Memories from Calabar Festival 2018, Africa's Biggest Street Party!
Thousands of dancers in colourful costumes showing off intricate dance moves to rhythms blaring from loudspeakers as many more join in on the excitement from the sidelines. No, it’s not Trinidad or Barbados but Calabar in South-Eastern Nigeria!
Calabar Carnival, is the climax of the month-long Christmas Festival every December. Touted as Africa’s biggest street party, this carnival attracts hundreds of thousands of Nigerians and international visitors to the historic city of Calabar. The city is about 800 kilometres from Lagos and is served by an airport with direct flights from Lagos and Abuja.
Having tried and failed to make it in previous years, 2018 was the year I decided to show up. I got in to Calabar just in time to attend the Bikers Carnival which is often held the day before the main carnival. There was plenty of excitement as hundreds of bikers proceeded through the streets of the city, thrilling onlookers with their stunts. If you are attending this event, make sure to look out for the State Governor's procession and his mega bike!
Then came the big day, Friday, 28 December 2018! Even though the carnival procession did not start until much later in the day, the entire city was in a celebratory mood. It was obvious that the carnival contributes millions of dollars in revenue to the local economy. From the pop-up shops, bars and restaurants, many of the locals were busy cashing in on the opportunity to generate some extra income.
The competing bands and other performers made their way through the streets thrilling onlookers with their costumes and carnival floats, giving their interpretation to the year's theme, Africanism. There was so much to see, plenty of delicious street food (Calabar is particularly famous for its cuisines) and lots of dance moves. The party continued on until the early hours of the following morning!
Tips for Calabar Carnival:
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Calabar Carnival, is the climax of the month-long Christmas Festival every December. Touted as Africa’s biggest street party, this carnival attracts hundreds of thousands of Nigerians and international visitors to the historic city of Calabar. The city is about 800 kilometres from Lagos and is served by an airport with direct flights from Lagos and Abuja.
Having tried and failed to make it in previous years, 2018 was the year I decided to show up. I got in to Calabar just in time to attend the Bikers Carnival which is often held the day before the main carnival. There was plenty of excitement as hundreds of bikers proceeded through the streets of the city, thrilling onlookers with their stunts. If you are attending this event, make sure to look out for the State Governor's procession and his mega bike!
Then came the big day, Friday, 28 December 2018! Even though the carnival procession did not start until much later in the day, the entire city was in a celebratory mood. It was obvious that the carnival contributes millions of dollars in revenue to the local economy. From the pop-up shops, bars and restaurants, many of the locals were busy cashing in on the opportunity to generate some extra income.
The competing bands and other performers made their way through the streets thrilling onlookers with their costumes and carnival floats, giving their interpretation to the year's theme, Africanism. There was so much to see, plenty of delicious street food (Calabar is particularly famous for its cuisines) and lots of dance moves. The party continued on until the early hours of the following morning!
- Book your accommodation early. The best hotels sell out quickly!
- To see the best of the carnival procession, position yourself close to the starting point of the route.
- Calabar has a reputation for being one of the safest cities in Nigeria and there is a strong police presence at the event but a common-sense approach to safety is required at all times. Speak to your host/hotel staff about security concerns.
- No trip to Calabar is complete without trying the local food!
- After the carnival, take some time to explore the other tourist attractions in Cross River State; Tinapa resort (now almost completely deserted), Obudu Mountain resort and Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary.
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