Close Menu
World

Shivering and shaking at ‘Africa’s biggest party’

Adnan MaharBy No Comments2 Mins Read0 Views


OLYMPIA DE MESMONT/AFP Nigerian dancers in silver tops and orange pom-pom skirts skip down the street during Carnival in Calabar.Olympia de Mesmont/AFP

This weekend, Christmas revelers gathered in Calabar, a port city in southern Nigeria, for a festive carnival, dubbed “Africa’s biggest street party.”

Emmanuel Adegboye/EPA A woman smiles while wearing a giant red feather headdress during a Calabar carnival.Emmanuel Adegboye / EPA

This spectacular parade featured many floats and dancers from different ethnic groups in Nigeria.

Olympia De Maismont / AFP A woman in a silver carnival skirt and waistcoat helps a fellow participant in matching clothes lace up her golden boots, Calabar, NigeriaOlympia de Mesmont/AFP

The festive month of December draws many partygoers to Calabar, the capital of Cross River State and home to many Christian communities. Organizers say up to 2 million people will attend, according to AFP news agency.

Olympia De Maismont / AFP Profile of a Calabar carnival participant applying lipstick using a mobile phone as a mirrorOlympia de Mesmont/AFP
Olympia De Maismont / AFP A group of men wearing black pants, black braces and sunglasses pose for a photo at a carnival in Calabar. Their breasts are bare and covered with gold glitter. Some people wear black bow ties.Olympia de Mesmont/AFP

At least 14 bands reportedly participated in performances and contests this year.

OLYMPIA DE MESMONT/AFP A group of men wearing white costumes and black large-brimmed hats parade through the streets of Calabar, Nigeria, playing trumpets.Olympia de Mesmont/AFP

Most of the carnival-goers danced while listening to loud Afrobeat hits played through giant speakers.

OLYMPIA DE MESMONT/AFP Women in silver costumes, gold-brimmed straw hats and dangling chains pose for the camera in Calabar, Nigeria.Olympia de Mesmont/AFP

This carnival is celebrating its 20th anniversary. “You can see all the different designs and costumes,” attendee Grace Jobe told AFP. “The energy is amazing.”

Emmanuel Adegboye/EPA Four women in sequin costumes and purple Manila horn headdresses smile for the camera at Carnival in Calabar.Emmanuel Adegboye / EPA

Carnival brings together all kinds of people in the streets. The group in the photo below is from the University of Calabar, and they are wearing costumes with the university’s logo printed on them.

OLYMPIA DE MEMONT/AFP A group from the University of Calabar poses in costumes made of material printed with the university's logo.Olympia de Mesmont/AFP

Some of the costumes referenced the city’s connections to the Atlantic slave trade. The photo below depicts a manila, a brass bracelet introduced by Portuguese traders as a type of currency and used from the 16th to the 19th century.

Emmanuel Adegboye/EPA A man in a gold sequin costume and a giant manila holding gold wings behind him take part in a carnival in Calabar, Nigeria.Emmanuel Adegboye / EPA

This woman’s attire is reminiscent of colonial times, and she wears a giant British West African penny from the reign of British monarch George VI. Nigeria gained independence from Britain in 1960.

Olympia De Maismont / AFP A woman dressed as a giant penny in British West Africa parades through the streets of Calabar, Nigeria, 1937Olympia de Mesmont/AFP
Olympia De Maismont / AFP A woman wearing a large straw hat and off-the-shoulder clothes holds a pink electric fan as she takes part in Carnival in Calabar, Nigeria.Olympia de Mesmont/AFP

“Everyone is trying to introduce their traditions and culture,” Rejoice Elemi, a 25-year-old dancer and civil engineering undergraduate student, told AFP.

Emmanuel Adegboye / EPA Parade onlookers peer at the feet of performers in gold boots and pink and orangeEmmanuel Adegboye / EPA

Nigerian music stars Runtown and Iyanya performed at a carnival concert at a stadium in Calabar on Friday night. Caras Vegas won the coveted title of Best Carnival Band for the second year in a row.

Olympia De Maismont / AFP Performers in golden costumes with golden glove sleeves and large silver headdresses perform jazz hands at Carnival in CalabarOlympia de Mesmont/AFP

Cross River State sees the carnival, which is currently Nigeria’s largest, as a way to attract tourists from across Nigeria as well as from the diaspora.

Olympia De Maismont / AFP Two women wearing silver headdresses and orange and pink feathers smile at the camera during Carnival in Calabar, Nigeria.Olympia de Mesmont/AFP

You may also be interested in:

“Nigerian great-grandfather sold slaves” A Nigerian watch lover lost track of time “I have been sleeping under a bridge in Lagos for 30 years”
Getty Images/BBC Woman watching BBC News Africa on mobile phone and graphicsGetty Images/BBC

For more news from the African continent, visit BBCAfrica.com.

Follow @BBCAfrica on Twitter, BBC Africa on Facebook or bbcafrica on Instagram.

BBC Africa Podcast

Africa Daily

focus on africa

Nigeria
Africa



Source link

Share.

Adnan is a passionate doctor from Pakistan with a keen interest in exploring the world of politics, sports, and international affairs. As an avid reader and lifelong learner, he is deeply committed to sharing insights, perspectives, and thought-provoking ideas. His journey combines a love for knowledge with an analytical approach to current events, aiming to inspire meaningful conversations and broaden understanding across a wide range of topics.

Related Posts

Leave A Reply