Bulkwyld ‘N’ Breathless 2017: When 2Baba held Lagos hostage

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2face_IdibiaPerforming

Tiwa Savage

Flavour

Music has always been embedded in the fabric of Lagos, hence, for fun loving Lagosians, Sunday, October 22, was an amazing evening of good music and great live performances from 2face Idibia, Tiwa Savage and Flavour, who held fun seekers hostage at the this year’s Buckwyld ‘n’ Breathless concert, tagged ‘The Lagos Dream’.

Held at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, the concert also, had great performance from other industry hit makers like the Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa, Timaya; Efya, Paul Okoye, Mr 2kay, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Joel, and Kelly Hansome.

Hosted by Andre Blaze, the hall was packed full with attendance ranging from some of the most revered socialites and celebrities including Senator Ita Giwa, KCee, Baba Dee, Orezi, Daddy Showkey, Mr Ibu, Waje, Ubi Franklin, Mai Atafo, and beautiful wife of the concert headliner/convener, Annie Idibia among other brand executives.

The red carpet was indeed a hall of fame as it showcased music icons, from the late Abami Eda, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Oliver de Coque, Christie Essien Igbokwe, to the legendary elegant stallion, Onyeka Onwenu, and Griot musician, Mamman Shata.

With the stage designed to look like a huge digital playground with screens, a 20-piece band, and pyrotechnics the artistes, particularly 2baba, dominated the stage with breathtaking vocals and ecstatic performances that moved some members of the crowd, especially the ladies to tears.

While the mammoth crowd waited for the evening to fully commence, Mr. 2Kay, Kelly Handsome, Jeremiah Gyang, Efya, Timaya (who was joined by Paul Okoye, a half of the recently separated P-Square brothers) opened the show, treating the audience to cover of classics by Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Oliver de Coque, Christie Essien Igbokwe and Mike Okri.

Singer and 2baba look alike, Joe El, carrying the classic, Water no get enemy, on his lean shoulders, praised Fela Anikulakpo Kuti. The crowd went sombre with nostalgia as soon the all-time hit, Seun rere by the late lady of songs, Christy Essien-Igbokwe came through the deafening speakers in the massive hall.

Acetune showed respect to Mike Okri, just as Kelly Hansome showed he is indeed a true son of the Southeast as he was Oliver de Coque’s embodiment on the night. Mr 2kay’s brought back Cardinal Jim Rex Lawson memory with a moving performance of his classic So Ala temen.

Mavin Records queen, Tiwa Savage, was up next and in her usual manner, she thrilled the audience with her unequivocal fashion and energetic performance, doing some of her A-list hit songs including Malo, All Over, Keys to the city, Wanted all off her latest EP.

She asked for more time to vibe with Lagos, which the crowd obliged her in abundance. She capped it with a good chorography with the queen of dance, Kaffy and her son, Shaun.

Like an actor, Tiwa beautifully stripped to open Flavour’s Oyi, which the 2Nite-recording artiste entered the hall with at about 12:01am. Flavour took the concert to an octane level with Finally and Sexy Rosey, just as he brought out the dancer in the audience.

He escalated things with his Ogene and Gbogwam hits, bringing on stage a masquerade to take it up a notch. This got the Ndigbo in the hall, particularly the male folks singing and dancing along, whilst the ladies wriggle their waist to showcase the ‘042 stylee’.

DJ Jimmy Jatt ushered 2Baba in with all time classic and Lagos street anthem, Stylee! And there was Elajoe, who re-enacted the dope rap. No one knew the man of the night was among the dancers, as he was disguised.

With a Fela-fused rhythm that gave the sweet background on most of the songs performed, 2Baba, obviously enjoyed himself whilst entertaining the crowd. He brought on stage Sound Sultan and Tony Tetuila for quick freestyles.

Having put in over two decades in the Nigerian music industry, it’s been an interesting year for 2baba. He recently capitalised on the ‘Pon pon’ wave to score a pop record with producer Dapiano, titled Gaga Shuffle, a song that has kept him open to younger audiences, and continued what has been a lifetime of relevance and achievement.

The year 2017, no doubt has been a great year for 2Baba, but it has also come with its trials — a failed public protest against government kept him in the firing line of the media and fans, while his ‘street’ credibility was tested to an extreme.

His home state, Benue, was hit with heavy flooding, and created a humanitarian crisis, but 2baba responded via his Foundation, provided relief with support from crowd source funds. And on the evening, the names of all the donors rolled on a giant screen and thanks were offered or their kindness.

The mini documentary on Lagos, showed that this year’s Buckwyld and Breathless was a live ode to the city that act as hub for African music, and has through the years, has honed, produced and exported talents to distant shores, some of whom were celebrated via live music.