Our Reporters
12 July 2008
Lagos — Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, came alive last night when music and fashion industry icons from across the world kicked off the THISDAY Music and Fashion Festival with their scintillating stage performance.
Abuja residents who had been waiting for the show for weeks started trooping to the Central Business District in Abuja where the THISDAY Dome is located for the concert as early six o'clock yesterday evening for what was billed as the greatest show ever to be staged in the city.
Security was on hand to ensure orderliness in spite of the large turn out of people running into several thousands. Dignitaries from the public and private sectors were also present for the epoch making event.
The show started with comedian par excellence, Basket Mouth thrilling the audience with his rib cracking jokes which kept them asking for more.
The first act of the night, Caribbean Pop star, Rihanna sent the crowd into a frenzy as she sang her first hit which brought her international fame, 'Pon de Replay' with her powerful vocals and electrifying dance routine.
Rihanna showed Abuja residents what has kept her on top of the charts by reeling out hits after hits from her various albums. 'Turn me On Boy', 'Shut Up and Drive', two of her most popular hits had the crowd yelling for more.
Her rendition of Bob Marley's classic, 'Is This Love', got the audience singing along with her enthusiastically and drowning out her performance. But the ecstatic response was like a drug for Rihanna who gave them the thrill of their lifetime.
Just when it seemed like she was retreating, Jay-Z joined her and spurred the crowd into leaving their seats. The duo fed the crowd with Rihanna's biggest hit to date and obviously a crowd favourite, 'Umbrella', which stayed atop the US music charts for several weeks after its release last year.
Jay-Z, who was performing for the second time at the THISDAY Music and Fashion Festival, stayed on and proved why he has remained a favourite of music lovers in Nigeria over the years.
He performed his hit single, 'Show Me What You Got', which showed that the Hip-hop/Rap music genre definitely has a huge fan base in Nigeria.
Perhaps missing his longtime heartthrob Beyonce, to whom he recently got married, he gave a one sided rendition of their duet, 'Crazy in Love'.
After Jay-Z's performance, the R&B/Pop crooner and ladies idol, Usher had the audience eating from the palm of his hand with his popular hits and incredible footwork as he danced on the stage tirelessly.
As he sang his new single hit from his latest album, 'Love in the Club', the audience went wild singing and dancing along to his performance. All modesty was thrown to the wind as everyone reveled in the moment.
In attendance were the Minister of the FCT, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar and his Minister of State, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, along with other members of the federal cabinet.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Dimeji Bankole, Senators Gbemi Saraki and Smart Adeyemi, who represented the Senate President, several members of the House of Representatives, former National Labour Congress president, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, members of the diplomatic community and other high ranking government officials, were also at the show, live and present.
The Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY Newspaper, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena thanked the FCT Minister who made it possible for him to get a good location for The Dome which was put up in just two weeks.
The fashion show which was to parade supermodels Naomi Campbell, Alek Wek, Oluchi, and designers - Chris Aire and Ozwald Boateng would be held today at the same venue from 7 - 9 p.m. Fans are allowed to re-use their tickets.
Earlier in the day, some of the world stars participating at the THISDAY Music and Fashion Festival joined the administration of the Federal Capital Territory in its bid to protect the environment through a planting campaign targeting one million trees to make the city green.
British supermodel, Ms. Campbell and bespoke fashion designer, Oswald Boateng, were among the stars who planted trees at the Abuja Botanical Garden yesterday.
Accompanied by Obaigbena, the supermodel expressed her delight to be a part of the laudable initiative which is meant to combat the consequences of climate change on the planet.
Campbell who is an ambassador of the United Nations on Climate Change decried the widely held notion in Europe about Africa being a land of poverty, where famine and epidemics ravage the continent.
"The theme of the THISDAY Festival is Africa Rising which would tell the world that Africa is a continent of plenty. The notion is always that it is a continent of poverty, admittedly there are some places like that but it is a rich continent".
Planting a Cacao tree, which she said "is rampant back home" she encouraged Nigerians to protect their environment. Campbell is on her first visit to Nigeria.
Fashion designer, Oswald Boateng also expressed appreciation at being home and being part of the fight against climate change with its devastating effects on the global environment.
"It is great being in Nigeria and it promises to be a great show," he added.
Obaigbena said THISDAY supports the one million trees initiative because of the need to join hands and stop the impending doom being brought about by climate change.
Greening the environment, he added, would help fight desertification and other forms of environmental degradation.
Meanwhile, the FCT minister has declared that it would be an offence to fell trees in the Federal Capital City without the approval of relevant authorities.
Indiscriminate felling of trees, he said, is contrary to environmental protection laws and would be treated as a criminal offence.
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