Day 1... New World Nigeria Showcase

In the last post we talked about attending a few shows at the New World Nigeria Showcase at Stratford in London. Well we did and we had a swell time. This trip to London was amazing...Stratford was so full of the Olympic spirit..there were lots of people around and everyone seemed to be happy. Linda and I decided we were gonna get the best of this trip and we did. The first day of the show was Wande Coal and the CHOC BOIZ. It was hosted by our very own Segun Arinze. We have few pics of the actual show due to confused prohibition by security (then they let us take pics the next day...smh).

Wande Coal came on first performing both old and new hits...then Brymo came up next....performing Shawty, Good Morning and Ara. Next was Jesse Jagz...He performed and I (Alheri) performed along with him in the crowd (lol ..as I knew every song word for word). Jagz has not been on stage in a while so I was very excited and ecstatic and his performance was mind blowing. Highlight was when he took of his hoody revealing a red mohawk...(*sigh*). Next up was Ice Prince performing selected songs from his album. Lastly, M.I joined the rest of the CHOC BOIZ on stage to perform Nobody Test Me, Represent, Thank You and finally Oleku with Jagz on the drums and M.I on the piano. All in all....was an awesome performance.

 

W..Ceezzyy...U know its Mo heeezzy..

 

Vikki!!!!

 

Zel, (Mrs. CC), Vikki and Alheri

 

Brymo and Alheri

 

The kiss...lol

Linda and Brymo

 

M.I.

 

Mr and Mrs. Jesse Abaga

 

Choc Boss Snr

 

Zel, Audu, Linda, Vikki

 

Linda....(*wink*)

 

Vikki, Linda, Alheri

 

Urban Outfitters...

 

Guess who we stumbled on...

 

Linda and Ice Prince

xx.A

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New World Nigeria Showcase at London Stratford

It is on....and we are gonna be attending.....!!!! Its the showcasing of various forms of Nigerian talent at Nigeria House, Theatre Royal in Stratford from 20 July to 12 August. Linda and I will be heading to London tomorrow to attend the Sunday show which features CHOC BOIZ and Wande Coal and the Monday show which features M.I, Tiwa Savage Naeto C and River of Music. Depending on the awesomeness of it, we will decide whether to stay for the Tuesday show or not (which Linda really wants to be a part of). This is how the schedule goes for the concerts:

Choc Boiz & Wande Coal
Sun 22 Jul 2012

Tiwa Savage, Naeto C, M.I and River of Music
Mon 23 Jul 2012

Bez, Keziah Jones and King Sunny Ade  
Tues 24 Jul 2012

Diasporama All Star Band and Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 Band
Wed 25 Jul 2012

 To view the schedule for other Nigerian creative arts such as Nollywood films, arts and crafts, and fashion exhibitions and to book tickets Click Here.  Watch this space for pictures....

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Film Releases

Half of A Yellow Sun (Film By Biyi Bandele)



Can't wait for Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Half of A Yellow Sun to hit the screens. Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose and Chiwetel Ejiofor were in Nigeria for the shooting of the adaptation of the Film which wrapped up in June. The Film is set to be on screens by 2013.

Meanwhile 'Winnie' the controversial biopic of the Life of Winnie Madikizela Mandela starring Jennifer Hudson and Terrence Howard has been revamped and set to hit the screens sometime this year (not sure of exact dates) Will Watch...

'Winnie'


Watch Trailer Below...

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Femi Kuti Concert

Femi Kuti and the Positive force Band were in Manchester as part of the 'We Face Forward Music from Africa' event and I was there to experience it.
It was a sold out show, which was held at the intimate, hole in a wall bar called Band on the wall hehe...
After a little bit of a wait at the lounge of the bar drinking cocktails, we all filed in. I was amongst the first few to go in so I had the opportunity to look for a good spot, and while I was tempted to go upstairs, I remembered the (Mos Def) concert I went to last year and my 'ringing ears' as a result of staying too close to the stage and speakers. I'm borderline obsessive so when I do things I go all out, and went against my better judgement (wanting to be as close to the action as possible) again and ended up with ringing ears. *Note to self wear ear plugs next time you go to a concert.

The concert started with a bang, the band came in first playing the trumpets,saxophone, clarinets and hornets don't really know the difference anyway, but the whole shebang. Then the dancers came in all energetic, and moved with such rhythm the grounds of the hall shook, it was so exhilarating.

The setting was Fela-like interspersed with little talks in between, about politics of Nigeria-The corruption, and about men/women relationships. He thanked his brothers and sisters in the 'diaspora' who came to support him also. It was a surprisingly mixed crowd, with so many die hard fans singing along, jumping and dancing. I have never seen such enthusiasts; they were as energetic as the dancers if not more. There was always an occasional look of wonderment between my new found friend Temi and I. It was just too funny.

In the course of the concert there was this guy who kept shouting 'were' which means crazy in Yoruba, wanting Femi to sing the song 'Shotan' from the African Shrine album, and Femi pretended not to hear him while making sarcastic remarks about pot bellied men and beer etc. After songs like 'If they want to hear' and 'Dem Bobo' from the Africa Shrine album to 'Scatta Head' from Shoki Shoki and other songs, he took a bow and left...
...While the show seemed to be over, the audience asked for more.
No one moved during the short interlude, and when it almost seemed like they were not coming out, the band came back in dancing.

This was when the madness started, Femi decided to sing the 'Were'  Shotan song and the response of the crowd was something out of this world, I was too shocked. Those in front started spraying water, beer and any liquid they could find while jumping and literally acting crazy, almost to where a fight was going to ensue. It was purely insane!
Then, he sang the popular Beng Beng Beng which was once banned in Nigeria, then a little more dialogue and it was over. Overall it was a good concert. He connected with the audience with an occasional fist bump (chop knuckle) in Naija terms and all in all, It looked like everyone had a good time.

Pictures Below

 Testing my camera (Had to turn off the flash)

Waiting for the show to start

 Femi Kuti

 Audience

The Band

 Temi and I

Dancers

Femi, Temi and I

Moi

xx.L

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Icons Of A Metropolis- Ade Adekola

Ade Adekola is a Nigerian Photographer and Conceptual Artist who takes a really close look at the people of Lagos. The photos capture the streets of  Lagos, a metropolis in Nigeria. He chose 20 character Icons to represent the Metropolis in a collection of Montages called The Icons of a Metropolis.

The Characters range from a Cart Pusher to the Challenger and Praise Crier. These are real, everyday people on the streets of Lagos that live daily lives trying to survive, we see them everyday, but have a complete disregard for them like the thirst quencher who sells 'Pure Water' packs of packeted water to people on the streets of Lagos, or the water peddler that carries gallons of water/goods for people from the market to their cars or houses, and also the 'Okada Man' also an easy means of transportation for the masses around Lagos. All these, come together to make up the true story of the streets of the Lagos Metropolis and Ade Adekoya has done a good job of conceptualising this in this Montage. Really captivating and inspiring piece of work.


The Opportunist



The Thirst Quencher



The Prayer Warriors



The Cart Pusher



The Praise Crier



Traffic Policeman


The Okada



The Challenger 

To see more of his work go to his website here
www.iconsofametropolis.com

xx.L

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If You Ask me

Listen to Omawumi If You Ask Me a nice soulful uptempo music that deals with the issue of Child Sexual Abuse!

Speak out against Sexual Child Abuse!


Have a lovely Weekend

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We Face Forward Music From West Africa

We Face Forward: Music from West Africa
Continuing from yesterday's post are the remaining Acts that are to perform as part of the We Face forward music programme in Manchester.

Femi Kuti & The Positive Force
Emerging from the giant shadow that his father Fela Kuti cast, Femi is the true heir to the Afrobeat crown, his music reaching across the globe with a powerful and distinctive voice.
Wed 4th July 2012 – Doors open: 7.30pm



Femi Kuti and The Positive Force

Listen to Beng Beng Beng: Femi Kuti Below

Diabel Cissokho + Carlou D
Featuring the cream of West African artists, with this very special live Senegalese double bill. Featuring Diabel Cissokho, who mixes traditional rhythms with upbeat African dance, plus Carlou D and his 7 piece band - the outspoken voice from Senegal's hip hop generation.
Fri 3rd August 2012 – Doors open: 7pm


Carlou D

Jaliba Kuyateh and The Kumareh Band
Jaliba Kuyateh is widely regarded as Gambia's greatest modern master of the Kora - one of Africa's most beautiful and complex instruments
Fri 29th June 2012 – Doors open: 7pm


Jaliba Kuyateh and The Kumareh Band

Mamane Barka and Etran Finatawa
Featuring Mamane Barka, Oumarou Adamou, Alhousseini Anivolla and Bammo Agonla from Etran Finatawa, multi-media concert The Endless Journey brings together four musicians from two of Niger’s leading internationally known music groups, Mamane Barka and Etran Finatawa.

The Endless Journey is a live music show, a documentary film and a photographic exhibition. This is the story of these acclaimed musicians from Niger, West Africa, who travelled the world promoting their nomadic culture and desert blues music only to realise that whilst they were away their children were turning their back’s on their cultural heritage.
Tue 3rd July 2012 – Royal Northern College of Music - Doors open: 7pm


Mamane Barka + Etran Finatawa - The Endless Journey

To know more about events, prices and dates go to http://www.wefaceforward.org/music

*Culled from wefaceforward.org website.

xx.L

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