Glammed-up Lagos revellers celebrate Africa Day
The movers and shakers in front of and behind the cameras of Nigeria’s creative industries turned out in style to celebrate Africa Day in Lagos – all wearing traditional attire.
IMAGE SOURCE,MHOROTTI STUDIOSThis was a stipulation for those attending The YouTube Africa Day Concert on Tuesday evening: they must celebrate the continent’s culture by wearing African dress.
IMAGE SOURCE,BBC/DAMILOLA ODUOLOWUThe colourful event, which featured some of the continent’s big music stars, was recorded so it can be streamed online on Wednesday – when the continent marks Africa Day.
IMAGE SOURCE,BBC/DAMILOLA ODUOLOWU
IMAGE SOURCE,BBC/DAMILOLA ODUOLOWUSingers from five African nations performed – with Nigerian Afrobeats acts dominating the stage, including Yemi Alade below:
IMAGE SOURCE,BBC/DAMILOLA ODUOLOWUD’banj, Ckay (seen hugging below) Davido, Reekado Banks and Mayorkun (below in shades) also wowed the crowd.
IMAGE SOURCE,MHOROTTI STUDIOS
IMAGE SOURCE,MHOROTTI STUDIOSNumerous Lagos celebrities were in the audience, including Nollywood actor Akah Nnani – though he seemed not to have read the invite’s dress code:
IMAGE SOURCE,BBC/DAMILOLA ODUOLOWUNeither did the recently crowned winner of Nigeria Idol, Progress Chukwuyem (below right), who won the talent show on Sunday night with a rendition of Ariana Grande’s Bang Bang:
IMAGE SOURCE,MHOROTTI STUDIOSBut Elozonam, who became prominent in his career as a reality TV star on Big Brother Naija, nailed his look:
IMAGE SOURCE,BBC/DAMILOLA ODUOLOWUAs did Nigerian singer Darey, who incorporated some stitched bling into his outfit:
As if to nod to African time, the gig started three hours late, but that did not diminish from the entertainment.
Hollywood star Idris Elba introduced some acts virtually from London, with musicians D’banj and Busiswa hosting live on stage:
IMAGE SOURCE,BBC/DAMILOLA ODUOLOWU
IMAGE SOURCE,BBC/DAMILOLA ODUOLOWUIt is the third concert of its kind to mark Africa Day.
IMAGE SOURCE,BBC/DAMILOLA ODUOLOWUThe event seeks to unite Africans, Africans in the diaspora and people from all over the world in a celebration of the continent and its talent.
IMAGE SOURCE,MHOROTTI STUDIOSAfrica Day commemorates the foundation in 1963 of the Organisation of African Unity, the forerunner to the African Union. The pan-African body originated in the decolonisation struggles of the early 1960s.
IMAGE SOURCE,BBC/DAMILOLA ODUOLOWUThe Lagos venue in Victoria Island also had artists from South Africa, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zucha (seen below) from Tanzania:
IMAGE SOURCE,BBC/DAMILOLA ODUOLOWUThe concert ended with Nigerian superstar Davido, who gave an electrifying performance:
IMAGE SOURCE,BBC/DAMILOLA ODUOLOWUTo the delight of those gathered:
IMAGE SOURCE,BBC/DAMILOLA ODUOLOWU