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Organisers have
never compromised on the quality of entertainment offered at the Rivers
State Carnival (CARNIRIV) and they are not about to start with this
year’s edition starting tomorrow, December 13. Though the carnival
offers many activities, the pre-carnival groove at Eddie’s, the street
parade, cultural performances, praise fest and peace concert, the Old PH
Town Groove have been included in the cocktail this year.

When Haitian
superstar and one-time presidential hopeful, Wyclef Jean, headlined the
2008 peace concert, some people thought they had reached the pinnacle of
entertainment because Jean, also known as the Preacher’s son – along
with Joe, Brick & Lace, D’Banj and others – took them to heights
previously unseen in the city musically.

The 2008 concert was
good but so also was last year’s edition. Jamaican star, Beanie Man,
and Nigerian acts including Tuface, MI, Wande Coal, P-Square, Duncan
Mighty, Timaya, Daniel Wilson and J. Martins gave great performances at
the Polo Club.

While M.I. did songs
from his current album, home boy, Duncan Mighty, represented the Garden
City well. The then reigning ‘Bumper to Bumper’ and ‘You Bad’ were
among the tracks Wande Coal performed. Dance group, Dance Na the Main
Thing (DNMT), also did their thing, as did J Martins. The highpoint of
that show, however, was when Beanie Man and Tuface sang ‘Ufunnie Banga’
remix.

Inimfon Etuk, head,
communications and Strategy, Message Wise Limited, the consultant
packaging this year’s carnival assures that the 2010 peace concert
holding at the Carnival Village, on Saturday, December 18, will not be
of a lesser quality than what fun seekers had at the two previous
editions. “We are set to give the people the best of entertainment. It
is their event and they deserve the best. We are not going to spare
anything. That’s a promise we intend to deliver on.”

American rap star,
Busta Rhymes of ‘Dangerous’ fame, will headline the concert. He will be
supported by fellow American rap star, Lil Kim, D’Banj, Timaya and
Mighty Duncan. Terry G, Kaffy and The Ebony Champion Steel Band of
London will further spice up the concert.

Nothing but the best
is expected from Rhymes. D ‘Banj, who is also in the line up, is a
talented artist who is going from strength to strength. Fans will have
the opportunity of watching the act who gave a wonderful performance at
the last Felabration in Lagos. Dreadlock-wearing Timaya will bring his
special verve to proceedings at the concert as will homeboy, Mighty
Duncan.

But the groove at
CARNIRIV is not limited just to the peace concert. Memories of Highlife
great, Cardinal Jim Rex Lawson, a Rivers indigene, will be relived at a
Reggae and Old Skool Nite anchored by comedian, Julius Agwu on December
16.

Gospel crooner, Sammie Okposo, will lead others to thank God at the Praise Festival on December 15 at the Carnival Village.

Apart from the
musical entertainment, must-not miss events are the Local Government
Areas Heritage floats parade and the Freestyle Bands Street parade on
December 17 and 18. Liberation, Fusion, Jubilee, Dynamic and Treasure
Base Bands, the five new bands introduced to widen the scope of
participation will afford citizens, friends and non-native residents of
Rivers to participate fully in the cultural celebration.

When it was revived in 2008 to recapture the sense of heritage and
pride among the people, no one envisaged that CARNIRIV would become so
big so soon. But with the support of the governor, who has joined others
including Segun Mimiko of Ondo and Liyel Imoke of Cross River in
promoting culture and tourism, the carnival is attracting much deserved
attention.