45th HAVANA MUSIC CARNIVAL HAS BEEN POSTPONED

Organisers of the annual music jamboree, Havana Music Carnival, have announced that the 45th edition of the carnival earlier scheduled for 22 to 25 March, 2011 in Ibadan has been postponed. According to a press release from the event’s management company, Zmirage Marketing & Communications (ZMC), the carnival was postponed ‘‘due to the wave of political tension and the heated electioneering process in the country as these uncertainties would have implications on the security and safety of the stakeholders’’. Now scheduled after the election period, the organisers said, ‘‘[Having] considered many factors especially the peculiar political situation in Ibadan, the traditional venue for Havana Music Carnival, and as such agreed to hold the event after the general elections in Nigeria when the external environment will be predictable to a certain extent’’, the release reads.

Speaking on the recent change, Executive Director of ZMC, Mike Yomi Dada said, ‘‘while all is set for the effective activation of the longest running musical concert in Africa, it will be unprofessional to ignore the implication of key issues of environment intelligence on the project, but we promise the stakeholders an unforgettable experience at a new date that will be communicated soonest. This decision will allow us provide adequate security and best protection to all of our participants and the vulnerable society while maintaining the entire thrill that goes with the event’’. Tagged ‘Non Stop Action for Charity’, the carnival was expected to take place at The University of Ibadan campus and Trans Amusement Park, Agbowo, Ibadan with performances from musicians including Femi Kuti, King Sunny Ade, King Ayinde Marshal, Tuface Idibia, and Ice Prince.