Abuja festival starts on Monday. ever refreshing.

By Bridget Chiedu Onochie

FEW days to the 2014 edition of Abuja National Carnival, the organizers said arrangements are concluded for a Carnival that will celebrate the country's creative ingenuity.

In an event to announce the commencement of the nation's culture and tourism product, the newly appointed Artistic Director, Mr. Biodun Abe, informed journalists that with the existing events and new introductions, the year's outing will not fall short of expectations.

According to him, activities will kickstart on Monday, November 24 with exhibition at the Eagle Square by 10 am. This would be followed by Contemporary Musical Fiesta at the same venue by 10 pm of the same day. The Street Carnival comes up November 25. The procession, which begins as early as 8am stretches from Ahmadu Bello Way down to the Eagle Square, where the official opening ceremony and masquerade fiesta will follow immediately.

Other events lined up for the four-day fiesta include the Royal Durbar and Boat Regatta slated for November 26 also at the Eagle Square. Events come to a close with the official closing ceremony on November 27 at the same Eagle Square beginning from 10 am.

Accepting though that preparations towards the hosting of the fiesta, especially with regards to publicity and other logistics may have started a bit late due to certain constraints, the Carnival director however believed that with a committed team in place, Nigeria will nevertheless witness a unique artistry in the content and execution of the Carnival.

Abe noted that having served as the Technical Adviser of the Carnival for six years, he has witnessed the event, which debuted grow in leaps and bounds since it debuted in 2005.

"It has equally strived to meet its objective of presenting and preserving the rich intangible cultural heritage of Nigeria and showcasing Abuja as a destination of choice.

"With increase in the number of participation and a scaling up of events each year, the Carnival has no doubt come to reflect our unity in diversity, building bridges and enhancing friendship through the unique display of our heritage.

"Abuja Carnival has become a huge tourism product not only attracting international patronage but also helping to boost the economy of the informal sector and the hospitality of the Federal Capital Territry", Abe said.

With Building An Enduring Creative Nation as this year's theme, he listed some of the innovations to include use of motor cycles and tricycles as floats.

According to him, floats will no longer be limited to the use of trucks but states and individual groups would have the opportunity to experiment with other tools.

"It will no longer be limited to truck floats. We want to see how creative the art and tourism community can engage other tools including tricycles and motor cycles as floats.

Speaking on the level of response from states, Abe noted that over 20 states have indicated interest in participating at the event while more are still expected. He also informed that even the private sector has been responding positively to the public/private partnership initiative of the federal government.

©The Guardian