Onyebuchi Ezigbo And Chinwe Ochu
11 July 2008
Abuja — As count-down to tonight's THISDAY Music Festival gradually ticks to zero, top artistes billed to perform at the event started arriving Abuja yesterday.
First to hit town was the United States-based acclai-med hip-pop gladiator, Usher Raymond, who arrived Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport aboard a Virgin Atlantic airline at 3.25 pm.
The musician, who was received on arrival by THISDAY airport protocol officers amidst tight security, waved to enthusiastic and anxious fans as he made his way into a waiting grey BMW car.
Immediately he moved out of the arrival hall of the VIP lounge, shouts of "Usher!" rent the air as most of the fans struggled to catch a glimpse of the American music super star.
Supermodels, Naomi Campbell and Alek Wek, also hit town to the excitement of Abuja residents yesterday. The last to arrive was American star, Jay-Z, who came in at 11.30 pm.
Youssou N'Dour and Rehana also arrived yesterday.
Other fashion and music icons who are already in town are Ozwald Boateng and Chris Aire.
Vehicle escort security for the arriving artistes was provided by a combined team of Police, State Security Service (SSS) and men of the Civil Defence Corps.
Clad in dark-blue jeans trousers with a black T-shirt and sporty canvas to match, Usher attracted the attention of the fans and other passengers around the airport as he strolled confidently to the car.
In the company of the musician were 15 others who joined a THISDAY Staff bus in the entourage before being driven in long motorcade to Transcorp Hilton Hotel.
Many of the fans who spoke to THISDAY at the airport said they had been waiting since morning to catch a glimpse of the music and fashion icons while some said they would wait till late night to see if they could see other artistes.
Meanwhile, the Director- General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, has stated that THISDAY has contributed immensely to harvesting the country's tourism capabilities through the festival.
According to him, "What THISDAY has done is to add value to the image of Nigeria and tourism. I want to use this medium to commend THISDAY on this laudable initiative. Now, this programme is going to add value to Nigeria's tourism potential. All the celebrities you are bringing in will speak for us when they leave. THISDAY has got the best acts in the world around and it is a pleasure to us as a people to celebrate this wonderful opportunity with THISDAY. THISDAY is helping us to add value to our tourism profile, repositioning Nigeria as a nation."
This year's THISDAY festival, which is tagged "Africa Rising: To Celebrate the Best and Brightest of Emerging New Africa", is designed to revolutionarise global perspectives on African issues. This is aimed at shifting focus from Africa's problems to the opportunities and from treating the symptoms to curing the diseases and projecting a positive image of Africa.
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