Nigerian Music Nigeria – Niger Delta Peace Rocks Concert Arrives Warri Yenagoa Today

Source: Juliana Taiwo, News 13 Alert, Dec 19, 2009

T Pain

Niger Delta Peace Rocks Concert Arrives Warri, Yenagoa TodayMusic Festival kicks-off to flying start in Abuja, BeninFrom Juliana Taiwo in Abuja, Okon Bassey in Uyo and Kunle Ogunfuyi in Benin, 12.19.2009

The Niger Delta Peace Rocks concert organised by the entertainment arm of THISDAY would berth in Warri and Yenagoa today following the sensational kick-off of the music festival in Abuja and Benin last night. Thousands of fans and music lovers were entertained by dozens of international stars till the wee hours of this morning in Abuja and Benin.

Major music acts like US rapper, 50 Cent; Hip-hop maestro, T-pain; RnB diva, Ciara; soulful crooner, Dare Art Alade; Afro-Hip/hop singer, 2face; crowd pleaser, Asa; Afrobeat exponents, Femi Kuti and Dede Mabiaku; the Koko Master, DBanj; and twin sensation, P-Square, had the crowd on their feet screaming for more as the night wore on. In Benin City, Governor Adams Oshiomhole got into the swing of things when he mounted the stage and grooved to the music of P-Square.

The concert, which is being organized with the support of the Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Edo, Delta and Rivers State Governments, is aimed at promoting peace, reconciliation and development in the Niger Delta region, following the cessation of militant activities under the federal governments amnesty programme.

The Niger Delta Peace Rocks concert which kicked off last night on the first leg of a six-city music tour, will see a combination of music talents from Nigeria and the US also performing in Yenagoa and Warri today, and in Port Harcourt and Uyo tomorrow.

Speaking at the Abuja leg of the three-day concert, Chibudom Nwuche, former deputy speaker, House of Representatives, commended Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman/Editor-in-Chief, THISDAY, for putting up a show that engages the youth and also highlights the virtues of peace. he said Niger Deltans are peace loving but were compelled to agitate for a fair treatment. He noted that with the amnesty programme of the Federal Government, the justice long clamoured for has arrived.

Meanwhile, indigenes and residents in Akwa Ibom State are already in a festive mood as they await the arrival of international and local artistes to the state for the much celebrated multi-city global music and cultural fiesta to promote peace and reconciliation in the Niger Delta.

On Sunday, all roads in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital will lead to the Uyo township stadium, venue for the music concert where prominent artists like 50 Cent, Ciara, Earth Wind and Fire, D-Banj, Wande Coal, 2Face and Dede are expected to perform till late into the night.

In an interview, the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, mr. Joe Udobia, his counterparts in the ministries of Information and Social Re-Orientation, mr. Aniekan Umanah and Youths and Sports, mr. John Harry, said every logistic including security, accommodation, transportation and publicity has been concluded.

We have reached out to the managers of Ibom Transport Company to make sure Ibom taxi cabs and buses operate on Sunday from morning till the following day (Monday) to ease movement since the state government has stopped the operation of commercial cyclists in the state from 6 p.m.

Also, we have spoken with the managers of hotels in the state to make their rooms available to visitors. I am happy that the rooms which I inspected last Wednesday are of international standard. We are now expecting the artistes who will arrive the Ibom International airport today. This is an event THISDAY is staging in partnership with Akwa Ibom State Government. the governor has endorsed the programme towards ensuring the successful execution of the music festival.

Nigerian Music Nigeria 2Face, D’Banj, Femi Kuti, P-Square, Wande Coal