Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa, recently unveiled the official logo of the rebranded Abuja International Carnival scheduled to be held in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Abuja Carnival, now Abuja International Carnival was last held in 2016, a fiesta that showcased the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria.
The repackaged cultural festival, slated to hold from November 21 to 23, is being organised by the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy(FMACCE) and Yankee Entertainment.
Speaking during the unveiling, the minister said the staging of the Abuja International Carnival is in alignment with the Ministry’s goals of promoting cultural diversity and supporting the creative economy.
According to her, the carnival will serve as a platform to remind the world of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and a springboard for national cohesion and acceptance.
“The Abuja International Carnival aims to boost cultural tourism and enhance Nigeria’s international profile and foster national unity, boost international culture promotion and create economic opportunities for local artists and entrepreneurs.
“It is one of the events we really need to showcase to put the country in the forefront of cultural promotion.
“We knew that we needed to create something sustainable which would be able to attract not only investments but tourism into our country.
“The former administration had started the Abuja Carnival, and we want to continue with it and also make sure that it is given long-term attraction and sustainability,” she said.
Also speaking during the event, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Yankee Entertainment, Kehinde Adegbite, said the rebranded carnival would showcase Nigerian cultural diversity and creativity to a global audience.
Adegbite said the carnival will feature a range of activities, including floats and street shows, musical concerts, traditional food competition, boat regatta, Durbar, children’s Fiesta, and art exhibitions.
“I have been to so many places in the world, festivals and carnivals, they have the population, money, but they don’t have the culture, but we are in a country where our culture can strive.
“Abuja Carnival was created in 2005 by Olusegun Obasanjo with the sole aim of showcasing Nigerian talent and culture to the world and it ran until 2016 before it was paused.
“We strongly believe that with this platform, we will bring it back again; bigger and better to an international standard and that is why it is now called the Abuja International Carnival.
“The carnival belongs to all of us, it is our pride, and no matter where you go in the world, you still carry a green passport which shows that you are a Nigerian,” he said.
The organisers stated that preparations are already underway to ensure a successful and memorable event.
They promised that the carnival will be an unforgettable experience, with something for everyone.
According to the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, the Carnival is one of the most exhilarating Nigerian cultural jamborees which includes street parades, boat regattas and Nigerian States cultural competition.
“Abuja carnival was established in 2005 to showcase the rich culture and crystallization of the creative spirit and cultural diversity of the Nigerian people, the Carnival has also been established as a major international calendar event, and is unique in many ways,” it explained.
The institute disclosed that the carnival attracts over 200,000 local and international participants consisting of contingents from the states, participating countries, visitors, volunteers, vendors, exhibitors, photographers, set/costume designers, artisans, students, security personnel, Para-medics, traffic officers, officials of supporting agencies and media people.
“It is also a “breathtaking photo-event which brings over 250 cultures and diverse forms of entertainment together in various events spanning for days in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city,” it said.
There is no doubt that carnival has its social, economic and political benefits.
Exploring the benefits of carnivals, the UNESCO noted that experience has shown that carnivals and festivals can be drivers of social cohesion, promote cultural tourism and generate income which boosts economies through destination branding and marketing.
Speaking on the issue, a hospitality consultant, Chike Ugwu, stated that the carnival not only creates opportunities for people to showcase their culture, but also helps to strengthen unity among the people.
“One of the benefits of carnival is that it helps to showcase the cultures of different tribes in a country because it’s not always a one tribe thing or one ethnic group thing.
“It’s a collection of different ethnic groups and different tribes showcasing the intricacies of their culture and traditions,” he said.
Ugwu also added that carnival helps to create distraction for people from the harsh realities of life, giving them an opportunity to break away from those situations and relax a bit.
He added that it boosts the economy of the nation as it not only brings in money through tourism, but also creates jobs for many.
“Money definitely flows during that time. During the carnival, there is an increase in demand for accommodations, food , transportation and other things.
“The carnival is used to generate revenue because people from across the country try to acquire the artifacts being displayed. People also spend money trying to look like what the carnival is trying to represent,” he said.