How Lagos Was SHUGAcoated 

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

On Sunday October 21, the crème-de-la-crème of Lagos high society and captains of industries streamed in droves into the exquisite Eko Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos to celebrate with Akinloye Tofowomo, the award winning classical and cross-over artiste famously called Akiin Shuga, and his Shuga Band for their SHUGAcoated Concert.

The concert was organised to celebrate 20 years of Shuga Band led by the quintessential musician, Akiin Shuga. It was a classy show that many guests will never forget in a hurry. The night was a depiction of success story that provided a visceral celebration of Shuga’s scintillating music and colourful performances that put the band in the minds of well-meaning Nigerians.

Following its tradition of timeliness, Akiin deviated from the norms of many Lagos gigs, as they respected the earlybirds and started the concert on schedule. The versatile band leader and his crew proved their mettle as they mashed a hard work of two decades into less than a 10-hour segmented choreographed gig that got every guest swayed to the beat. The band took the audience through the time with quality music and there were relapsed nostalgic moments at every performance.

The opening segment was dope with delivery of evergreen songs from The Supremes to The OJays flowed to The Manhattan, The Temptation and then switched to the 1980s with The Commodores and The Deele. This segment got some elderly women, including Dr. Biodun Laja, Laila St. Mathew Daniel, Mrs Onigbanjo, Dame Abimbola Fashola and Lady Maiden Ibru, who was at the concert till the very end, waltzed to the beat and reenacted the dance steps of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

With priceless sights that make many not to flinch, Akiin launched into another segment dedicated to all the couples of the weddings where the band has performed all through the years. There were number of mid-soulful classics that moved the high-heeled guests. While the performance was on, clips of some celebrated couples’ nuptials rolled on the three giant screens mounted by the stage.

There was also the Owambe segment which turned a knockout as both young and old in the audience danced to the beat that make Lagos traditional parties thick.

Of course, the ambience of the show arena was so invigorating that ensnared many who stay put till the wee hours.

Ms. Laila St. Mathew-Daniel, who thumbed up the concert, said: “It was a concert unlike any –the music, the choreography, the acoustics, sound, customes, band, singers and ambiance- showed a project that was highly coordinated and with a lot of work put into giving a first class performance.”

She added by giving kudos to Akiin who she praised for his generosity as he allotted time for a special performance by some of his ex-band members known as the Shuga Band Alumni who are now band leaders on their own.

“He didn’t hug the stage but gave his alumni, other singers and performers the opportunity to showcase themselves which they did with creativity and precision,” she noted.

Among guests at the concert were AVM Femi Gbadebo, Omooba Jide Martins, Rtd. AIG Tunji Alapinni, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru and Bukola Olopade, and many of them praised Akiin for such an unforgettable gig.

A thoroughly thrilled AVM Gbadebo enthused: “Never before in the history of entertainment in Nigeria, and indeed Africa, has it been so clearly demonstrated that indeed, there is ability in disability. The Shuga Coated Concert…was a classic display of how years of dedication and hard work can come together as a well oiled machine and deliver one flawless performance after another, resulting in a truly memorable evening. Congratulations Akin Shuga, his wife and Shuga Band and more of God’s richest blessings in the years ahead!”

In his comment, Sam Olatunji, a PR and Perception Management Guru, said. “The SHUGAcoated gig is a special one. The band brought the nostalgic feelings of the 1960s to the 1970s and it was wow. The setting was eclectic and the audience was matured and classic.”

The concert also featured various rave-of-the-moment artistes including Tosin Martins, Koffi the Guru, Kenny Blaq and Woli Arole, that rendered spirited performances.

The two-decade old band has performed for Presidents, governors, corporate bodies and many more. Not just limiting itself to the geo-political zones of Nigeria alone, the band has headlined lots of shows in other parts of the world as well.

The SHUGAcoated Concert promises to be an unforgettable event with mind blowing performances leaving lasting impressions on guests at the end of the night. And it was delivered.

“The concert was not only lively; it lived beyond expectation – Akin Shuga left the stage as a force to be reckoned with and the patrons at the event were satisfied to the brim. Shuga Coated Concert was a well flavoured and trail-blazing event that set the pace of what proper celebration should be,” another reveler at the concert said.

All in all, the SHUGAcoated concert, anchored by Tee A and Bola Olukanmi, is one that should happens every year!

“We started as promised! It was a scripted event, from start to finish,” elated Akiin said morning after the concert.