Calabar– The much-anticipated Carnival Calabar 2024, dubbed Africa’s Biggest Street Party, concluded with fanfare as winners across various categories were announced. However, the event sparked mixed reactions from attendees and observers, with discussions about its organization, publicity, and evolving standards dominating social media NEGROIDHAVEN can report authoritatively.
In the Major Carnival category, Calas Vegas emerged as the top band, followed by Seagull Band and Freedom Band in second and third places, respectively.
Similarly, Calas Vegas also secured first position in the Junior Carnival, with Seagull Band and Bayside Band rounding out the top three.
For the Cultural Carnival (States) category, Akwa Ibom took the crown, while Osun State and Delta State placed second and third. In the Cultural Carnival (Local Government Areas) category, Yakurr Local Government Area claimed the top spot, followed by Calabar South and Odukpani Local Government Areas.
While the Carnival’s winners celebrated their victories, public discourse highlighted a shift in the event’s quality and management over the years. Social media commentator Kalita Igbe Aruku lamented a decline in infrastructure, contrasting the “solid fabricated stands” of past administrations with the current “wooden stands.”
Others, like Kelvin Egari, expressed concern about delays in flagging off the event, noting that by mid-afternoon, the Carnival had yet to officially commence.
Additionally, observers such as Austine Bissong criticized the lack of adequate public relations, stating that the event failed to trend on social media platforms—a missed opportunity to amplify its reach.
On a positive note, Tom Alims and others commended the significant shift towards modesty in costumes this year. “There’s still beauty in decent dressing,” Alims remarked, attributing the change to the influence of the First Lady of Cross River State. He noted that the trend extended to the Queen of Humanity pageantry, which also showcased more modest attire.
The question of whether Carnival Calabar 2024 captured the public’s attention lingered throughout the event. Remary Remary queried, “Did the Calabar Carnival 2024 really trend?”—a sentiment echoed by others who expressed hope for improved visibility in future editions.
