This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page . (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
The Carniriv (English: Car-nee-rev) is an annual festival held in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The Carnival starts a few weeks before Christmas, and lasts seven days. During this time, several ceremonial events are held; most of which have some cultural and/or sacred significance. [1]
The Port Harcourt Carnival bears a certain uniqueness as it combines two carnivals: a purely cultural carnival and a contemporary Caribbean-style carnival in one. It also features musical performances from both local and international artists. [2] This gives it an edge over all other regional and continental carnivals, and presents a principal advantage that must be fully exploited. [3]
The Government of Rivers State recognizes Carniriv as its biggest tourism export. With economic interests increasingly identifying tourism as a viable alternative to the fossil fuel economy - especially in these parts - the state government has demonstrated its commitment to developing this carnival into a regionally unrivaled and globally reckoned tourist attraction. [4] Thus, it has always made available the necessary financial backing for the event each year, and has also worked hard through the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to ensure that it is held.
Carniriv ’88 is the direct predecessor of Carniriv: The Port Harcourt Carnival. From 1988 through to 2008 the idea of staging a carnival with statewide participation evolved in several forms - most notably in the form of Rivifest - until the emergence of the current carnival. Carniriv: The Port Harcourt Carnival was construed and staged in 2008, and with it came the strong desire to build a robust and ultimately attractive carnival brand. [5]
Rivers State is known as the land of a thousand masquerades. With a fine variety of spoken languages, numbering over 300, it is easy to discern the beauty in the diversity of its peoples. The ancient and enduring civilizations, quite simply draw attention to the richness and immense significance of the collective heritage of the Rivers people. Simply put, we are a microcosm of the macrocosm, a Nigeria (with all of its cultural and ethnic diversity) within Nigeria. This, in essence, is at the core of the philosophy and guiding principle of Carniriv: The Port Harcourt Carnival.
The carnival here enters its final day, and the hype and excitement are building to a crescendo. Glamour, style, and pageantry all fuse into one fine artistic blend in a contemporary cultural procession through the streets of Port Harcourt. Traditionally, six bands participate in this procession, with 5 bands (namely: Jubilee, Liberation, Dynamic, Fusion, and Treasure) all wrapped-up in fervent competition. [6]
In true carnival style, contingents from the 23 LGAs engage a procession along a predefined route through the streets of Port Harcourt- showcasing enthralling dances and masquerade displays as they do so. All of these performances are embedded in colouful floats adorned with impressive icons. This year, the Heritage Parade goes international with the inclusion of troupes from Malaysia and South Africa as honorary participants.
This carnival strongly reflects the importance attached to children in Carniriv, and by extension tourism development, in Rivers State.
The Children’s Carnival is designed as a mini-procession, commencing at the Elekahia playground and culminating in Liberation Stadium (Elekahia) - where children will be treated to a carnival full of fun, refreshments, leisure, and unrestrained entertainment befitting an icebreaker event in anticipation of the grand opening of Carniriv 2012.
Port Harcourt is the capital and largest city of Rivers State in Nigeria. It is the fifth most populous city in Nigeria after Lagos, Kano, Ibadan and Benin. It lies along the Bonny River and is located in the oil rich Niger Delta region. As of 2023, Port Harcourt's urban population is approximately 3,480,000. The population of the metropolitan area of Port Harcourt is almost twice its urban area population with a 2015 United Nations estimate of 2,344,000. In 1950, the population of Port Harcourt was 59,752. Port Harcourt has grown by 150,844 since 2015, which represents a 4.99% annual change.
Osun-Osogbo is a sacred grove along the banks of the Osun river just outside the city of Osogbo, Osun State of Nigeria.
Bonny Island is a local government situated at the southern edge of Rivers State in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria near Port Harcourt. Ferries are the main form of transport, though recently an airstrip has been built and it’s fully functional - with flights from Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt respectively to and from the island. The local dialect spoken in Bonny Island are Igbo language and Ibani language.
Batabano is the name of the Caribbean Carnival held in the Cayman Islands. The festival takes place annually during the first week of May in George Town. Batabano is a time for people of all different descents to gather with a common interest and celebrate community spirit. The Cayman Islands are home to over 100 different nationalities, all brought together and embraced by the festival. It is a cultural celebration filled with music, dance, and elaborate costumes that reflect the landscapes, heritage, and culture. International interest is growing in the Batabano celebrations, despite only having existed for about 30 years.
Leboku being a dialectic name for ""Festival" is known to be the annual New Yam Festival of the Yakạạ people because the word is the language of the Yakurr people. It is celebrated in the south-south region of Cross River State, Nigeria. The Leboku New Yam festival is peculiar to the core Yakạạ speaking communities: Ugep, Idomi, Ekori, Mkpani and Nko, and the international version is celebrated in Ugep once in a year. Each of the communities mentioned being peculiar to the Festival have a distinct day secluded or set aside for the celebration in their respective communities. These are; Lemomor boku, Lelomi boku, Lekoli boku, Lekpanikpani boku and Lekakaa boku. This is celebrated to honor the earth goddess and the ancestral spirits of the land in Ugep, one of the five settlements of Yakurr. The three-week festival is the culmination of many events: the beginning of the yam harvest, a time to appease the gods and ancestors, a public parade of engaged maidens, a commemoration of events that led to the migration from the Yakurr ancestral home to the present site, and a period of holiday in the Yakurr traditional calendar. The Yakurr calendar runs from August to July. During the Leboku, people keep away from intense farming activities and exchange visits with their families. The Leboku is also meant to usher in peace, good health and prosperity.
The Eyo Festival, otherwise known as the Adamu Orisha Play, is a Yoruba festival unique to Lagos, Nigeria and has a strong historical footing in Iperu-Remo, a town in Ikenne Local Government, Ogun State. In modern times, it is presented by the people of Lagos as a tourist event. Due to the history of its development, it is traditionally performed on Lagos Island. A notable festival date was in 2000 commemorating Justice G.B.A. Coker, a Lagos high chief, the Olori Adimu and the Olori Eyo of the Adimu Eyo cultural masquerade.
Chief Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas was a Nigerian politician who was appointed Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture in 1989, then Minister of Aviation in General Ibrahim Babangida's cabinet. In 1999, he was appointed Minister of Labour and Productivity, and in 2000, Minister of Tourism in the Olusegun Obasanjo cabinet, leaving office in January 2001.
Port Harcourt, a city of Rivers State located to the south of Nigeria, has a thriving music scene encompassing both native African and foreign-influenced genres. It plays host to numerous radio stations, prominent recording studios, such as the Street Rhymes Studios and other music institutions. As a state capital, Port Harcourt has one of the liveliest club scenes in the country as well as music venues, bars and restaurants. As of 2015, hip hop, pop, highlife and reggae are most popular music styles among young people in the city.
The Port Harcourt Book Festival is an annual literary event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, organised by the Rainbow Book Club and endorsed by the Rivers State Government since 2008. The Garden City Literary Festival, which is currently known as the Port Harcourt Book Festival was founded by Governor Amaechi of Rivers State, Hundreds of literary fans flock to the Garden City every year for this six-day event, which includes a book fair, writers' workshops, and a variety of other activities. In the past the Festival has been attended by recognized authors and has hosted a number of celebrities.
The Rivers State Tourism Development Agency is an agency of the Government of Rivers State in Nigeria. It is responsible for promoting and improving sustainable tourism activities and attractions in the state. Established in January 2012, the agency's mission is to initiate partnerships with local and international tourism, cultural and development agencies with a view to maximize the tourism potentials in Rivers State and meet best global practices.
The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism is a government ministry of Rivers State, Nigeria entrusted with the formulation and implementation of policies to promote culture and tourism with a view to stimulating economic growth in the state. The ministry's mandate is to "Put in place programmes and events that attract international, national and local tourists."
Lagos Black Heritage Festival (LBHF) is an annual event in Lagos that also includes the Lagos Carnival. The festival is a feast of culture and history aimed to showcase the richness and diversity of the African heritage. LBHF celebrates African creativity with diverse performances such as traditional and contemporary dance, drama, music, painting, and photography expositions among others.
Idoma International Carnival is an annual event held in Otukpo in Benue State, Nigeria.
Badagry Festival is an annual event held in Badagry, a town in Lagos State, Nigeria. It is organised by the African Renaissance Foundation (AREFO). The event reflects the significance of the ancient town during the slave trade era. It is a convergence of culture and display of African heritage. The organizer brings the indegine and culture-loving fans from around the world to celebrate the festival. One of the major highlights is the artistic display by masquerades, dancers, and fire eaters. It features football competition, the beating of Sato drum, and Liberation Day Celebration.
Obi Wali International Conference Centre is a convention center in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. It is named in the honor and memory of Obi Wali, a prominent political figure from Ikwerreland and is run by the state government.
The Nwonyo Fishing Festival is a festival celebrated by the Ibi people in Taraba State, Nigeria. The lake is located 5 kilometres North of Ibi community, it is an annually celebrated festival where Ibi and its neighboring community comes together to fish and re-unite. The lake is said to be the largest in west Africa as it run 15 kilometres to the Benue River. The name Nwonyo means Hide-out for huge and dangerous aquatic Animals such as Crocodiles, Snakes, Hippopotamus and many more.
Yam is a staple food in West Africa and other regions classified as a tuber crop and it is an annual or perennial crop. The New Yam festival is celebrated by almost every ethnic group in Nigeria and is observed annually at the end of June.