By Kingsley Agim
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu has officially unveiled the 2025 Carnival Mascot and the newly established Carnival Calabar Diaspora Band.
The unveiling, performed by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, took place during the Second Dry Run, held at the popular Eleven Eleven Roundabout. Calabar Cenotaph.
Speaking on behalf of the Governor, the Deputy Governor described the unveiling as a symbolic and historic milestone that reinforces the cultural and tourism heritage of Cross River State. He emphasised that the new mascot captures the essence of the 20-year journey of Carnival Calabar, an event that has grown into one of Africa’s most celebrated cultural showcases.
Highlighting the significance of the new emblem, the Deputy Governor explained that Governor Otu had earlier approved the creation of a mascot that reflects the beauty, growth, and resilience of the carnival.
“With great honour, and on behalf of the Governor of Cross River State, the Sweet Prince of Africa, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, we unveil this landmark design prepared to mark the 20th anniversary of Carnival Calabar,” he proclaimed. “Carnival Calabar has become part of our identity, part of our history, and it will remain with us for generations. To the glory of God and the good people of Cross River State, we unveil this icon in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
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Additionally, there was the unveiling of the Carnival Calabar Diaspora Band, a special ensemble designed to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral home by the Deputy Governor. He noted that the administration has continued to deepen engagement with the diaspora community through the State Diaspora Commission, an initiative that has already recorded meaningful progress.
He said for two decades, Carnival Calabar has functioned as a global cultural bridge, showcasing the creativity, unity, and tourism potential of Cross River State to the world.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Cross River Carnival Commission, Mr Gabe Onah, described the celebration as a tribute to the state’s enduring cultural identity. “This is our state, the Pearl of the South,” he said. “Today we are witnessing the unveiling of another icon of our collective effort over these 20 years. Though it is a 20-year road march, the heritage belongs to Cross River State. Our culture is the engine of our tourism, and this year’s celebration stands as a testimony.”
He recalled the October homecoming of 92 brothers and sisters from the African diaspora who visited the state on a reconciliation and heritage tour, an experience that further inspired the creation of the Diaspora Band. According to him, the Governor approved the band to provide a platform for Africans in the diaspora to tell their own story through culture, rhythm, and artistic expression.
With the 2025 Carnival theme, “Traces of Time,” the Diaspora Band will join the procession with a sub-theme that reflects shared history, collective memory, and the desire for cultural reconnection.
“This is the epic journey through time,” he said. “The Diaspora Band speaks to a shared history, to the pain we seek to reconcile, and to the future we are building together. I call on all diasporans around the world, including myself, to join the Diaspora Band and help lead Carnival Calabar into its next phase.”
