- Title: NIGERIA: Abuja carnival celebrates Nigeria's cultural diversity
- Date: 25th November 2013
- Summary: ABUJA, NIGERIA (NOVEMBER 23, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF STREET CARNIVAL VARIOUS OF MASQUERADES DANCING VARIOUS OF DANCERS IN COLOURFUL COSTUMES DANCING PARADE GROUND CARNIVAL FLAGS IN PARADE GROUND VARIOUS OF SPECTATORS ABUJA, NIGERIA (NOVEMBER 24, 2013) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) EDEM DUKE, NIGERIA'S MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM SAYING: "Culture is the biggest collateral that we have not only in Nigeria but on the African continent. Globally the countries that have developed, that are the leading economies of the world hold firm to their cultures, they use it as a major building block to strengthen the social harmony, national unity and economic development." ABUJA, NIGERIA (NOVEMBER 23, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NAMIBIAN CONTINGENT MARCHING AND SINGING VARIOUS OF EGYPTIAN CONTINGENT SINGING VARIOUS OF SPECTATORS ABUJA, NIGERIA (NOVEMBER 24, 2013) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) TESA CHIKAPONYA, HEAD OF ZIMBABWE CONTINGENT SAYING: "This will unify people, this will promote domestic tourism and is also good for the domestic destination image. You find we battle with image, issues for African destinations but if you bring the world to a destination they will learn about the destination, learn about our culture, learn about what we do and also learn about the safety and security." ABUJA, NIGERIA (NOVEMBER 23, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NIGERIAN GROUP WITH ELEPHANT AND CAMELS IN PROCESSION ABUJA, NIGERIA (NOVEMBER 24, 2013) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMAL GLYNN, DELEAGTE FROM TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SAYING: "Today we saw a lot of traditional things like for example in Trinidad we don't see camels, we in the Caribbean we don't see elephants so that was really good for us. That was something like..... to bring us back, root us, let us take the boat to the origin of where things come from. VARIOUS OF NIGERIAN TROUPE PERFORMING
- Embargoed: 10th December 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Arts,Quirky,People
- Reuters ID: LVABAUO49CGIVPYVJSU284II5H1P
- Story Text: The Abuja international carnival - Nigeria's very own version of Madi Gras, kicked off to a slow start on Saturday (November 23).
The four day event attracted less than half the country's 36 states, while just five of the 15 countries that had shown interest in the festival showed up - China, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Namibia and Trinidad and Tobago.
The event, which draws participants from across the country, is a platform to display Nigeria's cultural heritage while promoting the country as a business and tourism destination.
"Culture is the biggest collateral that we have not only in Nigeria but on the African continent. Globally the countries that have developed, that are the leading economies of the world hold firm to their cultures, they use it as a major building block to strengthen the social harmony, national unity and economic development," said Edem Duke, Nigeria's Minister of Culture and Tourism.
Nigeria is growing as an investment destination but corruption and an insurgency led by Boko Haram - an Islamist group that wants to impose Islamic law in northern Nigeria, are tough stains on the country's image.
The government - organisers of the Abuja carnival hoped the event would serve to create a better impression of the nation and promote unity among the nations diverse communities.
"This will unify people, this will promote domestic tourism and is also good for the domestic destination image. You find we battle with image, issues for African destinations but if you bring the world to a destination they will learn about the destination, learn about our culture, learn about what we do and also learn about the safety and security," said Tesa Chikaponya, a delegate from Zimbabwe.
Performances varied from masquerades, dances, parades and to musical performances from around Nigeria and other participating countries.
"Today we saw a lot of traditional things like for example in Trinidad we don't see camels, we in the Caribbean we don't see elephants so that was really good for us. That was something like... to bring us back, root us, let us take the boat to the origin of where things come from," said Jamal Glynn, a delegate from Trinidad and Tobago.
The carnival - themed "A People For A Country, A People Forever,"on Tuesday (November 26).
Coordinators said it was also part of the preparations to mark Nigeria's centenary celebration in January 2014.
The centennial anniversary marks the amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates of Nigeria in the colonial era. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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