BY BENSON OKOBI-ALLANAH
THE city of Asaba, capital of Delta State, was for over seven hours continuously banged deep by the electrifying performances put up by both old and up-coming artistes mostly of Delta State extraction, drawn from within and outside the state.
It was like a battering ram was beingswung against all available doors and other exit points at the well-lit and decorated Dome Event Center to break them and the entire hall down as the heavy imported music machine like a soup up engine and cyborg, boomed out heavily through its sophiscated speakers, well-filtered musical sounds being dished out live by the various artistes that performed that night.
Inside the Dome Event Center, especially from the well-prepared stage, were conflicting lights struggling for supremacy, and trying to outshine one another. They all combined to give the hall an ambience that portrayed the organizers as people of high taste, egg-heads vast in the entertainment business and alluring stage- setting.
The interiors of the Dome Event Center, especially at the stage side, displayed the luxuries of modern day high-tech in musical stage decorations. It was a decorating skill redefined; giving the hall and the people inside it, colours that made everyone looked enhanced.
We heard guests already seated in side of the hall and those who had gone out to do one thing or other before going back inside again, commend the organizers, Ministry of Culture and Tourism in collaboration with Entertainment Appointees, Harry song and others, for such eye-catchy beautiful stage decor that were being deeply caressed and romanced by different lighting systems that turn the hall into a breath-taking endlessly admiration for guests and the organizers.
Harrysong, real name Harrison Tare Okiri , born 1981, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and instrumentalist. He rose to fame after his tribute song to Nelson Mandela; won the ‘Most loaded Caller tune Award’ at the Headies 2013.
As it was the first edition of Ukodo Festival, artistes from various parts of the state and beyond were already at the venue, each waiting for their turn to come up stage to perform, while anyone coming to the show was expected to be armed with a white handkerchief only, as there was no gate fee attached before entering the event hall.
Right in front of the event center, which large expanse of land were literally littered with cars, were people dressed in alluring, attention-arresting rousing appeal, while paparazzi were seen busy clicking away as night-crawlers and clubbers, and other guests to the event made use of the red carpet, other vantage positions to have snap shots with friends, artistes, especially those already made; (popular celebrities) in the various areas of entertainment, mostly in the movie industry.
Initially, some of the guests already inside the scantily-filled hall, and entertainment journalists covering the event, thought it was going to be a flop as those big-time musicians coming for the UKODO Festival were not seen around, and people were coming in trickles, while some that were already there, started going back home as a result; a case of being impatient. But the hall later started witnessing a robust swell of guests coming in droves when what they thought was a ruse, proved to be real when it became obvious that Rude Boy, Dotun, Nas Boy and other notable artistes were in the house going to perform that night. Good number of the guests had left, fuming with annoyance as it was only up-coming acts that were the only ones performing, and the real artistes billed to perform were nowhere to be found forgetting that in such events, the arrangement has always been starting from the up-coming to the stars in ascending order.
Representative of the Delta State governor, Honourable Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu and his Tourism, Arts and Culture counterpart, Chief Dr. Darlington Ijeh, who was the Chief Host, were already seated watching the various artistes perform, including Anioma, Urhobo and Isoko dance troupes from Arts and Culture headquarters, Asaba, who thrilled their audience in most exhilarating form with well-rehearsed, articulated dance steps, and tantalizing twist of their waists.
For those not familiar with what Ukodo is all about, it is a form of delicacy mostly prepared with unripe plantain, yam, fish and other forms of ingredients; it is mostly eaten among the Urhobo and Isoko ethnic nationalities of Delta State.
The M.O.R.E. Agenda of the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, a show-casing of the rich cultural heritage of Deltans, and hunting of more talents that abound in the state, prompted the UKODO Festival initiated by Harrysong and Co which drew many guests to the venue.
Lined up for the April 4 First Edition of UKODO Festivalshow were notable musical artistes and comedians like Harrysong , Rude Boy, Dotun, Nas Boy, Gordon, Frank De Don, Pappy Urhobo, etc and many other up-coming artistes drawn from Asaba, Warri and far away Lagos, that played different genres of music that set most of the music and movie freaks dancing under the flickering lights that portrayed the inners of the hall in multiple admirable colours. These artistes music explores the themes of poverty, suffering, injustices and hunger in the land as they performed on stage.
Aside musical artistes that graced the occasion were some popular and up-coming actors from Asaba, and Lagos. Comedians, Deejays from Warri, Asaba, and Lagos were all in attendance.
The UKODO Festival which saw the presence of many damsels and guys of the night trustwere all dressed to rousing appeal. They were all poised for action, set to dance out the sorrows and hardships created by the frustrating and prostrating economy of the nation and heightened by stagflation in the country, at least for the time the show lasted.
They were not ready as it seems, to let the world go with the impression that Delta State is not a happening place, a state that now compete with Lagos State as one of the notable entertainment hubs and emporium spots in the country, and now currently home base of the Nollywood Industry in the country.
Harrysong, Dotun, Rude Boy and Nas Boy pulled the largest crowd of guests’ participation as they rendered different tracks from their songs. When Rude Boy of the PSquare mounted the stage the ovation became thunderous, almost everyone in the hall went wild with excitement. Trust the Asabamakas (Asaba Beautiful Girls) they were able to live up to their billings, out-shining their guys as they tended to hold the dance floor marathon-wise, keep the gig and jams going till Mama Calls. Rude Boy held sway as he came down the stage to join his teeming Asaba fans to jam together. His expensive jacket he threw out to his fans for pick. He was literally lost in the crowd but thank God for his height.
The boys who came with their babes expressed apprehension that they might be snatched from them by these artistes as they thought their babes were filled with lust and admiration for them. The girls were only dancing to the moment and not with any mind –set to prove right the thoughts being harboured by their guys as most of them were seen hurrying to leave the hall with their babes. One of the guy who spoke to this entertainment journalist, says, ‘it’s not as if I’m hurrying my babe to go with me as a result of the jealousy in me, far from that, I’m not harbouring any; I’m only asking her we go so as to have time for ourselves. You can see the night is far spent. A girl who seemed like gettingfused with Rude Boy, as she danced with him, later told this writer, ‘don’t mind him (referring to her guy), he’s filled with jealousy because I’m dancing with Rude Boy and having some shots with him, hence he’s asking we start going. Is Rude Boy going to carry me, or start making love to me there? That’s how some of these guys behave’
Governor of Delta State, Rt.Hon Sheriff Oborevwori ably represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Works(Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, described Delta State as Nigeria’s hub of entertainment, a state that parades a lot of talents spanning all genres of entertainment, saying he would always encourage them in any way possible to stir up the up-coming ones as talent has now become Delta’s second crude oil. The event was also meant to hunt for talents which abound heavily in the state.
The Governor commended the organizers for organizing the UKODO Festival, its First Edition, saying that government would always support the festival. He said this time when some youths are elsewhere fermenting trouble, that the time for the festival was apt; and pleasing to note too that youths this way were organizing events that would promote peace, unity, love and the rich cultural heritage of the state.
High point of the occasion was the distribution of Ukodo which came in form of monetary rewards, one million naira each to the different entertainment groups spanning movie, music, comedy and disc-jockeying in the state and some individual entertainers’ who distinguished themselves in the afore-mentioned industries;all of whom got N300, 000 each.
All these encouraging packages were received with highest of applauds and ovation as ‘Ukodo’ rented the air by the highly excited guests who had wished the second edition will come up anytime soon. Even one of the elated top government functionaries while presenting a cheque to one of the delighted recipients said may be he would try to compose a track to be part of them.
Whatever that has a beginning must surely come to an end. So, the show dragged till 4am Saturday morning.
