Daily Champion (Lagos)

Nigeria: Ara Dazzles At Felabration

The Queen of African talking drum, Aralola Olumuyiwa lived up to expectations last Thursday as she dazzled the crowd like a meteor at the Felabration concert, holding in Lagos in honour of late Afro beat music legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

The enigma, as she is fondly called gave the crowd sweet tunes from her talking drum and energetic dance steps. She performed on the same day with King Sunny Ade, Weird Mc and others.

Meanwhile, we gathered that she has already concluded work on her new album. It would be recalled that the Ondo state-born entertainer just returned from a trip to France after several studio sessions handled by leading producers in the world.

Confirming the album issue in Lagos, her spokesperson, Niyi Tabiti, disclosed that the work would soon be a media screening because of the media's enormous support for the singer.

At the moment, the name of the songs and the tracks is still under sealed lips for obvious reasons. "As soon as the whole arrangement is concluded, the media would be the first to know because of their tireless efforts in projecting Ara as Africa's cultural Ambassador," he said.

Information reaching us also indicates that Ara decided to come out with the album as a way of proving to the world that her dexterity with the talking drum is not all she has got as a talent; she is also a fantastic singer.

Married to Prince Olalekan Saliu, Ara was born in Ondo state about three decades ago to a father who later retired as a senior manager with United Bank of Africa. She started showing the traits of a performer right from childhood, we were informed.

Some of her achievement includes playing Bata and Iya-ilu to a Mozart piece in Paris in 2005 at the 60th anniversary of UNESCO. She was also given the freedom key to the City of Miami Dade County, Florida in the USA.


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