Nigerian Music - Beautiful Nubia In Live In Concert Basketmouth Rocks Ibadan MI Dazzles Calabar

Source Naija rules: Bimidele and Bolanle, 7th November 2009

With eyes into the yuletide season, entertainment hangouts and fun seekers are already on heat. This weekend, the first in the month, promises a lot for many centres and major cities in different parts of the country.

In Lagos, Before Club Nite Show is set to hold its rap freestyle battle, comedy and dance competition at Oniru Beach, Off Ligali Ayorinde, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event, which promises to be fun-filled, is set to hold today, Friday November 6, and will feature Mapoka dancers, comedic acts with The Rap Freestyle Battle, as the main event.

Still in Lagos, to round off the 2009 edition of the music festival put together by the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), there will be two nights of Jazz Music, today and tomorrow. The Jazz Nite will feature one international artiste alongside four Nigerian artistes.The jazz artists selected for the event include master guitarist, Jimmy Dludlu. Over the years, Dludlu has worked with various musicians and bands. He is one of the founders of the highly successful music group, Loading Zone, which has toured the African continent. He also recorded with a range of popular South African stars including Mariam Makeba, Brenda Fassie, Chicco and Sipho Mabuse.

Also billed to perform for the night is Nigerian born, Canadian based Beautiful Nubia. A world-class vocalist and guitarist, Nubia has the ability to re-invent ancient rhythms, which he blends with original melodies to produce his style of music that cuts across all sections and class of the society. His melody, described by various critics as folk fusion or a relative of Afrobeat reflects the roots of modern popular (pop) music genres.

Also on the list is Nigeria’s own ambassador of African music and 2003 Best Female Vocalist in Dubai, Mfon Umana. Mfon is currently making waves in most West African countries. The vocalist and guitarist’s music cuts across all ages and nationalities. Other jazz artists billed to perform include ace jazz trumpeter and music graduate, Biodun Adebiyi, whose musical career is rooted in his church music background with a stint as a trumpeter in Boys’ Brigade; Contrabassist and Jazz Composer, Bright Gain who has performed alongside world-class artists like French Pianist, Manuk Hanchadrurian, amongst others and Jazz Groups, The Five YZ Men and Pure & Simple.

The Festival 2009 will be wrapped up with a Classical Music Concert on Sunday, November 8, when Lisa Robinson an Australian Lyric Soprano will perform. An opera singer, recitalist, soloist, and a student of Joy Mammen and Isabelle Flinn Robinson will be accompanied by Daniel Grimwood, a pianist, described as probably the finest-all-round musician ever known. He won a scholarship to the Purcell School, where he studied with Graham Fitch and finished under the tutelage of Vladimir Ovchinnikov and Peter Feuhtwanger.

To mark the 250th post-humus anniversary of George Handel and 200th post-humous anniversary of Joseph Haydn, two legendary classical acts, The Choral Concert, last Sunday, November 1, highlighted the selected choral masterpieces of the two musical giants.

Fans of Beautiful Nubia and lovers of his brand of music will be given a treat, as the guitarist holds Beautiful Nubia: Live In Concert in Lagos. The show promises guests with folk and roots music by Beautiful Nubia and the Roots Renaissance Band in a special four-hour concert, holding on Sunday November 8, 2009. Beautiful Nubia and his band will perform songs from their last four albums, Jangbalajugbu, Awilele, Fere and Kilokilo, in a pleasant, family-friendly and secure environment. There will also be a sneak preview of their new, upcoming album, Irin Ajo.

Elsewhere, for residents of culture rich city of Calabar, Pinnacle Pub and Nite Club, Marina Resort, Calabar, is a place to be this weekend as fans and lovers of new rap sensation, Mr. Incredible (MI) turn out en masse to celebrate the icon. Tagged MI Live In Calabar, the show is slated for Sunday November.

In the spirit of the season, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, comes agog this weekend as Basketmouth Live In Ibadan hits town. The show, which features the likes of Mr. Incredible (MI), Wande Coal and Banky W among others, is set to hold at Jogor Centre, Liberty Road, Off Ring Road, Ibadan. The show, being put together by Blue IQ Entertainment in collaboration with IB Connection, is bringing a host of celebrities on Sunday to the ancient city.

Theatre lovers are not left out in the weekend fun galore as Computer Hardware and Maintenance Services (Chams) Plc, an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) firm, presents a theatrical adaptation of Daniel Fagunwa’s Ireke Onibudo. The play will be the focus for theatre lovers as the second edition of the annual Chams Theatre Series takes off across four cities, beginning tomorrow in Lagos. Unlike the first edition of the Chams Theatre Series where English and Yoruba adaptations of Fagunwa’s Ogboju Ode Ninu Igbo Irunmole by dramatists, Femi Osofisan and Akinwumi Isola, once ran in four cities, this year’s edition will have an extended run.

Ireke Onibudo, The Fabulous Adventures of A Sugarcane Man, and Agbara Ife, the English and Yoruba adaptations of Fagunwa’s Ireke Onibudo by the same playwright, will be unveiled in 11 performances across four cities.

The initiative was conceived last year by Chams Plc in a bid to revive live theatre and promote cultural values in the country.

To make the event cut across all ages, there will be special screenings for students in all the four cities where it will be premiered to allow them to experience live theatre and share in its appeals and tradition.

The youths of Nigeria have decided to take the battle to change the country to the entertainment front. To this end, Afrigold Project in conjunction with Graph Entertainment on Sunday November 8, will be holding a gig tagged Project Change and the Global Trend Setters’ Award, on the theme Our Youths: The Hope For A New Nigeria. The event, billed to hold at Excellence Hotel, Ogba, promises to be superb as the youths will be sending their message home, using music, dance, comedy, drama, and other forms of art. The show is strictly by invitation.