Abuja — The 2006 edition of Abuja carnival took off in bright colours on November 23 with President Olusegun Obasanjo seeking a revival of the positive qualities of our African culture.

President Obasanjo who declared the occasion open charged Africans to boldly showcase their cultural diversity and heritage as a source of pride and identity to the whole world.

He said the carnival would bring out the best in the traditions and cultural heritage of the Nigerian people and commended the organisers for the opportunity afforded the country to pronounce its unity in diversity.

"Here in this country where we have well over 350 ethnic and linguistic groups, diversity of culture, diversity of language, diversity of foods, and unity in diversity. We owe it a duty to ourselves, the rest of Africans and to African in Diaspora to showcase what is authentically Africa and what is authentically ours."

According to the President "In the next four days, you will see the different forms of art, dances, different aspects of our way of life, boat regatta, masquerades, that would be breath-taking in one spot."

On the distinctive nature of the carnival, Obasanjo said that it is to ensure that the amount of time and money people would have spent travelling round the country to see her beauty and people had been reduced and brought to one spot in a holistic manner.

"We have come together, all as Nigerians, in one spot; we have brought together what will take anybody who has to go over Nigeria days and even months in a space of few days."