PURE MAGIC AT THE COSON SONG AWARDS

For several months, public service announcements in the Nigerian media had repeatedly said that the only way to describe the COSON Song Awards is wow! Last Saturday the crème of the Nigerian society and the toast of Nigerian entertainment dressed to the hilt, congregated at the New Ballroom of Lagos Oriental Hotel. They came to see at first-hand what the much advertised show, the climax of the unprecedented seven events of the COSON Week, had to offer. Despite the massive expectation, it is safe to say that no one was ready for what they saw. From the themed red carpet ‘fantastico’ to the show itself, it was pure magic. Many marvelled at the huge theatre of the COSON Song Awards, knowing that they had been part of genius and history.  No one left the event without saying ‘wow!’

SIR UWAIFO ON RED CARPET

The first spectacle that hit everyone who attended the event was the opulence and sheer splendour of the red carpet fantastico themed in crème silk at which Nigeria’s glitterati mingled and sipped cocktails while a thousand flashlights exploded from the paparazzi. Then the guests were ushered into the huge events arena by the beautiful hostesses selected after several weeks of a major series of contests of beauty and brains conducted by a celebrity cast made up of rap icon, Ruggedman, Queen Ure, Kween Onakala and Aisha Joy.

Everyone held their breadth when the lights went down in the auditorium. Without any announcement, Segun Obe, came on stage and took the audience through a sonorous rendition of Nigeria’s national anthem. The curtains opened, the insignia of the COSON Song Awards rose majestically on the stage crafted by the master of set designs, Italian trained Pat Nebo and the

MAJEK ON STAGE

real magic began. On the huge screen, a golden bird appeared, searching in the deep forest of creativity. When the bird found what it was looking for, it took off on a historic journey, flying and meandering through the streets of Lagos and the major landmarks of the city, dodging the vehicles in traffic. Nothing could stop the golden bird until it found its way into Victoria Island at nightfall and then flew into Oriental Hotel. Unto the stage of the New Ballroom, it perched on a metal gong, the musical instrument common to the peoples of Nigeria. Awoko, the nightingale had arrived!

ANNIE IDIBIA & AWOKO

The special bird, Awoko which had been sculpted as the distinct plaque of the COSON Song Awards by a young Yaba College of Technology graduate, Dare Adenuga, is the leading singing bird celebrated in many songs of Yoruba master songwriters. It is reputed to have out-of this-world lyrics and singing talent. In Yoruba mythology, when Awoko shows up, every other bird bows. What the audience had just seen of Awoko was video animation at its best. The animation was carefully executed over a month of day and night creative effort by another young Nigerian, Ademola Tajudeen. When Awoko perched on the gong, the audience responded in thunderous applause.

RHINO

Onto the stage came the host of the night, debonair Frank Edoho, the very popular host of TV quiz programme, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? When Frank walked in, the auditorium was practically on fire as the audience went into rapturous applause. Then on to the giant screen, the story of Nigerian social culture from the 60s woven delicately into the music of the times unfolded with nostalgia in an unforgettable way and everyone in the auditorium knew that they were part of history. The ten most memorable songs of the

60s were played back and the presenters, A list actor, Segun Arinze and FRCN’s Cordelia Okpei dramatically appeared from the bowels of the stage in a 60s Chevrolet Impala to present the Song of the 60s award won by Victor Uwaifo’s Joromi. The audience was clearly in awe. Once again, Tony Okoroji who one spectacular day in Nigeria’s showbiz history arrived the stage of the National Theatre from the roof, had wrought magic again!

Actor Kalu Ikeagwu and fast rising singer, Seyi Shay who presented the award of the Song of the 70s won by Prince Nico Mbarga’s Sweet Mother arrived in style in a Citroen D Super.

There were earth shattering performances by top artistes like Sunny Neji, 2Face Idibia, Solid Star, Seyi Shay, Iyanya and Majek Fashek. At the star studded event which will be talked about for many months were Sir Victor Uwaifo, Mike Okri, Pa Chris Ajilo, Orlando Julius, Victor

 

IYANYA ON STAGE

Uwaifo, Sir Shina Peters, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, Bright Chimezie, Dayo ‘D1’ Adeneye, Dizzy K. Falola, Sunny Neji, Flavour, Righteous Man, Bracket, Zakky Adze, Queen Ure among many others. Also in attendance were Nollywood stars including Fred Amata, Segun Arinze, Patrick and Iretiola Doyle Jennifer Eliogu, Fidelis Duker, Kalu Ikeagwu, Beautiful Nubia, Annie Macaulay Idibia, newlywed Femi Brainard and media personality, Prince Bisi Olatilo among several others.

It was a night that set a new bar for the organization of entertainment events in Nigeria, a night not to be forgotten in a long time.