Nigerians take to the streets for Calabar Carnival

By Grazia BritishDecember 29, 2024

Christmas revellers descended on Nigeria's southern port city of Calabar this weekend for its festive carnival dubbed "Africa's biggest street party".

A woman taking part in Calabar's carnival smiles as she wears a massive red feathered headdress

The glitzy parade had floats and dancers from many of Nigeria's different ethnic groups taking part.

A woman in silver carnival skirt and waistcoat outfit helps a fellow participant in matching clothes lace up her gold boots - Calabar, Nigeria

A month of celebrations in December draws many partygoers to Calabar, the capital of Cross River state and home to many Christian communities. The organisers say up to two million people attend, the AFP news agency reports.

A group of men taking part in the Calabar Carnival pose for a photo in black trousers, black braces and sunglasses. Their chests are bare and covered in gold glitter. Some are wearing black bow ties.

At least 14 bands have reportedly taken part in performances and competitions this year.

A group of men dressed in white outfits and black large brimmed hats blow trumpets as they parade down a street in Calabar, Nigeria

Most of the carnival goers danced to Afrobeats hits, blaring from giant speakers.

Women in silver outfits and gold-brimmed straw hats with chains hanging from their smile as they pose for the camera in Calabar, Nigeria

The carnival is marking two decades since it was started. "We are seeing different designs, different costumes," attendee Grace Job told AFP. "The energy is so much."

Four women in sequin outfits and purple feathered headdresses attached to manilla like horns at the Calabar carnival smile at the camera

The carnival draws a wide variety of people to the streets. The troupe pictured below is from the University of Calabar - with costumes printed with the institution's logo.

Some of the costumes referenced the city's links to the Atlantic slave trade. The one below depicts manillas - the brass bracelets introduced as a form of currency by Portuguese traders and used from the 16th to the 19th Centuries.

A man in a gold sequin outfit with a giant manilla behind him holding up gold wings takes part in a carnival in Calabar, Nigeria

This woman's outfit harks back to colonial times and is dressed as a giant British West Africa penny from the reign of UK monarch George VI. Nigeria gained its independence from Britain in 1960.

A woman dressed as a giant 1937 British West Africa penny parades down a street in Calabar, Nigeria

A woman in a large straw hat and off-the-shoulder outfit holds a pink electric fan as she takes part in the carnival in Calabar, Nigeria

"Everyone is trying to showcase the tradition and the culture," 25-year-old dancer and civil engineering undergraduate Rejoice Elemi told AFP

Parade onlookers look through the legs of performers in gold boots and pink and orange

At a stadium in Calabar on Friday night Nigerian music stars Runtown and Iyanya performed at a carnival concert. Calas Vegas went on to won the coveted title of best carnival band - for the second year running.

A performer in a gold outfit with gold glove sleeves and large silver headdress does jazz hands during the Calabar Carnival

Cross River State state sees the carnival - now Nigeria's biggest - as a way to draw visitors not just from across Nigeria - but also those from the diaspora.