Abuja Carnival holds workshop in two geo-political zones

The workshops held in the south west and south south were attended by states in the two respective geo-political zones.

The south west zone was attended by all directors of art councils and directors of culture in some related ministries from Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo in Abeokuta, and Ogun State from August 16-18, 2010.

The south south workshop took place in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, and was attended by Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, Rivers, and Cross River, as well as Sam Dede, the zonal coordinator for South south from August 20-22, 2010.

The workshops, according to Professor Ojo Bakare, artistic director, 2010 Abuja Carnival Management Committee, is to allow the various states' professionals to make contribution through the proper review of the last edition and to also ensure compliance.

Bakare noted that the content of the carnival is very crucial to its future successes, which he opined needs constant review in order to prevent frequent monotony of performances and themes from the states.

The professor of “dance" told the states' delegates that, “Abuja Carnival is your business and your product.” He stressed that all the states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory [FCT], and the federal government agreed to a unifying national cultural festival and thus came into existence the Abuja Carnival.

“Every management of Abuja Carnival is only managing it on behalf of the Nigerian people,” Professor Bakare said.

The workshops cover all aspects of the carnival’s activities such as the floats, children’s program, Durbar, command performance, contemporary music fiesta, Masquerades fiesta, boat regatta, and cultural night, as well as the introduction of a welcome party on November 26, 2010 for the states’ delegates, which, according to the carnival secretariat, will enable participating artists from across the country to socialize among themselves before the opening ceremony on the 27th.

Other issues discussed were logistics, costumes, musical instruments, accommodation, and welfare of the participating states as soon as they arrive in Abuja for the carnival proper.

Meanwhile in the coming weeks, the four remaining geo-political zones would be covered. They are: the north east zone to be hosted by Taraba from September 8-10, 2010; north central to be hosted by the Federal Capital Territory [FCT] from September 14-16, 2010; south east to be hosted by Ebonyi State from September 16-18, 2010; and finally north west from September 28-30, 2010 in Kano.