By Musa Kutama, Calabar
The Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Edet Otu, on Sunday, officially unveiled the 2025 Carnival Calabar Mascot and the newly established Diaspora Band.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, he described the unveiling as a symbolic and historic milestone that reinforces the cultural and tourism heritage of Cross River, stressing that the new mascot captures all the essence of the 20-year journey of Carnival Calabar, an event that has grown into one of Africa’s most celebrated cultural showcases .
Also mentioning the significance of the new emblem, the deputy governor further explained that 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, Prince Bassey Otu, we unveil this landmark design prepared to mark the 20th Anniversary of Carnival Calabar.
“Carnival Calabar has become part of our identity, part of our history and it will remain with us for generations,” Odey said.
He also unveiled the Carnival Calabar Diaspora Band, a special ensemble, designed to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral home.
The deputy governor 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, Otu said.
For two decades, he continued, Carnival Calabar has functioned as a global cultural bridge, showcasing the creativity, unity and tourism potential of the state to the world.
Speaking also during the event, the Chairman, 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; 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, our culture is the engine of our tourism, and this year’s celebration stands as a testimony.”
Onah recalled that the October home-coming 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 Gabe Onah, 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.
The theme of the 2025 Carnival tagged “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.
