The setting of the show was regal. Only few guests could resist the allure of watching a fusion of different generations of music.
With
a saxophonist, a rapper and an iconic Juju musician billed to thrill
guests, many were positively anxious to see what such a premium
assemblage would deliver in such
an alluring atmosphere.
Indeed, the performers did not disappoint the guests who looked every inch delectable in their gorgeous attires.
The concert paraded
the legend, Commander Ebenezer Obey and the duo of talented M.I Abaga and Yemi Sax.
First to mount the stage was the Grand Commander, Chief Ebenezer Obey. He started the evening with a song that paid tribute
to God titled Iba lo ye kase and gave the audience the
rare privilege of requesting for any of his favourite songs which he
promptly rendered to their delight. Without betraying the slightest
sign of old age, Obey took total control of the stage
right from the first string of the guitar cord. Moved by the classic
rendition, significant members of the audience could not hold the urge
to dance.
As
he rendered his timeless and enduring evergreen songs, it was all too
evident, how he has been able to hold Nigeria and, indeed, the world
spellbound with his music over
the years.
The evangelist also took time out to spice up his performance with some anecdotes.
Dreadlocked
Yemi Sax, garbed in a white caftan was the next to thrill the audience
with his dexterity on the saxophone. He reeled out tunes of the “old
school” with the
backing tracks by the D.J. to the delight of the audience.
MI
was at his vintage best that night as he dished out hits of
contemporary flavor. The concert audience, an admixture of different
generations, brought together by their
love for music, danced and sang along with Mr Incredible
who mesmerised all with his stagecraft.
By the time MI left the stage, guests were already in another realm of musical bliss.
The
highpoint of the event was the collaboration by Chief Obey and the two
younger artistes, M.I. and Yemi Sax whom Obey described as his children.
They performed together to the immense admiration of the crowd. Obey led the way with two of his evergreen tracks
Ore mi e se pelepele and
Olomi gbo temi with M.I. emblazoning his signature into the two songs. Yemi Sax
also jazzed up the tunes with his saxophone. Their performances drew spontaneous burst of applause.
The
show was aptly anchored by two foremost, resourceful comedians, Gbenga
Adeyinka and Okey Bakassi. They laced the show with rib cracking
jokes.
Chief
Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi who got a standing ovation from the appreciative
crowd, thanked Globacom for the great honour done to him by being the
first Nigerian artiste to be featured
on the Glo Evergreen Series platform.
He commended the Chairman of Globacom for conferring the epithet of
Great Commander on him. While fielding questions from
journalists at the event, he described Globacom "as the greatest
supporter of Nigerian entertainment industry. He noted that the Glo
Evergreen Series will take African music to the greatest
height."
In
the documentary screened at the event, the Lagos State Governor, Mr
Babatunde Raji Fashola commended Chief Fabiyi for his giant strides in
the music industry. He
said that he is a big fan of the juju maestro, and remarked that he
uses Obey's music and the philosophies espoused in his music to brush up
his proficiency in Yoruba language.
Also
commenting, the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun described
Obey as a musical icon and a worthy ambassador of Ogun State who had
brought great honour
and fame to the State in particular and Nigeria in general.
Similarly,
the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo went
down memory lane to recount how one of Obey's songs brought nostalgic
feelings of home
to him when he was on tour of duty in Zaria. The Osile of Oke Ona, Oba
Dr Adedapo Tejuosho thanked Chief Obey Fabiyi for popularising Teju
Foams in the seventies and described him as a quintessential Cultural
ambassador whose prolific repertoire of music
has dignified a lot of Nigerians.
"I can't
imagine missing this show. This is one of the best concerts I have
attended in ages. Kudos to Glo for bringing such a unique experience to
us live," a member of
the audience, Mr Kolawole Adedeji, a Lagos-based public relations
consultant commented after the show. The show was attended by over 100
managing directors including the MDs of First Bank, Guinness, Nigerian
Breweries, and Arik.
Speaking
on his experience at the event , Mr. Ahmed Ibraheem, Marketing Manager
with Oak Oils said "this night will surely remain evergreen in my
memory. I dare say that
it's a world-class event. I totally enjoyed myself; kudos to Globacom
for coming up with this world-class entertainment."
And
so the night ended, but with intense expectation for more concerts in
the series. "We can't wait!" Mrs. Idowu Abdulahi, CEO of Lagos based
Hinterland Consultants said.
Globacom's
Head of Post Paid Sale, Mr. Kamaldeen Shonibare described the first Glo
Evergreen Series as "a memorable night." He described it as "a new
concept from Globacom
which serves the dual purpose of celebrating the icons of Nigerian and
African music on the one hand, and our highly valued post-paid
subscribers on the other hand.”
Shonibare
added that Globacom, through the evergreen series, will continue to
create synergy between African music legends and contemporary artistes
to further help develop
Africa's music industry.
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