The 2010 Abuja Carnival management committee has reached a landmark agreement with Abuja-based artistes and comedians with a view to adding glamour and enriching the content of this year’s edition.

As part of the committee’s pre-carnival events, a concert tagged “Abuja Carnival Unity Concert” has been slated for the International Conference Centre on July 31, and will feature about 25 artistes and comedians, mostly from Abuja and other parts of the country.

Notable among the artistes and comedians that are billed to feature at the event are Julius Agu, Style plus, Omah Omah, Zule Zoo, Dr. Ayuba and Julieta. Others are Tony One Week, John Njamah, Baba 2010, Fred Bright, Bem Zar, Age Beeka and Jude Ororah, among others.

This was made public by the carnival committee at a media briefing held on July 22 in Abuja.

The carnival’s artistic director, Professor Ojo Bakare, said the concert was meant to create awareness and sensitise the public to take the carnival as their event. He said the management committee needed the people to come out and give the carnival the maximum support it deserved.

To achieve the aforementioned goals, the artistic director noted that the committee had to create real publicity and awareness that the carnival belonged to the Nigerian people.

Professor Bakare noted that during last year’s carnival, the people did not fully participate in the event, which was why currently, there is a redirection of the route to areas where residents of Abuja can come out and see the carnival floats and processions.

“Our survey also revealed that many people, groups, and even professionals were angry with the way the carnival has been managed in the past,” he said.