Port Harcourt Carnival Kicks off Today

              

The 2013 edition of the Port Harcourt Carnival (CARNIRIV 2013) with the theme ‘The Green World Edition’ kicks off today.

According to the Director-General, Rivers State Tourism Development Agency,  Sam Dede, this year’s edition of Carniriv will provide a thrilling and entertaining display between December 15, to 21 in Port Harcourt City.

Speaking on the line up of activities slated for the carnival, “We have the international culture parade which is essentially culture driven, series of cultural displays at the carnival village that takes place daily showcasing the 23 local governments.

“We also have traditional wrestling who is a spectacular event which we introduced last year that has caught on into the major event of the carnival as well as the international aquatic festival which is the boat regatta.

“It is a spectacular event that you don’t want to miss. So we are telling the world that what we took to Notting hill, what we took to Trinidad and Tobago, what we took to Rio carnival is just a little of what they expect to see at the carnival. I think that the Rivers people should be proud of what we have to showcase.

Further, he said: “We will also have participation from some neighbouring states like Anambra, Bayelsa, Akwa- Ibom and Abia the cultural event. We also have the Trinidad and Tobago troupe coming .We want Rivers people to understand is that carnival is a unifying factor. When we do carnivals, nobody talks about political divides, religious divides, everybody comes together, they wave their flags and along the street of the carnival roads, nobody stands aside and says I am on this side or that I am on that side.
“I think we need to take advantage of the spirit of goodwill that carnival brings for us for the period and we just enjoy carnival for the fact that it brings all of us together as one and if you listen to the theme song of the carnival. There is a line there that says “ after all we have been through, look at where we are, we still stand strong as a people.”

As a people of Rivers State, Dede said: “We have come a long way in terms of resource control, the era of militancy, inspire of everything, look at where we are, we are still celebrating our essence as a people. I think that we should take advantages of the unifying factor of the carnival and just get on with it.”