Soyinka Speaks At CARNIRIV Colloquium, Today

Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt, the main venue of the Rivers State 2012 Cultural Carnival (CARNIRIV 2012) wears a new look as the carnival opens in grand style today and Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, speaking at the CARNIRIV colloquium holding at the Rivers State House of Assembly complex.

Other activities scheduled for the opening ceremony include cultural display competition, fashion parade competition and best design in Arts and Crafts.

Also billed to perform during the opening ceremony are some international and national musical icons. Shaggy is expected to perform alongside Patra, Ras Kimono, Oris Wiliki, Majek Fashek, amongst others.

Organisers of the event told The Tide that, the opening ceremony had been planned to showcase to visitors from all parts of the world, the rich and unique cultural potentials of the diverse ethnic groups of the state.

The event which started with a kids carnival yesterday was attended by cultural ambassadors including Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.

A member of the organising committee for the festival, Mr Columbus Irisoanya told The Tide that the festival was designed to promote tourism which is a money earner.

“Most countries, their economies grow by tourism. So we are trying to motivate and activate the spirit of tourism”, he said.