China, South Africa, Trinidad&Tobago, 12 Other Countries To Be Part Of Abuja Carnival

abuja-carnival

15 countries, including China, Trinidad and Tobago, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the Gambia, have confirmed their intention to be part of the activities for the 9th edition of the annual Abuja International Carnival.

Sudan, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, Cameroon, Senegal, Kenya, Ghana, Niger and Egypt are the other countries eager to be part of the carnival regarded as the biggest in Africa.

The carnival, which started in 2004 and is now being held annually, is designed to mark the centenary anniversary of Nigeria. It will be staged in Abuja from November 23 to 26.

Commending the participation of Trinidad and Tobago as a specia one, Minister of Culture and Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke said 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 yesterday that Trinidad’s Minister of Art and Multiculturalism Dr Lincoln Douglas will lead a 23-man delegation, which will also comprise 21 members of the country’s street orchestra, to Nigeria on November 22.

Obika also said that Trinidad and Tobago has undertaken to organise an opera, which is one of the associated activities at the four-day event. The orchestra will perform along dancers from Benin City at the opera as well as at the pre- carnival party in Abuja on Friday November 22.

Obika added that the country will present 26 costumes and men and women’s wears to the Ministry of Tourism for the 2014 carnival.

The Chinese Ambassador, who was represented at the event by the Cultural Attaché, Jin Honyue said China 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.

Some of the activities at the carnival will include Art exhibition, boat regatta, durbar, children’s parade, masquerade fiesta, contemporary musical fiesta and traditional hair-styles.