Despite pulling off seemingly impossible ventures in the past – bringing the top musical talents in the world to Nigeria to perform on one stage - the THISDAY Group surpassed itself by convincing R.Kelly to suppress his much-publicized phobia for flying and take his first trip to Africa. R.Kelly rarely tours outside the US and when he did travel to the UK eight years ago to perform at the MOBO Awards, he travelled by sea.However, he performed at the ARISE African Fashion Show in Johannesburg and went to Sun City then Cape Town for the THISDAY Music Festival. Today, he would be at the Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island to perform for the cream of Lagos Society. The tickets are prohibitive, ranging from 100 to 250k! It better be worth it.Ten in the evening and the venue is abuzz but we can’t go in because the stage isn’t ready. It says 8p.m. on the ticket but this na Naija… we have to chill at the lounge/bar of the Hotel. I’m an observer…got to stay sober. Rising Hip-Hop act, Ajuju walks in with his team. Godwin Tom, MI’s manager says hello. He’s here to lay the groundwork for his artist’s act.I cannot recollect ever seeing this many beautiful women at once… fly chicks, gorgeous ladies; all dressed to murder.Then its 11:15 and we can go in. The gig is outside. The venue is a temporary construction on the lawn. Not sure what to call this…Maybe a large tent would do. You can feel the red carpet embrace your feet through your shoes. Then I was brought out of my reverie by the flashing lights. “Rain,” my brain tells me in milliseconds as I wait for the thunder claps. All I hear are camera clicks. What!? This many flashbulbs? This is blinding! My snug grey suit comforts me. I feel picture perfect.Inside are tables laid in white, seating between six and twelve guests. A hundred tables would be a conservative estimate and they were filling up fast. O boy! …and there is supposed to be a recession. Basket Mouth makes a similar remark. Keke and D1 of Kennis Music are seated on the table ahead; D’banj, Wande Coal, Don Jazzy and the rest of the Mo Hits crew including new recruit, Ikechukwu are to the left.James Ibori is in the building too, although very far ahead. …something to do with some VIPs being more equal than others (apologies George Orwell). Maiden Ibru, Olisa Adibua, Sound Sultan…The smell of food being warmed is really distracting. …and the pop of champagne bottles.The overhead lights keep the confines of the tent well lit; it is almost excessive, like the temperature which borders on freezing. However, there was a reminder that we were still in Nigeria: The quite audible hum of the whatever-size generator outside. Good thing there is a fedora perched on my head. Yizu, the Ethiopian princess, remarks that I look like an Italian assassin. I feel lucky; it’s serving the dual-purpose of shielding my eyes and keeping my head warm.Basket Mouth is doing a good job keeping us entertained while the engineers work on whatever it is they are still working on. It’s past twelve now. The MC mentions it is Segun(?) Agbaje’s (DMD GTB) birthday. Who cares? …Okay, just kidding.Dinner is served. I go through the menu and settle for Roast Potatoes and Mexican Beef Salad. …shouldn’t exceed this glass of champagne. I’m an observer…will need to stay sober. Basket Mouth keeps dissing anyone in sight. “No be by grab for this country o,” he tells a well-built engineer who insists he shouldn’t get on stage, “na as your pocket grab.” And he’s really taking out the Deltans in the house. They don’t feel comfortable seated next to the numerous expatriates at the show, he claims. “Their body dey itch,” he says. “Dem dey find u dem go kidnap.”In the same breath he apologizes to Ibori, a prominent Delta citizen. “Na joke I dey joke o! I get plane to catch tomorrow.” That surely is a dig at the ex-governor who was accused of making a plane disappear in mid-air. R.Kelly wasn’t out of bounds either. “Wetin convince Robot (or Robert?) make him fly? Na recession?”The MC practically challenges Wande Coal to sing without instruments because, well…the engineers. He, along with D’Banj kept the audience enthralled for a while. Then D’Banj gets angry and says they are leaving. Why, he wonders, should we be kept waiting by a foreign act while the local ones are disrespected. “If na my show una for don waka,” he says. As how now? And lose your 250k? No way. He probably got a free ticket as an artist…Okay, okay, he has a point. But apparently it’s not R.Kelly’s fault. He has been around – backstage for awhile – but sound-check was taking so long.Then less than five minutes after the Mo Hits crew walk out, the chairman of the THISDAY Group, Nduka “The Duke” Obiagbena, comes on stage. “For those who didn’t believe this was possible, those that say R.Kelly doesn’t fly, this is your answer,” he says.I’m half-expecting to see R.Kelly fly in… then the lights go out. Some seconds later only the ones on stage come on. R.Kelly appears with his mic; to a large roar…no, screams rather. It’s like magic. He has a full complement of live instruments. The drums, the pianos the guitars…his back-up singers – two women (one white) and a guy… This is what live means!He kicks off with Hell Yeah, I’m Fucking You Tonight, We Clubbing and a couple more. But he isn’t impressed with the response. “Isn’t this Nigeria? I can’t hear you. Where I’m from we party hard after getting alcohol in our systems,” he says.O boy, this na Naija. Na big man full here. Especially when you consider the ticket prices.He tries again; Your Body’s Calling, I Wish, Bump ‘n’ Grind, Twelve Play… “I can come back if you like. Should I go?” he asks. For where? No way.“All the sexy ladies in the house come out front. But if you’re with your man don’t come…I’m warning you!” he says. Suddenly the hall is divided in two. Ladies first…guys behind.He tries once more with Strip for You and The Zoo… then the foundations of the construction start to shake. Probably from the piercing screams. Men, these girls no send again o!R.Kelly promises to perform most of the songs he has recorded. As time goes on, the reality of just how many songs this guy has hits you. Ignition, Snake, Fiesta, Slow Wind, Gigolo… This guy is really the King of R&B. No doubt.He’s free-styling now. About a Nigerian girl following him to America. “If you have your passport ready,” he sings, “You can follow me to America.” Meeeehn! Do women actually go around with passports in their bags? Come and see passports o! Plenty passports in the air!
This place is seriously grooving now. The men have caught the bug fully. I guess Gigolo set it off. It certainly did for me. And R ‘n’ B Thug. The songs keep coming…Down Low, Feeling on Your Booty, You Remind me of Something, If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time, When a Woman’s Fed Up… God!Just can’t seem to get enough. This guy knows how to work a crowd. The lights above the audience are back on, right about the time he belts out Step In the Name of Love. Everyone is dancing in earnest. R’Kelly checks his watch. I check mine. It’s 3 in the morning. The lights seem to be the cue that the performance is ending. Oh no!But he’s not done yet. He’s singing Happy People. This is a spot-on description of the mood in the house. Then he takes a bow, while the instruments continue. He had performed for close to two hours. He was the only performer on the night. But was it worth the gate fee? You betcha! Everyone is cheerful. The VIPs, the VVIPs, the VVV… you get the drift.I have to concur: There can be no R&B without the R…
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