By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
The cultural heritage of Ofutop Nation will take centre stage at Carnival Calabar 2026 as the Ekuum Cultural Band prepares to showcase the community’s traditional music, rhythms and ancestral stories at the annual street fiesta.
The band, which has completed its registration for the event, will participate as a non-competing guest band, offering revellers and visitors an opportunity to experience the cultural identity of the Ofutop people.
Its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Engr. Oyama Osam Ntun, disclosed this during a telephone interview with our correspondent.
Ntun said the participation would provide a platform for the band to preserve and promote traditions passed down through generations, while exposing Ofutop’s cultural heritage to a wider audience.
He explained that the registration followed the fulfilment of the requirements stipulated by the relevant authorities.
The Ekuum Cultural Band’s participation, he added, reflects his commitment to taking local cultural expressions beyond their traditional communities and giving them greater visibility on national and international platforms.
Ntun, a recent recipient of the Calabar Heritage Young Achiever of the Year Award, said cultural preservation should remain an important part of professional and community development.
According to him, the initiative seeks to demonstrate that traditional heritage can be preserved and promoted alongside modern professional pursuits.
He expressed optimism that the band’s appearance at Carnival Calabar 2026 would help introduce more people to the traditions of Ofutop Nation while adding to the cultural diversity of the annual festival.
