The UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, Cross River, was abuzz with excitement on Friday night as Nigerian music sensations Runtown and Iyanya displayed electrifying performances at the 2024 Calabar Carnival Live Concert.

The duo’s energetic performances were a perfect blend of their hit songs, infectious beats, and captivating stage presence.

Runtown, known for his unique sound and style, performed some of his biggest hits, like ‘Mad Over You’ and ‘For Life’. Iyanya, on the other hand, brought the stage down with his signature blend of R&B and Afrobeats, performing crowd-pleasers like ‘Kukere’, ‘Ur Waist’ and more.

The crowd was thoroughly entertained, singing along to every song and dancing. The energy was palpable, with fans waving their hands and screaming for more.

In an interview, a reveller, Kennedy Amadi, from Imo, said he deliberately travelled from Abuja, his base, to experience performances by Runtown and Iyanya.

Amadi said he was not disappointed as he got value for his money after being entertained.

Also, Jidenna Akpan, attending a live concert for the first time, said she enjoyed every bit of the artistes’ energetic performances.

“This is so interesting, and I look forward to the next edition of the carnival concert. Then,  I believe other artistes will be allowed to perform as well,” she said.

For Frank Udo, meeting Runtown at the concert was the highlight of the carnival for him.

Meanwhile, the Calas Vegas carnival band has emerged as the winner of the 2024 Calabar Carnival. The band, which had also clinched the first position during the 2023 Calabar Carnival, beat six other bands to emerge overall winner again in 2024.

This was announced after the carnival’s street party, as the bands were judged by teams of adjudicators at four different performance points. The bands caught the attention of the revellers through their beautiful costumes and well-presented, electrifying performances.

The seagull band clinched the second position, while the Bayside band secured third place.

The seven competitive and seven non-competitive bands were made to cover a 12km carnival parade from Millennium Park through Mary Slessor Avenue to the UJ Esuene Stadium.

The competitive bands were Passion 4, Freedom, Bayside, Calas Vegas, Masta Blasta, Seagull, and Diamond bands.

(NAN)