The 2025 edition of Carnival Calabar is set to mark a defining moment in Cross River State’s tourism and creative economy recovery, five years after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global travel and cultural activities.
Described as the epitome of the state’s post-COVID tourism resurgence, the carnival is themed “Traces of Time” and coincides with its 20th anniversary.
Speaking on preparations for the event, tourism and creative sector advocate, Gabe Onah, said Carnival Calabar 2025 represents a return to the festival’s peak years, recalling that the event had reached its height in 2019 before the pandemic brought global tourism and the creative arts sector to a halt.
According to Onah, the 2025 edition is designed to re-establish Carnival Calabar’s position as a major socioeconomic driver for the state. He explained that renewed strategies are being deployed to ensure the carnival continues to penetrate the social and economic fabric of Cross River State while reinforcing its international appeal.
He noted that the now-famous “Detty December” experience in Calabar has placed the State firmly on the global tourism map, attracting both local and international visitors. The relaxed festive atmosphere, coupled with the carnival’s economic ripple effects, has boosted hospitality, transportation, entertainment and small businesses across the State. Onah added that sustained collaboration between the public and private sectors remains critical to maximising the carnival’s economic impact.
He also highlighted a renewed carnival spirit across the State, attributing it to the leadership of Governor Bassey Otu and his “People First” governance mantra. He said recent events, including the Christmas Tree lighting at Millennium Park on November 30, have drawn massive crowds, signalling a revival of community participation and tourism-driven population influx.
“There is a visible reawakening among the carnival bands and the people”, he said, stressing that tourism, culture and creative arts are increasingly being recognised as powerful tools for socioeconomic development.
A major highlight of Carnival Calabar 2025 is the coming together of all former governors of the States, a development Onah described as a unique symbol of unity. He said the governor’s ability to aggregate past and present leadership has repositioned the carnival as a movement for peace, understanding and progress, in line with the overarching message of the “Traces of Time” theme.
Reflecting on the evolution of the carnival and the State’s creative sector, Onah traced its growth through successive administrations. He credited former Governor Clement Ebri with revitalising the Cultural Centre and laying early foundations for arts development; Donald Duke for identifying culture, tourism and creativity as engines of growth; Liyel Imoke for institutionalising the carnival with structured themes, training and branding; and Ben Ayade for globalising the event with initiatives such as the International Carnival, Miss Africa Pageant, International Food Festival and Bikers Carnival.
Onah described Governor Bassey Otu as “the Joseph of our time,” leading the narrative of Carnival Calabar’s 20th anniversary with renewed vision and purpose.
As preparations intensify, Carnival Calabar 2025 is expected to draw thousands of visitors, reaffirming its status as Africa’s biggest street party and a powerful symbol of Cross River State’s cultural resilience and unity.