Placing Port Harcourt on global travel map

The Port Harcourt International Airport is busy this sunny Friday, morning in October as our plane touched down. The activities speak of a city repositioning itself to have its own share of the world tourism market.

Its annual Caniriv is one of the ways Port Harcourt is making statements on its tourism offering. For this year’s edition, the state’s ministry of tourism is expecting at least five hundred thousand participants as it earnestly prepares for the carnival, which will hold on the 13th to 20th of December 2014.

Sam Dede, director general, River State Tourism and Development Agency and popular actor, Nollywood said that the 2014 edition of Carniriv, the Port Harcourt Carnival is set to go down in history as the most colourful and memorable carnival event ever witnessed on the African continent in recent times.

According to him, an estimated number of over five hundred thousand participants made of residents, tourists, fun lovers and representatives of corporate bodies will converge in Port Harcourt during the one week period of the carnival with estimated daily business exchanges running into several millions. He also revealed that the carnival is repackaged to deliver value and cement Port Harcourt’s reputation as a foremost tourist city in Africa.

‘Because of the traditional high influx of carnival lovers to our city during our annual showpiece event, we have put in place adequate security measures to ensure the protection of lives and property during the entire duration of the carnival. We are also working with other stakeholders in the health and other key sectors to ensure that we create a conducive environment for our visitors,’ he said.

With the theme, ‘One Love, One People’ promises to feature various costume bands, cultural groups, dancers, musicians and performers from all over the world to celebrate the great the unity in diversity of the people of Nigeria and other parts of the world.  In addition, it promises to be a remarkable event with the setting up a 100 by 60 fit stage, the biggest stage ever constructed in Africa.

Some of the highlights of this year’s carnival include Miss Carniriv which will take place on the 13th of December. On the 14th of December will be the Kids Carnival at the Elekahia/Stadium by 2pm and in this same day, the Carnival Praise Jam will hold at the Carnival Village by 7pm.

On the 15th of December, there will be an official opening of the Carniriv 2014 at the Carnival Village by 6pm and on that same day, the DOFF will hold at the Carnival Village by 7pm. The Cultural Art Exhibition will hold on 16th at the Carnival Village by 11am, there will also be Ekere: Rhythm of the Tribes (Part 1) at the Carnival Village by 4pm, in the evening by 7pm the HOSH JAM will hold at the Carnival Village.

The International Aquatic Festival (IAF) will hold in the morning at the Tourist Beach on the 17th and ELEGEGE, the wrestling fiesta will hold by 12 noon. Ekere: Rhythm of the Tribes (Part 2) will also hold on this same day by 4pm at the Carnival Village. After this, BAMFEST, performances by blacks in different parts of the world will hold by 7pm.

On the 18th at the Carnival Village, will be a Cultural Art Exhibition, which will hold by 11 am, after which EGELEDE will hold by 12 noon at the same venue. Ekere: Rhythm of the Tribes will hold at the Carnival Village by 4pm, after which REGGAE-360 will hold at the Carnival Village by 7pm.

The International Heritage Parade will hold at Aba Road by 10am on 19th and in the evening by 7pm, there would be Old PH Town Groove at the Aggrey Road.

On Saturday 20th, there will be a Garden-City Free Style Parade at the Aba Road by 10am and by 7pm in the evening, the World Peace Concert will hold at the Carnival Village.

Dede also said the Carniriv is organised into 12 sub-brands each with distinct identity, individuality and sellable potential and a controlling philosophy is embedded into each brand to expose same to the benefits of differentiated corporate sponsorship.

While shedding light on some of the sub-brands, Dede said:  “the Kids Carnival has proven to be a huge favorite not only for the kids but also for the parents and adults alike who seize rare moments that the kids carnival presents to connect and bond the younger generation.”

The Kids Carnival, he said starts as a mini-procession, which commences at the Elekahia play ground and terminates at the Liberation Stadium (Elekahia), where children are treated to a lot of fun, refreshment, leisure and unrestrained entertainment befitting to an ice-breaker event ahead of the grand opening of the carnival itself. This attracts thousands of children and participants yearly.

He said the Praise Jam as a sub-brand is a veritable opportunity for corporate bodies to connect with their fan base and customers adding that it is a praise fiesta of colourful and inspirational gospel artistes drawn from international and continental spheres to launch the carnival in a night of unstoppable gospel.

“Ekere: Rhythm of the Tribes, encapsulates the spice and essence of the Pure Rivers Carnival Spirit which showcases the diversity of our primary artistic fervor and the glamour of our patrician heritage. The displays are staged in three parts over a three day spread, with each part certain to thrill audiences with ostentatious displays of our collective prides and ancientness,” he added.

He explained that ‘Egelege’ is the traditional wrestling fiesta which tests the ‘man’ in real men and to catch a glimpse of the gladiatory instincts in our men, Egelede is a place to be.

Hosh Jam, he noted is a concert which reminiscences the splendor, ease and rustic charm of night life in the 60s and 70s-echoring the swagger and carefree spirits of the 21st century, adding that the International Aquatic Fiesta showcases the Rivers people’s rich aquatic splendor and the diverse marine cultural heritage of the people.

“The Black African Musical Festival (BAMFEST) is one which evokes feelings from the inner crucibles of the hearts of those who are blacks and those who are proud to associate with black Africa. Performances are by black musicians from the Americas, the Islands of the Caribbean, Europe and the Continent of Africa,” Dede disclosed.

He noted all the customs that will be used for this year’s carnival will be done in Port Harcourt, adding that the carnival was founded to create a platform for home grown talents, which will offer opportunity for them to share stage with big stars in various part of the country.

He assured that the Carnival, since its existence has helped enhance the economy of Port Harcout as hotels will accommodate thousands of people, basic necessities will be bought from people in Port Harcourt and the Carnival Village gives opportunity for people with diverse products to sell and earn a living.

“We are working with various security agencies to ensure that both the participant and those who leave their houses to watch the event will be secured as much as possible,” he said.

Rotimi Amaechi, governor, Rivers State said the carnival is an iconic brand with wider appeal across geography and every strata of the society. “It is a platform for social interaction by the foremost and oldest carnival in Nigeria.”

Vincent Erinwo, chairman, Rivers State Tourism and Development Agency said Carniriv is the historical name for the popular Port Harcourt Carnival which is the oldest and arguably one of the most colourful and largest carnival brands on the African continent, dating back 1988.

“The Carniriv is the pet project of the Rivers State Government executed under the auspices of the River State Tourism Development Agency and the 2014 edition promises to be the most memorable version of the carnival ever hosted in the history of the state,” he said.

He revealed that what informed this year’s theme, ‘One Love One People,’ is that despite where people come from, the Port Harcourt people has always been friendly and believes in unity in diversity.

“The Carnival launches each year with an overriding theme to reflect the thematic issues both at indigenous and global levels and for this year’s edition we hope to observe in its true nature, one love, one people, one million smiles,” Erinwo said.

Donald Okudu, lead design and artist for the Carniriv Logo, 2014 said the design of this year’s logo has the colours yellow, blue and white, which embodies what the theme is, symbolizing strong will, positivity and transition to a place of unity.

“Yellow is a symbol of optimism, confidence and enthusiasm. The blue colour is a symbol of trust and peace, suggesting loyalty and integrity to our great country and white symbolizes purity,” he explained.

“As we celebrate this year’s Carnival, we hope to display these true African identities to help build our country into a better one,” he said.

IFEOMA OKEKE