As Carnival Calabar marks its 20th anniversary, the iconic festival has emerged not just as a cultural spectacle but as a symbol of enduring pride, economic strategy, and community cohesion in Cross River State.
According to Sir Gabe Onah, Chairman of the Cross River State Carnival Commission, the milestone edition reflects how the carnival has grown into an institution that transcends politics, religion, and administrations.
Speaking on the significance of the festival, Onah said the 20th edition has reignited a renewed sense of pride among the people of Cross River. With the theme “Traces of Time,” this year’s carnival paid tribute to the state’s founding fathers, acknowledging their legacy while challenging the present generation to preserve and build upon it. He described hospitality, warmth, laughter, and joy as inherent qualities of the Cross River people, adding that these values are what the state continues to offer the world through the carnival.
Onah noted that Carnival Calabar’s longevity is one of its strongest achievements, having survived and thrived across four different administrations. He stressed that the festival has evolved beyond political cycles and ideological divisions to become a unifying force and a permanent feature of the state’s identity.
Addressing concerns about cost and government spending, the Carnival Commission chairman argued that the true value of Carnival Calabar cannot be measured purely in monetary terms. He said a responsible government’s role is to create an enabling environment for peace, enterprise, and private-sector growth—outcomes he believes the carnival consistently delivers.
According to him, the festival boosts internally generated revenue, provides employment, and ensures positive engagement for youths, women, elders, and local communities, while fostering peace and social stability. “How much can one pay for peace?” he asked.
On the economic front, Onah described Carnival Calabar as a deliberate strategy for economic development, supported by a thriving informal and formal economy. From food vendors and artisans to hoteliers, transport operators, and small traders along the 12-kilometre carnival route, he said the benefits cut across every layer of society. He added that the continued support of host communities proves the festival’s value, noting that community acceptance remains the strongest pillar of any successful tourism initiative.
Responding to comparisons with Lagos’ popular Detty December, Onah dismissed notions of rivalry, emphasizing collaboration over competition in tourism.
He explained that Carnival Calabar, which evolved from the Calabar Festival at the turn of the millennium, was deliberately structured and institutionalized, with legal backing, international trademark registration, and a regulatory framework governing its operations. According to him, newer tourism expressions across the country are benefiting from pathways already created by Calabar’s experience.
Looking ahead to the 21st edition, Onah said the focus will be on expanding opportunities for artisans, enhancing the spectacle and excitement along the carnival route, and deepening private-sector participation. He stressed that long-term sustainability lies in positioning Carnival Calabar as a profitable, competitive, and professionally managed subsector driven increasingly by private investment.
“At its core,” he said, “Carnival Calabar remains a strategy for economic development—one that brings government, communities, and businesses together in a win-win partnership.”
