THE annual felabration music festival which celebrates the life and times of the late Afro-beat maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, came to an end at about 6am on Monday, October 6, 2017, at the New Afrika Shrine, Ikeja, Lagos, with stellar musical performances from Ycee, Dice Ailes, Dotman, Choc City’s Ckay, South African singing group, Souti Sol, Junior Boy, Oritsefemi, Adewale Ayuba, Burna Boy, L.A.X, rave of the moment, Wizkid among many other artistes who graced the legendary stage. The yearly music festival which stretched a week long had an array of artistes such as Simi, Omawumi, Aramide, Praiz, Seun Kuti, Maka, Black Magic, Pepenazi, Femi Kuti, and many others who graced the stage on different days. The atmosphere of the grand finale was a night of ground breaking record; the ambience was reminiscent of great expectations and frenzied excitement from fans and music lovers who thronged both in and out of the New Afrika Shrine. Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, made a surprise cameo appearance on stage, lauding the late Afro-beat maestro for fighting with his life to give Nigerians a better life. First of A’list artistes to set the ball rolling was Tinny Entertainment rapper, Ycee, who did so without disappointing his fans. He thrilled his fans to his hit songs Juice, Jagaban amongst others. Choc City’s Ckay, Dice Ailes also didn’t fail to impress their few fans.
Fela Kuti
With an impressive live band, South African music group, Souti Sol, took the crowd on a smooth musical ride of indigenous songs, with a blend of refined beats that sent the crowd into ecstatic excitement as they sang along. The crowd screamed with uncontrollable excitement when they performed 2baba’s ‘Oya come make we go’. In what could be described as “mad joy”, self acclaimed musical taliban, Oritsefemi, plunged music lovers into a pool of excitement when he stormed the stage in the company of two curvaceously endowed dancers who brought a lot of sensuality on stage. Wizkid’s arrival As the taliban serenaded his fans with songs like koboko, double wahala, igbeyawo among others, they twerked their big butts to the excitement of guys who drooled, hoping to have a taste of their junk in the trunk. Wizkid’s arrival at the Afrika Shrine was epic. Upon arrival in the company of his crew which included his security detail, personal bouncer and manager, Sunday Are, there was a mad stampede both inside and outside the Shrine as everyone struggled to catch a glimpse of the Ojuelegba crooner who has been described as a musical demi-god. It took the joint effort of his crew, manager, personal bouncer, mobile police, NSCDC agents and security agents attached to the Shrine to put the crowd at bay. Heavily guarded, he was able to waltz backstage to join other artistes in preparation for his stage craft. On discovery that the crowd was distracted by Wizkid’s arrival, Oritsefemi seized the opportunity to sneak out as the crowd concentrated on the Jaiye Jaiye singer. At about 1:15am, Femi Kuti and his Positive Force band took to the stage and in his usual fashion, he took Afro-beat lovers on a rollercoaster ride of pleasant surprises. He repeated history when he played one single note on his Saxophone for a long period of time. He thrilled with his evergreen songs; ‘sorry sorry’, ‘truth don die’, and many others to the admiration of the crowd. Shortly after, controversial singer, Burna Boy, graced the stage to the jubilation of his fans. After performing some of his hit songs, he begged the crowd to allow him go but they refused urging him on because they loved his stage craft. At a point, the crowd took over his performance as they sang along, word for word, without instrumentals to the admiration of Burna who just looked on with joy. After doing an acapella of his Yawa song, he stormed of the stage to the disapproval of his fans. With exaggerated hype, fireworks and good instrumentals to herald his stage entrance, man of the night, Wizkid, majestically sauntered in while the crowd roared in jubilation. He surprised everyone when he took to the stage. Due to suspicions of frail health there were spurious speculations that he may just perform for a few minutes, but unexpectedly, the Star Boy henchman performed for more than 30-minutes to the surprise of everyone. He took the audience on a musical ride of his songs. One love, Ojuelegba, Jaiye Jaiye, alongside Femi Kuti, Soweto Baby, One Dance, etc. his performance was the cynosure of the night; everyone, including the organizers, security officials, and even hawkers, made frantic effort to catch a glimpse of his stage craft. Bonsue crooner, Adewale Ayuba, got the entire crowd dancing with excitement when he graced the stage. With his all male live band, he was able to maintain the tempo Wizkid ignited. L.A.X and Tekno also didn’t disappoint their fans..
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