Daily Independent (Lagos)
Nkasiobi Oluikpe
29 January 2009
column
Lagos — Lagos comes alive this weekend with an array of events that will ease off the week long job load. At the ever busy Ikeja area, 'Club O' (Jabita Intercontinental Hotel) will be playing host to the famous 'Rainmaker,' Fashek Majekodunmi (Majek Fashek) as it honours its Chief Executive Officer, Hon. Rasheed Adewale Shitta-Bey today, Friday January 30, 2009, for keeping the hotel business going for an onward of 25 years, at its 144, Awolowo Way venue. This, it will be doing in conjunction with TV3 Cable TV/MC Morris Production as they present 'The Club O' Blast, 2009.
For lovers of breathtaking melodies and deep Bob Marley grooves, this is an opportunity to come and watch live, our own Bob Marley, as he relives the good old times with his gorgeously hypnotic reggae beats.
Majek, a six PMAN awards winner, who recently debunked rumours of involvement in drug, claiming rather that he only went through a phase of spiritualism as he has encountered a lot of spirits in his life, has some albums to his credit, namely: Send Down The Rain, which attracted local and international attention in the late 80's, Little Patience, Spirit of Love, Rainmaker, Prisoner of Conscience and finally the Best of Majek Fashek.
The African Reggae star will be performing alongside some other music and comedy artistes including, Blackface, Tony Harmony, Dudu (Crazy Culture), DJ Zeez, Dudu by Nature, Baba de Baba, Omo Jesu, Headmaster, Puffy Tee, B. Black and LKT.
The event, which will be commencing by 9p.m., will run till dawn. The organisers, promising good returns for tickets purchased, have assured that it's going to be a bomb.
Also in the weekend, the much publicised Inspire Africa concert will be coming up at the Expo Centre, Lagos on Saturday, January 31, 2009.
The concert, organised to raise funds to prevent and protect street children in Lagos from abuse, violence and all forms of exploitation, is put together by Mo Abudu, the host and executive producer of **Moments with Mo** Talk Show, in partnership with the Lagos State Government and UNICEF.
The organisers, who have promised that it's going to be an unforgettable night of music, dance and making a change for the better, are calling on corporate bodies and public spirited individuals to come and be part of the charitable event.
"We have realised that the ultimate task facing us, as a continent, is to build world-class persons and brands, to showcase our own achievements in a global setting and economy. Our challenge is to creditably debunk the tendency of the Western media that portrays us as a 'Dark Continent' which exemplifies disease, despair, destruction, disaster, destitution and deceit.
"Lagos State is one of the fastest growing cities in the world and the most populous in Nigeria; hence there are demands on social services as it is currently witnessing unrestrained population influx, urban growth, high unemployment, environmental challenges and institutional deterioration. The result is a growing population of people resident in slums where living is a daily challenge with many frustrations and uncertainties. In the process, homes are neglected, children are left uncared for and lacking parental care, thus resulting in a high rate of delinquent children beyond parental care," they say.
It is also going to be an opportunity to present the Acts of Kindness Award to whoever turns out to be the lucky winner.
The proceeds from this concert will be donated to UNICEF who will in turn use it to establish and operate three reception centres at different locations with the highest number of street children.
These centres are expected to provide parents and care givers with the right information, life, skill training (for children) and income generating skills. In addition, the Lagos State Government will be looked upon to pass a legislation that will ensure the survival, rights, development and protection of children.
Billed to rock up the event are some international artistes and also some of our seasoned indigenous artistes such as, Banky W, Omowunmi, Tosin Martins, D'Banj, 9ice, Asa, Tuface.
Still on Saturday, Soalat Entertainment is organising a fusion of Fuju and Waka music in its Obama Inauguration Dance show, at Fantasy Land, Queens Way, Ikoyi.
Waka Queen, Salawa Abeni and her fuji colleagues, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma and King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (KWAM 1) will be around to hit up the show with their individual bands. This trio is a crowd puller anytime, any day, especially for people who are thrilled by the highly philosophical Western Nigerian music. One fascinating feature about these bands is their dancers. As the rhythm goes, they (the dancers) swing their chest and balcony to the rhyme and for those who are familiar with these musical bands, their beat is highly irresistible, hence, the organisers are imploring the audience to step in with their dance shoes for this memorable night show.
So, if you are a waka or fuji crony, you are invited to grace the occasion on a black and white dress code.
In the spirit of the moment, on Sunday, February 1, 2009 at the Cinema Hall 1 of the National Theatre, the Crown Troupe of Africa, a dance theatre company, with a theatrical style imbued with vibrant dance, codified movement, interesting interpretations and impressive improvisations, will be staging two performances. One of which is the Fall of a King by Prof. Ahmed Yerima, the Director-General of the National Theatre and Alani, a love poem by Jumoke Verissimo, a performance poet.
The troupe popularly known for putting poetry on stage in an appealing and thought-provoking manner, chose Jumoke Verissimo's Alani to calm people's mind and at the same time set them in a pre-valentine mood.
Ahmed Yerima's Fall of a King is a play that is intended to remind people of their role in nation building. This play couldn't have come at a better time as it will place the participants at their feet as to their responsibilities to the nation in this season of global recession.
Since the last quarter of last year, the troupe has been performing every first Sunday of every month while the plays for this weekend will kick off at 3p.m. and 5p.m.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 Daily Independent. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
