Grooming young cultural successors key to sustaining Carnival Calabar —Band handlers
Children
By Joan Odafe
Calabar, Dec. 28, 2025 (NAN) Band leaders at the ongoing Carnival Calabar say the festival’s survival depends on grooming kids early, turning them into the next generation of cultural torchbearers.
The handlers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews on the sidelines of the Junior Carnival in Calabar on Saturday.
NAN reports that the Junior Carnival, with seven bands competing in a parade, is one of the main features at the ongoing Carnival Calabar.
Some of the bands included Calas Vegas , Freedom, Bayside and Passion 4.
The carnival, which is the 20th edition since inception in 2005 is with the theme, ‘Traces of Time’.
The theme was brought alive by the children through costumes, presentations and choreography that reflected colonial history, the nation’s democratic journey and culture.
The Chief Marshal of the Calas Vegas Band, Prince Gershon, said the Junior Carnival was introduced and re-modified by the Governor of Cross River and his wife to ensure continuity.
Gershon, who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor on Intelligence, said the Junior Carnival aimed at building the minds and strength of the children to take over the festival in future.
According to him, the practice is also aimed to catch them young, and identify their special abilities.
“If only us, the older ones play it, after we are gone , the carnival would also go,” he said.
Noting positive feedback from parents, Gershon said the Junior Carnival would also help to reshape the children’s character and behaviour.
“We not only teach dance, we teach character, respect, and love for one other,” he said.
Gershon said the carnival was the product of months of rigorous planning and dedicated efforts.
Giving reassurance about the children’s safety, and health concerns, he said regular dry runs were done prior to the carnival to test their endurance along carnival routes.
“Within that period, , you will know who is strong, who is not strong and what you can do to make that person strong.
“If anything happens, there are stand-by doctors and nurses, you will even see ambulances,’ he said.
He said the governor’s wife, Mrs Eyoanwan Otu, had boosted the Junior Carnival with incentives including scholarships.
Favour Bassey, a handler with Freedom Band, confirmed that the group’s narrative was deliberately designed to align with the official theme.
Speaking on the colours, Bassey said they were used to depict various activities presented by the different bands.
“We are taking you back to the traces of time, the colonial time and what happened during that time.
“Also when peace came into Nigeria, like when Nigeria gained independence.
“The green, white, green is to symbolise independence and democracy,” she said.
Sonny Bright of the Calas Vegas Band said it took a lot of hard work and months of rehearsal to get the children ready for the parade.
“Most times, for a whole day, we are rehearsing back-to-back on music, song selection, choreography and precision.
“It’s a lot of hard work,” he said.
Bright said the rehearsals, costume work and dry runs had stretched over three months, adding that funding came from the band leadership and government.
NAN reports that the children began their parade at Mary Slessor Ave. before moving to the U.J. Esuene Stadium for a final march-past.
After the parade, they were hosted to the Carnival Christmas Party organised by the wife of the governor, at the stadium. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
JOJO/FAA
==========
Edited by Folasade Adeniran