Tony Bassey, Organiser of the annually held Calabar Cultural Festival in Surulere, Lagos, on Tuesday said he was elated to record over 200 participants at the festival.
Bassey told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the festival, which holds annually from December 25 to January 1 at the Calabar Community Hall, Surulere, was the 15th edition.
He said the festival served as a platform to preserve and display the rich culture of the Calabar people who reside in Lagos and pass on such cultural values to the next generation.
He said: “Our festival showcases our culture such as the Nyoro Ekpe (Masquerade), Nyok Dance, Ekombi Dance among other cultural norms and values.
“We organise this festival every year here in Lagos State during the festive period for the purpose of promoting our culture and to foster unity among our ethnic groups.
“Some of us cannot travel to Cross River and Akwa Ibom for some reasons.
“Therefore, we create a mini Calabar festival of what should be expected back at our home town.
“By so doing, we encourage ourselves and prepare one another for the coming New Year.”
Bassey also said the festival served as an avenue for networking, meeting new and old friends and for merry making all together.
“The festival has contributed immensely to strengthening the Calabar community in Lagos because we reach out to our members who are in need,” he said.
Enefiok Edem, a businessman who resides in Surulere, said the festival was very important to keeping and preserving the culture of the Calabar people.
Chioma Umanah, a petty trader who has attended the festival for four years, said she was encouraged to bring her goods to the venue because of the adequate security at the event.
NAN.