the whole world and the creative arts and tourism sector suffered the most.
The 2025 Carnival Calabar, with theme ‘Traces of Time’ reestablishes its former firm position and we are restrategising to maintain its role as a socioeconomic penetrator of the state fabrics.
What should we expect at this year’s Carnival Calabar?
The unstrained December Carnival Calabar fun and the economic ripples have placed Cross River State on the international tourists’ beaten tracks. Similarly, the unstrained fun and the economic penetration of the state’s social fabric strata would also call for unstrained input on the part of the public and private sectors as Carnival Calabar promotes the uniqueness of the state’s creative economic offerings beyond bounds. It’s going to be a Detty December never to be forgotten in a hurry.
What’s being done to rebuild the carnival spirit?
With the reawakening being introduced by the leadership of Governor Bassey Otu, and his people’s first mantra, atmospheric euphoria is back, and the community has been reinvigorated. Come and visit. I look back at the Millennium Park on the night of the Christmas Tree lighting on 30th November and even now. We are experiencing a population explosion and this is welcoming. Furthermore, there is a reawakening and strengthening of the spirit of carnival Calabar amongst the Bands and the people in the realisation that tourism, culture and creative arts are significant tools for the socioeconomic development of the state.
Can you tell us the uniqueness of Carnival Calabar?
The uniqueness of Carnival Calabar has always been in its role as an instrument for unification. For the 2025 edition which also marks the 20th anniversary, the current governor’s ability to aggregate with all former state governors has repositioned Carnival Calabar as a movement for unity, understanding, growth and effective progress of the state. The totality of the content of the 2025 theme ‘Traces of Time’ is for peace, a very expensive item on national and international scenes.
The sustainability of Carnival Calabar was made possible by our tourism-friendly governors. Starting with Governor Clement Ebri, he was a curator of arts who renovated the cultural centre complex with state of the art lighting systems. Then came Governor Donald Duke who identified the creative, culture and tourism sectors as viable options for development and has been described by many as a meteor. To Governor Liyel Imoke who institutionalised the carnival product with thematic scripted content and made it an enviable brand with emphasis on training and deliberate building blocks.And Governor Ben Ayade who globalised the carnival with exciting products like the international carnival, Ms Africa pageant, international food festival, the Bikers carnival and now to the Joseph of our time, Governor Bassey Otu who is leading the narrative and celebrations of the 20th anniversary of Carnival Calabar 2025 like no other.
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