According to Anderson, “This is the first edition of our “Fit Frenzy”, we are hosting another one in September to prepare ourselves for the first dry run in October.
By Nakanda Iyadim
In its resolve to ensure full preparation for the 2024 Carnival Calabar with the theme, “Our Shared Prosperity” Diamond Carnival Band, Saturday flagged off an activity to prepare its members for the big event.
Known as “Fit Frenzy”, the 4 kilometers road walk which commenced at the iconic Millennium Park, by Eleven Eleven Roundabout Calabar, culminated in an aerobics session which saw energetic and enthusiastic members, both adult and children who defiled the early morning rain, Saturday to participate at the Band’s Mass Camp, situated at 43, Diamond Hill, Calabar.
Speaking during the flag-off of the fitness walkout, the Chairman of the Calabar International Festival Committee and Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Otu on Event Management and Governor’s Office, Mr Effiong Ekpenyong lauded the management of Diamond Band for putting up such a show which he noted would announce the commencement of Carnival activities to residents in the metropolis.
While assuring Carnival lovers that this year’s event will be bigger and better in terms of contents and delivery following the laudable innovations injected into the famous event by the government, Ekpenyong who was accompanied by Commissioner, Marketing and Branding, Cross River State Carnival Commission, Mr Effiom Bassey, assured the Seven competing Carnival Band of a level playground.
The Festival Chair who was excited with the fitness putting described it as a healthy lifestyle everyone must imbibe to stay hale and hearty for Carnival, averring that he was not surprised at the innovation in the Band given the caliber of persons managing the Band and the fact that Diamond Band remains one of the promising Band in the competition despite of the fact that it’s a new entry but showed incredible performance during 2023 event.
“I’m impressed with this initiative in Diamond Band and I must say that it’s a winning mentality that could give the Band the morale to go on to win this year’s Carnival. I charge you to keep up the good work as we prepare to flag off the first Carnival activities in October” he added.
Earlier, the Leader of the Diamond Carnival Band and Senior Legislative Aide to the Senate President, Hon. Eric Anderson, informed the State’s Event Manager that the exercise was part of their initiatives to prepare the emotional, mental and psychological minds of their revelers both adult and children for the December event.
According to Anderson, “This is the first edition of our “Fit Frenzy”, we are hosting another one in September to prepare ourselves for the first dry run in October.
“We want to use these activities to energize every department and revelers in the band to come alive to their respective responsibilities and most importantly be ready to deliver on this year’s theme, Our Shared Prosperity”, because truly the State belongs to all of us and we must take responsibility for all that concerns it,” he added.
Revelers also bore their minds on the development, describing it as the first of its kind in the history of Carnival Bands. They also praised their leader for the foresight, which they agreed would boost their morale for a better performance this year.
Mr Ubong Isaiah, one of the revelers, said, “I didn’t take it seriously, but as I started seeing uploads on our platform, I had to hurry down here,e, and I can tell you that it’s been fun and reunion galore.”
“After close to a year, I met my friends and dance partner again, and I’m having fun. I feel like the carnival has begun, and I know we will win this year,” Miss Berkie Effiong, one of the Frontline girls, explained.
Despite the rain’s increasing momentum, the adults and children revelers present were not deterred but walked the four kilometers route for their first Fit Frenzy, which started at the Millennium Park, Eleven Eleven Roundabout, into Leopard Road and terminated at the Band’s Mass Camp on Diamond Hill, Calabar for Aerobic session.