- Title: NIGERIA: Celebrating Nigeria, the Abuja Carnival begins
- Date: 25th November 2009
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST MOHAMMED MUKTAR, SAYING: "This is a great festival, the country from where I come also have a number of such carnivals and festivals every year and in that sense, I feel at home when I look at this carnival." TROUPE WAVING TO SPECTATORS (SOUNDBITE) (English) NGOZI OKO , TOURIST SAYING: "This is wonderful you know, it's almost like something I saw in Caribana carnival in Canada, it's exciting actually." TROUPE PARADE WITH FISH FLOAT
- Embargoed: 10th December 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVA8A0AQQZSQCSLPMP926CM9TMXF
- Story Text: Thousands of spectators gather to watch dancers and floats in Abuja's carnival, which aims to get the party started for next year's celebrations of 50 years of independence for Nigeria.
The fourth annual carnival began on Saturday (November 21) in Abuja, Nigeria to great fanfare and celebration.
The Abuja Carnival is a street festival of arts and culture, which takes place in the heart of the Abuja municipality during four action packed days in November.
Troupes from the country's 36 states dressed in colourful carnival costumes, all locally made, dance for about 10 minutes in front of thousands of spectators as they pass through the city's main streets.
Every troupe has a theme which they take to symbolise their state. This year, Nigeria's delta region chose a fish and boat and the eastern states chose palm trees.
The Carnival draws visitors from near and far each year and has become one of the country's major tourist attractions.
"This is a great festival, the country from where I come also have a number of such carnivals and festivals every year and in that sense, I feel at home when I look at this carnival," said tourist, Mohammed Muktar.
"This is wonderful you know, it's almost like something I saw in Caribana carnival in Canada, it's exciting actually," added another tourist, Ngozi Oko.
Over 2 million people are expected to join in the festivities over the next few days.
The carnival is a creative occasion showcasing Nigeria's unique heritage of history, culture and modernity to the world, but this year is set to kick off celebrations for 2010 when Nigeria celebrates 50 years of independence. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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