An Exploration of the Social and Cultural Activities at the Calabar Carnival

The Calabar Carnival is one of the most exciting cultural events held in West Africa. It’s a vibrant celebration that has been held annually since 1976 and attracts thousands of people from all over the world.

Calabar Carnival

Calabar Carnival is a festival that takes place in the town of Calabar, Nigeria. The event starts on December and lasts for ten days, ending December as well. It is held annually to celebrate the end of Festive season and coincides with Christmas Eve.

The carnival is one of the largest celebrations in Africa and has been described as being “the biggest street party in Africa”. It involves various cultural activities including masquerades, parades and fireworks displays; however it also involves cultural exchanges between different ethnic groups from across West Africa who participate in this festival together through their own cultural traditions while celebrating their shared heritage at this time together!

Brief History of the Calabar Carnival

The Calabar Carnival is a celebration that dates back to the 17th century. The first Calabar Carnival was held in 1857, and it was a formal affair. In 1859, a second Carnival was organized by James Jebbia Pinto and it was held on December 30th of that year at Eke Park (now known as Victoria Park) in London Road where there were two processions with floats designed by Francis Adetoun and one hundred dancers who performed their traditional dances.

Participants in the Carnival

The participants of the Carnival are divided into groups, called masqueraders. Each group is given a costume for their performance and performs in front of the public at different times during the Carnival.

The Process of The Calabar Carnival

The Calabar Carnival is a week-long event that takes place at the end of August, beginning on the first Monday and ending on Sunday before the first Monday of September. It is celebrated in Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon.

The carnival has been around since as early as 1865 when it was held in an area known as “Black Town” which was located near Calabar but now lies within Cross River State in Nigeria.[1] The original purpose for holding this festival was to celebrate their freedom from slavery after being freed by British colonialists who came across them while they were hunting down other tribesmen who were still enslaved.[2] However, over time it became known as a celebration for all things African culture including masquerade balls where people dress up like kings or queens with elaborate costumes made out of fabric materials such as feathers or cloths etc..

The Calabar Festival is one of the biggest festivals in West Africa.

The Calabar Carnival is one of the biggest festivals in West Africa. It is an annual celebration of the people of Calabar, Nigeria and Africa. The festival has been held every year since 1897 and is considered to be a cultural spectacle for both locals and tourists alike.

The main event at this carnival is called “Ogbunigwe” which means “to dance together” in Igbo language which refers to all those who participate in dancing during their performance on stage or just watching others dance with them on stage. It also includes traditional dances like Ekperema (Ekperemare), Nkwo-Amelekerere; Igbo Dance; Ukwuani Dance etc., songs such as Oluwagboni & Idolsongs among others performed by various groups representing different cultures within Nigeria such as Yoruba or Hausa communities

Conclusion

The Calabar Carnival is one of the oldest and most popular festivals in West Africa. It has a rich history and many traditions that are still followed today. This festival is also an opportunity for people from different cultures to come together and celebrate their differences while also learning more about each other through music, dance and culture