NEWSDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2 K 13 TT participating in biggest ‘Africa carnival’ Monday, November 18 2013 ABUJA: The 9th edition of the annual Abuja International Carnival has received global acclaim, as 15 countries, among which are China, Trinidad and Tobago, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the Gambia, have confirmed their intention to be part of the activities for the biggest carnival in Africa. Other countries are Sudan, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, Cameroon, Senegal, Kenya, Ghana, Niger and Egypt. The carnival, which first started in 2004 and has now become an annual fixture, is designed to mark the centenary anniversary of Nigeria. It will be staged in the nation’s capital from November 23 to 26. Minister of Culture and Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke noted that the participation of Trinidad and Tobago was a special one as Nigeria wanted to model the Abuja Carnival after the one in the Caribbean country, as a tool to maximise the creativity of the Nigerian youth as well as their enterprise. The High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr Nyahuma Metuhotep Obika, said that Trinidad’s Minister of Art and Multiculturalism Dr Lincoln Douglas will lead a 23-man delegation to Nigeria on November 22. The travelling party will also comprise 21 members of the country’s street orchestra. Obika also said that Trinidad and Tobago has undertaken to organise an opera, which is one of the associated activities at the four-day events. The orchestra will perform along dancers from Benin City at the opera as well as at the pre-Carnivals party in Abuja on Friday, November 22. In addition, the tiny Latin American country, according to the envoy, will present 26 costumes and men and women’s wear to the Ministry of Tourism for the 2014 carnival. The Ambassador of China was represented at the event by the Cultural Attaché, In Honyue. The most populated country in the world said it will send its dancers and magicians to Abuja for the events. Jin Honyue said that the Abuja Carnival is a platform to bolster Chinese-Nigeria cultural exchanges. Duke, who described Nigeria as a country of great cultural diversity, said that the carnival will define the strength and value of the African continent. He said the platform will be a potpourri of diverse expression and repertoire of dances for other participating African countries, who might want to surprise Nigeria with what they have in the kitty. Some of the activities on the card include Art exhibition, boat regatta, durbar, children’s parade, masquerade fiesta, contemporary musical fiesta and traditional hairstyles. A unique innovation to this year’s activities, which is supported by corporate Nigeria, is the provision of two double-decker buses to be used by the participating countries for sightseeing.
Posted on: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 10:01:56 +0000
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