Calas Vegas emerges winner of 2024 Calabar Carnival

By Taiye Olayemi

The Calas Vegas carnival band has emerged winner of the 2024 Calabar Street Carnival.

The band, which had also clinched the first position during the 2023 Calabar Carnival, beat six other bands to emerge overall winner again in 2024.

This was announced after the Carnival Street party as the bands were adjudged by teams of adjudicators at four different performance points.

The bands caught the attention of the revellers through their beautiful costumes and well-presented electrifying performances.

Seagull band clinched the second position, while the Bayside band secured the third position.

The seven competitive and seven non-competitive bands were made to cover a 12km carnival parade from Millennium Park through Mary Slessor Avenue to the UJ Esuene Stadium.

The competitive bands were: Passion 4, Freedom, Bayside, Calas Vegas, Masta Blasta, Seagull, and Diamond Bands.

Each band displayed performances by the theme of the carnival: “Our Shared Prosperity.”

Passion 4 Carnival Band, 11-time winner of the Calabar Carnival, which donned green and pink dominated attire, presented an electrifying performance, harping on the need for happiness in the land.

In dramatic and engaging displays, the Seagull Carnival Band harped on the need for peaceful coexistence to achieve prosperity and progress.

The two-time winner of the Calabar Carnival competitive challenge harped on the essence of good legislation, food security, a seamless transport system, a welfare scheme, and education.

Diamond Carnival Band focused on the significance of peaceful coexistence, stressing that this would go a long way in attracting investors to the country and the state.

In melodramatic form, the team displayed the message of welcoming visitors and investors.

Freedom Carnival Band in satirical performance, advocated for economic diversification and equitable resource distribution.

Bayside Carnival Band on the other hand explored a sub-theme: “Our culture, our strength,” as they projected the rich culture of the Oyono community of Cross River.

For the cultural carnival among states, Akwa-Ibom state emerged winner, Osun became the first runner-up while Delta emerged as the second runner-up.

In the Local Government Areas category, Yakurr won, Calabar South bagged the second position while Odukpani came third.

For the Junior Carnival, the Calas Vegas band also emerged winner, while the Seagull band clinched the second position, and Bayside secured the third position.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the carnival, which featured three dry runs in Oct. before the main carnival, attracted revellers from states across Nigeria and international tourists.