allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Africa Rising - Two Down, Two to Go (Page 1 of 1)

Some weeks ago, we highlighted some events, festivals and corporate jamborees that coming up as the year runs to a close. As you may recall, the 3rd annual ThisDay music and fashion festival was top on the list. The event which slated to hold in four venues on three continents with the this year theme "Africa Rising" aimed to revolutionise global perspectives on African issues, shifting focus from treating the symptoms to curing the diseases and projecting positive images of Africa by showcasing the renaissance of Africa's music, fashion and the arts, flagged off last week Friday in Abuja and proceed to Lagos on Sunday.

Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, for the first time had world class music icons thrilling them till dawn with glittering stage performance under one unique roof (ThisDay Dome). The show featured Jay-Z, Rihanna and Usher with his dazzling footwork to the delight of fans in their thousands for what was billed as the greatest concert ever hosted in the city.

Earlier in the day, super model Naomi Campbell and designer Ozwald Boateng who participated at the ThisDay Music and Fashion Festival joined the administration of the Federal Capital Territory in its bid to protect the environment through a tree planting campaign targeting one million trees to make the city green.

In Lagos, all road led to the Ikoyi Polo Club for the Lagos Concert and Fashion show.

The concert which suffered a slow star due to rain earlier in the day, kicked off with Olisa Adibua and Basket mouth thrilling the audience with rib cracking jokes.

The first act of the night, American pop star, Mary J. Blige thrilled the crowd as she sang from her oldies to her latest hits. While waiting for the next act, Mo hits stars, D Banj, Wande Cole, Ikechukwu and former Super Eagles Captain, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha came on stage for formal appearance.

The stage was later open for American Hip hop/R&B singer, Chris Brown who sent the crowd into gyration as he sang songs from his album and trust the crowd, they were not left behind as they sang along.

The king of bling, Chris Aire set the fashion aspect of the concert open. He is appearance changed the atmosphere as the crowd watched in awe as he showed off his impeccable jewellery craftsmanship and unique designs worn by super models.

Next on stage was American rapper of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent, Fat Joe. He it was who let the cat out of the bag by acknowledging the birthday of the brain behind the whole event, Prince Nduka Obaigbena with a happy birthday song.

Deola Sagoe of Odu'a creation, Nigeria's international fashion designer was in the house to showcase an array of gorgeous creation that ranged from the classy, elegant and fanciful collections to the delight of crowd, applauding every appearance by models.

At hand also was Ghanaian born and London brought up Designer, Ozwald Boateng filling the walkway with his contemporary twist on the classical form and distinctive approach to menswear. Boeteng later came on the walkway with an appreciating dance moves.

Shank and later Nigeria's hottest ethnic singer, 9ice sent everybody into an uproar with his Street Credibility song, closing the concert in Lagos.

As the world awaits the third and last phase of the ThisDay Music and Fashion Festival in Washington DC, August 1 and London in October, organisers of the festival promise more fun.

Meanwhile, memories of July 13 would continue to linger on in the mind of Lagosians. It was a superlative and explosive event as everyone dared the weather to attend a show. The Polo Club had no standing room. It was the show that cut across every age and sex. Old, young and not too old trooped out in large numbers to witness a "show of shows". On ground to dazzle the audiences were some international artistes and their Nigerian counterparts. This year's event in Lagos paraded top American artistes, supermodel and fashion couture- Naomi Campbell, Chris Brown, Fat Joe, Shank, 9ice, Oswald Boateng, Chris Aire, Deola Sagoe and Mary J. Blige. With the barry tone voice of Olisa Adibua, this year's event kicked off at 9. 45 pm. The first artiste to dazzle the audience was the Queen of Hip Hop, Mary J. Blidge. Calling her a super star, you wouldn't be mistaken. Mary J. Blige stole the show with her superlative performance. To follow suit was the youthful Chris Brown. A young and talented artiste who has taken music to the next level. With his trousers half his bottom and tattoo that adorned his entire upper frame; Brown displayed his versatility and talent on stage to the admiration of the youth in the house the would stop at nothing to touch him. Fat Joe was another performer, not even his big frame could stop him from doing what he knows how to do best. The climax was the fashion segment where super models displayed some jewelry from the stable of Nigerian born America based diamond designer, Chris Aire. Then came the queen of fashion in Nigeria, Deola Sagoe of Oodua Creation. Calling her a genius in the fashion industry, you wouldn't be mistaken. Sagoe, who has taken her trade across the length and breath of the world, paraded some exotic designs that kept heads turning.

Then came the man, Ozwald Boateng designer of contemporary suits. What made his unique was the array of colours in a very smart design. Boateng who is renowned for clothing the who's who paraded some designs that made people conclude that he is a fashion genius made from heaven. With the Fashion show over, Shank with his other Nigerian artistes rounded off the show in a very unique way that made people pray for it to continue.

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