Yemisi Abah
11 January 2009
Last year was not an exception. The city of Calabar, which many fondly refer to as Canaan City, came alive with Christmas decorations and lightings on major streets from the last week of November. This followed the lighting of a magnificent Christmas tree at the city's Central Square on 1st December by Governor Liyel Imoke and witnessed by political big wigs, business and industry leaders, indigenes and friends of Cross River State.
The Calabar Christmas Carnival is, no doubt, an exhilarating experience. The carnival presents truck floats with bands playing and gyrating on them through the city streets. The displays also include music performances from local and international artistes, boat regatta, fashion shows, a Christmas Village, traditional dances and the Annual Ekpe Festival.
Saddled with the responsibility of making the Calabar Christmas Festival a success is Mrs. Elenda Dokubo, Executive Secretary of the Calabar Carnival Commission. She spoke to us on the challenges of putting this year's festival together. "From the sound of my voice, you can tell that it has been difficult. My voice is partly gone. We had to put this together while we are still working (on other projects). It takes a lot of hardwork and manpower. Basically, we had to work round the clock (and only) take a couple of minutes to relax and then we are back to work. That is really how it is," she stressed.
The passion, she says, comes from the fact that the people love and appreciate what they do.
The theme of this year's festival is 'Culture' with emphasis on issues that bother on the global earth and about earth preservation. "We are having fun in a colourful and vibrant way. At the same time, we are educating and training the people on the need to preserve the earth. God has left us with a wonderful world. So, there are a whole lot of activities that is involved in the carnival," she informs.
"They get to portray the world and interpret the theme via the choreography and patrol team. We also introduced the competition segment, where they get on stage and they perform. So, they showcase what they have and we choose a winner amongst the competitors. We have various categories under the senior and junior groups. We also have the cultural fad, which we introduced last year, and the cultural festival which was founded this year."
There is also a charity angle tied to the festival, which is the carnival queen pageant managed by the First Lady of Cross River State, Her Excellency, Mrs Obioma Imoke under the auspices of MACA (Mother Against Child Abandonment), an NGO set up basically to assist in child development. As a result of rape or mistakes; young, vulnerable girls who got pregnant are given necessary counseling. Efforts are also made to reconcile those who get ostracized by their parents and families.
"And, where that is not possible, we help take care of them. Those who want to go back to school are encouraged to do so while others learn skills. Some of the girls are willing to keep their children and then they learn skills that help them take care of the children. If they don't want the children, rather than abandoning them on the streets and exposing the children to risks, we arrange fostering here; where families that want to be foster parents provide social welfare for these kids. This is part of what we do. It is not just about having fun".
This year, there is also an essay writing competition for secondary schools and tertiary institutions, with the aim of encouraging youths to read and carry out research, while having fun.
"We are using the theme of the carnival for the competition. It is a way of encouraging the youth. For you to be able to write an essay like that, you would have done a lot of research," Mrs Dokubo stated.
From being a fashion designer to a banker and then delving into private business, Dokubo's watchword is creativity hence her deviation from her original science background. "I do all sort of things. For me, it is all about arts, really. I have always been artistic."
She speaks on her growing up years: "When I was growing up, I actually wanted to be a dentist but for whatever reason I can't explain, it did not work out. My first degree was in the sciences. I was not interested in studying humanities; I did pure sciences but along the line things changed. After my first degree, I got married and after a while went back to New York to study. And, when I came back, I began a private business."
So, how did she get to her present position? "I just wanted to serve my people. I have not done it before. But again, my strength lies in my passion for the arts. When I came into the industry, it was a bit challenging than (it is) now. I had eight weeks to put last year's carnival together and by God's grace, it was a success."
She speaks on the challenges of putting the show together. "I think, it is difficult. It looks impossible; you can imagine - we have over 60,000 costumes. It is also very difficulty to manage these bands and all sort of things; the challenge of putting them on the road. When you look at it, you would say 'God, how am I going to survive? God, just do it.' And, most importantly, this is a state that the people are very passionate and patriotic. When you give a little, they get so much satisfaction and show appreciation in return. When you look at the way they receive what you are offering, it gives you the drive.
"Difficult as it may seem, the whole Ex-Co is out there. We work as a team. It is one big family. We often say (that) we haven't got oil but we have tourism and we are glad to do what we are doing."
With a very busy schedule like hers, relaxation is not on her list. "I don't relax in December. I get relaxed by making other people relax. Although once in a while, the body must take time out to relax even if it is just for a few seconds but then, my brain is constantly working."
"What I love about my self? I can't really say, but I think it is very difficult to judge yourself. Realistically, I am always trying to improve myself and I am my worst and best critic. I keep asking God to help me be what I want others to be to me. It is something I struggle with everyday. In all I do, I try to say if I would like it if someone else was doing that to me. It is a guiding principle but sometimes, I don't get it right. But, I am asking God for the strength and ability to be able to be a good person. That is why I say I can't judge myself."
How has it been, being a mother and a career woman? "You know I am so blessed to have my mum; she has been the most amazing help to me. She gives so much to take care of my kids. I have three young kids and, sometimes, I don't get home from work till about 1 a.m. She would have helped them with their home work and will then put it on the table so that I can look at them. Most times, by the time I come back, they have gone to bed and I must be up early in the morning. I am truly grateful to my mum because, with her I am confident and at peace. Knowing she is there and that they are her grand children too. She is not just a mother, she is a mother."
Her vision for the festival? "I would love the carnival to just go on and on. That is my vision for it; for it to become a tourist and commercial engine for the state; for the people; to become an industry that is beneficial to everyone; a source of employment, wealth creation. This is something our people would be proud of and are benefitting from. By His grace, we are actually getting there."
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