When creativity walked through Abuja streets

When creativity walked through Abuja streets

At the just concluded Abuja Carnival, residents and tourists savour a brilliant parade of colours, dancers, masquerades and other spectacles, Akeem Lasisi reports Rich like an alligator pepper with a century of seeds in its tummy, Nassarawa State’s contingent was led by a float carved in the form of a huge lion. So ambitious were the artistes that designed the carnival beast that they did not forget to leave a commanding voice in its throat. Intermittently, the lion ‘roared’ to the admiration of the crowd, thanks to a sound device masked under the float.

But if the Nassarawa magicians thought that they were the alpha and omega of such a trick, they had better wait to see what their Rivers counterparts had in store. The sprawling size of the fish in the shape of which their float was carved is not the main story. It is a device that made it spray water through its operculum, nostril and every other hole in its neck region. The more applause the crowd rained on the ‘fish’, the more water it threw up, making one wonder how big the drum of water buried in the float must have been.

Yet, in terms of concept, finishing and dramatics, Oyo State’s troupes did not fail to surprise the spectators as it did last year. Curiously, many were only pleasantly surprised that the state has improved by the year, not only in terms of the artistry of its float, but also in terms of costume and beauty of the performances by its artistes. In front of its painstakingly carved float were statues of three old men. Because they represented the founding fathers of the country, they jointly held the national flag. At the back of the float were several big baskets containing agricultural products, with one of them leisurely rolling to the delight of the audience.

Such were the drama that characterised the 2010 edition of the Abuja Carnival held between November 27 and 30. Earlier in the year, there were anxieties that the cultural and tourism fiesta might not hold again. These were fuelled by rumours that, as it happened last year, there was no funding for it, a syndrome that affected preparations for it, especially in terms of publicity. But true to the resilience of the Nigerian spirit, when the carnival bell eventually rang, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, and the Artistic Director of the Carnival, Prof. Rasaki Ojo-Bakare, as well as other members of the organising committee, still had artistes from 32 states, enthusiasts and tourists from within and outside the country heed their call.

A carnival of dresses, laughter, songs, drums, poetry and food, it started with a street party during which the troupes from the states and the FCT painted several streets in a rainbow’s colours – with their outfits and various dramatic gestures. In terms of number, Nassarawa continued to intimidate others, as it paraded the largest contingent. The masquerades it brought alone numbered 140. It was closely followed by the likes of Rivers and Oyo. But in terms of impressive creativity, Ekiti State, whose float bore some neatly packaged books that expressed its being a fountain of knowledge, also stood out.

Based on this profile, it is not surprising that Nassarawa emerged the overall winner, with Rivers and Akwa Ibom coming second and third. While Nasarawa won in seven categories that included Best masquerade performance and Best Carnival Queen, Oyo and Bayelsa respectively came fourth and fifth.

Missing Durbar

You do not miss water until the tap runs dry. Tourists sorely realised the potency of this proverb with the absence of the Durbar heritage artistes at the carnival. Since it came on stream in 2005, the Durbar had been a regular feature, with a segment dedicated to the display of colours, elegance and royalty by various Northern emirates and their followers. But due to various related reasons, the entertaining horses were nowhere to be found.

A good number of people did not find this amusing at all, with foreign tourists particularly saying that they really missed the Durbar. To bridge the gap created, the carnival management introduced polo.

According to Ojo Bakare, financial logistics stalled the coming of the Durban troupes. To bring a single horse to the carnival, he said, could gulp up to N5m. Besides, the governors of most of the states that parade the Durbar had gone on hajj, and this affected the preparation of their troupes, and they did not attend the carnival at all.

Indeed, the challenge and dynamics of funding was one of the points stressed by the minister, who explained that the Federal Government’s position was that the bulk of funding should now come from the private sector.

“The Abuja Carnival is a government initiative initially funded well by the government,” Mohammed said. “But it was based on the fact that appropriate funding would later come from private sector which also has a lot to gain from it. It can fund it as a brand or CSR. It’s been supported for a while by some private organisations in their own small ways. But there is still the need for that major intervention as is done with other carnivals around the world.”

Apart from the fact that polo was introduced to fill the gap created by the absence of Durbar, the tourists got a filling experience at the boat regatta held at Jabbi Dam, where Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states re-enacted the treat they give annually. But surprise came from Benue and Nassarawa states which, for the first time, gallantly participated in the competition.

At the cultural night held on Sunday, and the Command Performance held on Monday, troupes from all the zones thrilled the crowd with dances from the ageless repertory of each state. Foreign troupes, such as those from Egypt, India and Canada, added colours to the dance night, where Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Anambra particularly dazzled the stage with eclectic performances.

Ojo-Bakare is also particularly happy that children‘s participation expanded at the carnival. At a competition organised for children drawn from different parts of the country, grassroots kids and their urban counterparts recited poetry, staged dance, drama and a fashion show.

Absentee states

If anyone saw the Ogun State contingent at the carnival, he or she would have been very surprised. Reason: the political logjam that has gripped the state by the throat has left it so artificially broke that sponsoring artistes to the carnival would be the last thing the Otunba Gbenga Daniel government would consider. And stakeholders‘ expectation was truly not betrayed as the Gateway State led the states that got the gold medal for absenteeism at the Abuja Carnival 2010.

It was closely followed by Osun, which, politically speaking, also has an excuse - the transfer of power from Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola to Governor Rauf Aregbesola. The accounts remain frozen for now. Unfortunately, Imo, Zamfara and Kano did not participate.

Between the carnival and NTDC

There is a sour irony that the current minister and even the current artistic director inherited as far as the ministry and the carnival is concerned. Since about four years ago, the National Tourism and Development Corporation, which, one would have expected, will be at the forefront of promoting the carnival, has distanced itself from the brand.

In the absence of the NTDC, however, other parastatals in the ministry rallied round the Abuja Carnival 2010 management committee. Among these are the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation, the National Gallery of Arts and National Council for Arts and Culture, with the likes of NICO‘s Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, playing a role.

Source:http://www.punchng.com/