Glitz, glamour on display at 2017 Calabar Carnival
- The much anticipated Africa's biggest party - Calabar Carnival 2017 was successful
- The colours on display by the various bands were exciting, bold and interesting
- Costumes and celebrities on display added colour and panache to the event
It was a display of glitz and glamour as five carnival bands danced round the 12-kilometre carnival routes on major streets of Calabar Municipal at the 2017 Carnival Calabar.
Thousands of residents, visitors and tourists lined up the streets to catch a glimpse of the colourful attires on display at Africa's biggest street party.
Governor Ben Ayade and senior Cross River state government officials also joined in the street parade held on Thursday, December 28
Legit.ng sighted several celebrities including veteran actors; Segun Arinze, Alex Osifo, Ejike Asiegbu and Larry Koldsweat.
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Also sighted were veteran actresses; Rachel Oniga, Hilda Dokubo, Shan George, Lilian Bach and Empress Njamah.
Others were veteran comedian and actor; Okey Bakassi, award-winning producer; Charles Inojie and fast rising actor, Samuel Ajibola.
The theme of the 2017 Calabar Carnival was “Migration,’’ which Governor Ayade said was to end illegal migration by creating awareness on the dangers of engaging in such act through difficult routes.
His words: “Today in Calabar, we have people from the United States, Germany, Mexico, Sweden and others celebrating with us in this carnival; we want to tell them that Africa is so rich.
“Sometimes we begin to wonder why we have young Africans going through Morocco, Mediterranean Sea, Sahara desert and all the difficult routes to find themselves in Libya and being used as slaves and as sub-human beings.
“Today, we are here to tell a story in form of a drama and procession, a story of migration, the problem of Africa.
“Our young men and women take risk through perilous roads finding themselves in Europe and America in search of greener pasture.
“Today’s carnival is to tell the world that Africa is the richest continent. Africa is blessed, we have everything; and we have no reason, as a young man or woman struggling, to leave African continent.
“We are telling this story of pain, melancholy and frustration that indeed, the best place you can be is Africa.’’
Legit.ng observed that the five carnival bands were designed to tell the story of migration to the world from the African perspective.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 26 states participated in the 2017 Calabar cultural carnival held on Tuesday, December 26 in Calabar.
The colourful parade was held at the UJ Eusuene stadium in Calabar with hundreds of residents and tourist trooping into the sports arena to catch a glimpse of the dancers.
The event offered an opportunity to all the invited states to showcase their rich cultural content to the world.
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Source: Legit.ng
