It all started like a joke when Okey Bakassi, popular comedian, picked the microphone to welcome the guests. And that was a big relief to some early birds who were worried that the show was taking too long to start.
From one joke to the other, Okey Bakasi, Ali Baba and Yaw of Wazobia FM, set the tune for the all-night show at Golden Tulip Festac Hotel. That allowed the anticipated crowd to grow because looking at the empty seats across the arena, no public speaker will be encouraged to step on the podium. Not even an evangelist with the greatest anointing or the hottest music export in the country, because they need to see a crowd to encourage their preaching or show, respectively.
Shortly after the jokes, music lovers and guests were ushered into one event they will never forget in a hurry. They came to grace the first-ever Music Festival in the country supported by Golden Tulip Festac Hotel and Five Star Music.
From the time Young Teddy and Black mounted the stage to the time Niga Raw, Wizkid, Olamide, Timaya, Banky W, Terry G and Kcee left it, it was all fun. While Wizkid appealed to the teens, Banky W set lovers aflame with his soul performance, while, expectedly, Terry G stole the show with his very energetic performance.
Of course, Timaya with his ‘Plantain Boy’ and ‘Dem Mama Soldier’ heightened the excitement, as fans danced and mimic his militancy-like performance.
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From 10pm when the music show peaked till early morning hours of the next day, the hotel venue of the show witnessed more spectacular performances by the musicians and sustained cheers from the crowd. From the ever bubbling teens, energetic artistes to the old but young at heart at the venue, passion for music ruled the arena.
However, the festival lived up to its billings as the old and contemporary musicians had real encounter on stage. Imagine, Raskimono taking fans hostage on stage with his performance. The sweet thing is that his music still appealed to the present hip hop music generation lovers.
It was as if the heavens came down when Onyeka Onwenu took the microphone. The acclaimed Nigerian Lady of Songs did not disappoint the crowd. The technicality of her presentation from one song to the other and telling some stories behind them made the day of lots of the fans, and also enlightened the younger generation on where the Lady of Songs is coming from. From ‘Iyogogo,’ ‘One Love’ to ‘Ekwe’ Onyeka excited the crowd in her own unique way.
Even at 3:30am, when Bright Chimezie, the Oziddy Master, wrapped the event with his beautiful performance, the crowd was asking for more. The way the crowd responded to his tunes heightened passion across all genres of music.
However, one special thing at the festival was the award presented to Onyeka, Raskimono, Chimezie, Sunny Ade – in absentia, and Bongos Ikwe. They were awarded for their contributions to the development of the music industry that cuts across all genres.
The crowd who looked forward to the performance by 2Face was disappointed that he only presented awards and left. They wanted to cheer the newlywed while he perform, especially “My African Queen.”
But one man that relaxed and sighed in relief was Shousha Mohsen, general manager, Golden Tulip Festac Hotel. His expectations were met in attendance, security, organisation and quality performance.
The successful outing, according to Kingsley Okonkwo (Kcee), president, Five Star Music, is another reason for the music festival next year.
So, keep a date with the festival next year.
