On the 20th anniversary of the Carnival Calabar, Cross River State governor, Bassey Edet Otu, has unveiled “Traces of Time” as the theme for the 2025 Carnival.
Joined by two former governors of the state, Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke, leaders of the seven competing bands of the carnival, tourism experts, the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, and a host of other dignitaries, a cake was at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, to mark the 20th anniversary.
The governor in his address, paid tribute to the founding visioners of the Carnival and Annual festival – Donald Duke, his successors in office, Liyel Imoke, as well as Ben Ayade, who also sustained and grew what started in 2005 before he took up the baton in 2023. “Carnival Calabar is not just a parade of colors; it is a bold expression of our collective dreams, cultural heritage, and economic ingenuity,” he said.
Otu also celebrated the unsung heroes of the Carnival—the dancers, band leaders, designers, caterers, tailors, and sanitation workers, describing them as the “true custodians of Cross River’s cultural pride and resilience.” He also highlighted innovations introduced under his administration, including the reintroduction of the Junior Carnival, Night of Kings and Queens, the Ikom Carnival, and the Ogoja Carnival, emphasizing that, “…we are not just celebrating a carnival; we are celebrating the soul of our people and the heartbeat of Cross River’s tourism and creative economy.”
Invited guests at the theme’s unveiling event, including diplomats, heads of foreign missions, captains of industry, and fun seekers, were invited to witness the twentieth-anniversary of the biggest street party in Africa, the 2025 Carnival Calabar in December.
Earlier, Gabe Onah, Chairman of the Cross River State Carnival Commission, recalled the bold vision that birthed the carnival at the turn of the millennium and transformed a 12-kilometer stretch into the world’s longest carnival route. He noted that the festival had evolved from a spectacle to an economic platform, attracting support from AfriExim Bank and Deloitte, among other renowned partners.
“Our young people now dance not just to entertain, but to earn, to express, and to inspire. Carnival Calabar is a living legacy of purpose-driven culture,” Onah said.
UN Resident Representative, Elsie Atafuwa, praised the carnival as a cultural powerhouse aligned with global development goals. She sued for collaborations to promote SDGs, UNESCO heritage status, and youth-focused cultural exchanges. “Culture is not a luxury. It is power, identity, and peace,” Atafuwa said, adding that how Calabar modeled her heritage could drive unity and progress.
