How Fuji Stars Obesere, Malaika, Others Spiced Up Lagos Int’l Jazz Festival 2017

Posted on May 10, 2017

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

Inspiro Productions, organisers of the annual Lagos International Jazz Festival, LIJF pulled off another feat not only by parading over 50 musicians on their stage but also by the inclusion to their lineup two of Nigeria’s indigenous music heavyweights of the Fuji genre.

At the main festival held at the Freedom Park, Lagos Island which kicked off on Friday 28 April with exciting performances from Jazz & Jazz related artistes, Paramount king of Fuji music, Abass Akande Obesere and Fuji superstar, Sulaiman Adekunle Malaika were two of headliners who spiced up the highly-rated International music concert.

The two indigenous superstars truly proved their mettle as they wowed the audience who demand for encore.

Speaking on the choice and addition of indigenous artistes especially the Fuji musicians to this year’s lineup, Festival Director and LIJF founder, Ayoola ‘Shadie’ Sadare said, “we decided to look inwards to recognize and honour our own indigenous music and musicians that are making a mark in their genre.”

He stated further, “The likes of Fuji, Apala, Sakara, Juju, Afrobeat, Highlife and others are our own Jazz or what we have termed NAIJAZZ. Other countries celebrate their musicians on their stages and we shouldn’t be an exception.” Sadare affirmed that as a tourism-based international event, LIJF is developing a tourism and cultural offering that visitors would not get anywhere in the world except on Nigerian stage.

“As the festival progresses hereafter we hope to be able to add more of our rich cultural and indigenous genres from all part of the country to the offering so that international patrons who should form a large part of our audience can experience and enjoy our own blend of contemporary indigenous music.

“The Jazz component will not be removed but complemented with these various genres. It’s dynamic, innovative and of course relevant. It also allows the music to reach other audiences that it would not normally not get to. Many collaborations and partnerships have already been formed from this festival and we are satisfied”.

The three-day event was part of celebrations to mark the 50^thanniversary of Lagos the reason this year’s festival was themed ‘505050JAZZ Lagos@50 Special Edition’.

The event, though very successfully executed, wasn’t without its own share of hitches which the organisers expertly addressed as they appeared to deliver yet another grand event.

The event was planned to climax at the end of The April Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) which happened to be on April 30 International Jazz Day celebrated worldwide.

Prior to the main festival, three Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) session events and three empowerment workshops were conducted at various venues in Lagos including the SPAN Academy of Jazz & Contemporary music, The Posh Renaissance Hotel in GRA Ikeja, Southpaw Lounge, Gbagada, and Industry Nite at The Spice Route Victoria Island, Lagos.

Among star artistes who rocked the day one of Festival were master percussionist Samson Iroko; fellow of London School of Music saxophonist Olumide Shobowale; soft rock and alternative music guitarist Nathmac; Piano Duke, master bassists duo D-Bass & Joshua Fashina (Agbar Joshu); Ajaga Master Ade Piper; Clintonic the violinist, Celeste; Wole Jesutomi and trumpeter Jesse Ibidun.

Day two of the festival had artistes including Afro Gospel Sensation Kenny Kore; Ace Saxophonist Dotun Dina; Afro-Highlife Trombonist Femi Slide; Nathan; Oluchi; Multiple Percussionist Aje Band & Saxophonist Justin Ige perform.

On the third day and well attended grand finale, it lived up to its billings and wore well into the early hours of the morning with an array of acts which included the Organic Jazz Band; Bass Master Bright Gain featuring Jojo Body Beats; Afrocentric musician Elfreda; dynamic Afrobeat/Highlife Multi–Instrumentalist Seun Olota; KenBaze; Damilare Sax; Afro-Jazz/Highlife Guitarist Adeh and the delectable Moyeen.

The audience were in ecstasy when Obesere mounted the stage at about 11pm.

For over an hour he thrilled the crowd with hits from his repertoire over the years which surprisingly had generality of the crowd sing and dance to. As his performance ended, his colleague Malaika and his orchestra of native percussion and other musicians got onstage to close the festival.

His was a superlative performance and magnificent crowning of the 3-Day 505050JAZZ Lagos@50 Special edition of the festival.

Also during the event and in a rare display of solidarity the LIJF founder Ayoola Sadare welcomed on stage the founder of Satchmo Jazz, Dolapo Ajayi who had just organized an international jazz day event at Othello’s Lounge in the city.

PMAN national president Pretty Okafor also mounted the stage to give his brief goodwill message to the audience and organisers.

Also as part of this year’s programme, the festival committed to raise funds to support two charities namely; The Down Syndrome Nigeria Foundation and Sesor Foundation for Internally Displaced Persons.

The LIJF 505050JAZZ Lagos@50 Special Edition festival was supported by Helping Hands International, PMAN, Freedom Park, Megapluxglobal, Configure systems, Efizzi worldwide and Ultrasight. Media partners included Smooth 98.1FM, Women’s FM, Metro FM, Radio One, Top Radio and many other print and online media outfits.