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You are here:Home arrow Entertainment arrow Back in Da Dayz: A night of nostalgic emotions
Back in Da Dayz: A night of nostalgic emotions Print E-mail
Written by News Hound   
Friday, 02 November 2007
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Christy Essien and Stella Damasus
Christy Essien and Stella Damasus
When the idea of reenacting Nigeria’s past musical heritage was initiated, perhaps very few people gave the idea a chance . Especially   the icons, who were also being celebrated and honoured.  This  explained the absence of some of them at the show. The audience was  a select one, which had heeded Segun Arinze’s invitation to Nigeria ’s ever-green musical feast.

Curiosity also possibly brought some of them,  to see what was being offered. The audience too was sparse considering how Planet One, Maryland , Lagos , venue of the show was usually packed.

It was vintage Segun Arinze taking Nigerians back in time on a journey to reproduce live on stage the music that had Nigeria rocking in the 70s, 80s and 90s. It was a journey of emotions and passion that brought Evi Edna-Ogboli, Veno Marioghae, Bongos Ikwe, Chritie Essien-Igbokwe, Felix and Moses, Tony Okoroji, among others back on stage again. The surprise element was that Nigeria’s young musicians of the day took the audience on the classic musical voyege.

The setting of the show itself was a recreation of the styles, particularly dressing, of the 70s and 80s. A commensurate invocation of the past found expression in the costumes the performers wore. The ushers too wore sky-high afro-hair-dos and high-heel shoes that belong to that era. A.Y., comedian compere donned his afro hair-do as well. Yibo Koko took audience back to the days of inimitable comedian, John Chukwu and his jibes. He also gave a taste of the advert jingles that made the age apart from ours. Any wonder than that it was usually fondly referred to by the elderly as the good old days. These were the days that Arinze brought back on stage live.

There was an over-powering flow of emotions as the icons in the audience rocked on their seats on what
was undoubtedly the best retirement treat they had in a long time. Essien-Igbkwe, Orits Williki, Tony
Okoroji and Tee-Mac Itseli, who attended all rocked to the golden era of Nigeria ’s music, which has also witnessed a resurgence in recent years. Edna-Ogholi’s ‘Obaro’ was performed by Eva, a diva who is waiting in the wings to fly. Veno’s ‘Nigeria go survive’ which had another diva, Essence, asking ‘Andrew not to check out’. Bongos Ikwe found his voice in Felix Duke, who got the audience singing along’ and searching’. Not to mention the energetic duo of Mamuze stomping the stage with the lyrics of Felix and Moses’. Known for their vigorous dancing feat, they did not disappoint;

so also did the fact of their being twins lent appropriate emotions to their performance. And when
one of them received Felix and Moses’ award from the other twin, the audience applauded long and loud.

Also, Base performed Bongos Ikwe’s Cock Crow at Dawn’ and ‘Searching’; Dabyna performed Orits williki’s songs just as Obiwon did Alex O’s ‘I Need Someone’.

Wrenching more emotions and even tears from the audience and icons alike was Stella Damasus’ performance of Essien-Igbokwe’s ‘So mi rere’. Damasus’ vocal power was so powerful and resonant that the formerly acclaimed ‘Lady of Songs’ had tears streaming down her face when she went to take her award. She confessed to seeing herself in Stella Damasus when she was in her hay days. For Essien-Igbokwe, the  memory of the evening was boundless and it became a wake-up call for her to step out of retirement. The quarrelsome Apeno in the famous sitcom, The New Masquerade, told the audience that the evening of musical nostalgia brought home to her how much Nigerians really loved her. She promised she would sing again in reciprocation of this love. She then gave the audience a small treat with her peppery voice alongside Damasus. It was so powerfully moving.

With Guinness as supporting partner for re-awakening Nigeria ’s ever-green music, Arinze’s Back in Da Dayz for 2008 could well have started already. In other words, Nigeria ’s golden musical years have already found a revival in the vocal prowess of the revolutionizing musicians of the day. Undoubtedly,
‘the new skool’ really met the ‘old skool’ in a throbbing night of nostalgic emotions. And it was only
Segun Arinze, a man striding both skools who could pull off such musical feat to the cheering admiration of Nigerians.

Segun Arinze was shocked at what he described as a modest effort to get Nigerians entertained. He
couldn’t hide his elation at the huge impact the show had. He also had his principal sponsors, Guinness
Nigeria Ltd to thank for their support, without which, he said the show wouldn’t have got off the ground.

In spite of the huge success Back in Da Dayz recorded, there were a few areas Arinze’s Outburst Productions would have to give attention in the next outing. The absence of some of the icons was a source of worry to their fans who had attended the show. It would seem that communication between both parties didn’t go too smoothly. It was only Veno who was absent on account of her uncle’s death. The show was essentially for the icons and their presence in large numbers would have further accentuated the nostalgic emotions being invoked. The organisers would also make efforts to step up publicity for the show to get Nigerians to be part of the musical feast. And since Arinze has signified his intention to make it a yearly event (a guest who received Veno’s award on her behalf actually advocated a quarterly event), he would do well to start campaigning for it immediately.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 02 November 2007 )
 
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