Guardian

WHEN Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), promised Nigerians that the COSON Song Awards will be the best in recent times, he actually knew what he was talking about. Aside a few hitches, last Saturday’s show is arguably one of the best in recent times. It was grand, full of allure, spectacles and what showbiz should be. With the presence of an array of music greats, Nollywood stars and other stakeholders in the entertainment industry, it witnessed a return of razzmatazz that the music industry was once associated with.

Beyond the superb organization, the setting at the Oriental Hotel venue was grand.

Most outstanding is the magical motor vehicles that brought the awards presenters on stage. It was a night that set a new bar for the organization of entertainment events in Nigeria. To crown it all were the artistes that got guests dancing all night as they were at their best.  Chief Okoroji captured it thus: “From the themed red carpet ‘fantastico’ to the show itself, it was pure magic. Many marvelled at the huge theatre of the COSON Song Awards, knowing that they had been part of genius and history.  No one left the event without saying ‘wow!’ that was a promise fulfilled.”

Sunny Neji had set the tune thrilling the distinguished audience with a medley of his hit songs, Mr. Fantastic and Oruka. It wasn’t much of a surprise that Oruka was among the ten award-winners  of the night.

The endless spectacle continued when 2Face came on stage, guests threw caution to the winds as they danced on before making way for his newly wedded wife, Annie and D-One to present the next awards.  2face performed ‘If Love is a Crime’ and ‘Implication’ before topping his day with the evergreen song, ‘African Queen’, which carted home one of the awards of the night.

Iyanya, who just returned from a very successful tour of USA and Canada was irresistibly his usual self. He was hot and a master of the stage giving new energy to songs like ‘Kukere’, ‘Sexy Mama’, ‘Flavour’ and ‘Your Waist’ and many more.

The event also saw the resurrection of the rainmaker Majek Fashek as his performance revealed that whatever challenges he may have had in recent times, he remains one of the most enigmatic performers in the history of Nigerian music. When the natural entertainer went on stage, all hell broke loose s guests could not help gyrating to the evergreen mystical song, ‘Send Down the Rain’. It was expectedly one of the award-winning songs, just as the heavens responded when it began to rain outside the auditorium. “The mystique of Majek Fashek still lives”, enthused a die-hard fan.

Another artiste that made the night unforgettable was beautiful Seyi Shay who dazzled in her cute costume and choreography. Phyno and Solid Star also had  superlative performances on a night that everything went right.

The first spectacle that hit guests was the opulence and sheer splendour of the red carpet

fantastico themed in crème silk where stars mingled and sipped cocktails with flashlights exploding from the paparazzi. At about 9pm, the guests were ushered into the huge events arena by the beautiful hostesses selected after several weeks of contests of beauty and brains conducted by a celebrity cast comprising  Ruggedman, Queen Ure, Kween Onakala and Aisha Joy.

Segun Obe, came on stage and took the audience through a sonorous rendition of Nigeria’s national anthem to signal the start of the historic event. Then the curtains opened to reveal the insignia of the COSON Song Awards that rose majestically on the stage crafted by Italian trained Pat Nebo. On the huge screen, a golden bird appeared, searching in the deep forest of creativity.

When the bird found what it was looking for, it took off on a historic journey, flying and meandering through the streets of Lagos and the major landmarks of the city, dodging the vehicles in traffic until it found its way into Victoria Island and then flew into Oriental Hotel. Awoko finally perched on a metal gong, the musical instrument common to the peoples of Nigeria. The nightingale had arrived!

For starters, Awoko was sculpted as the distinct plaque of the COSON Song Awards by a young Yaba College of Technology graduate, Dare Adenuga. The choice of Awoko, we reliably gathered, was deliberate because it is a lead singing bird celebrated in many songs of Yoruba songwriters. It is reputed to have out-of this-world lyrics and singing talent. In Yoruba mythology, when Awoko shows up, every other bird bows. Awoko video animation was carefully executed over a month of creative effort by Ademola Tajudeen.

On the stage as host was courteous Frank Edoho, the very popular host of TV quiz programme, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? His entry gave way to the giant screen that began the story of Nigerian social culture from the 60s woven delicately into the music of the times unfolded with nostalgia.

That was before the ten most memorable songs of the 60s were played back and the presenters, Segun Arinze and FRCN’s Cordelia Okpei dramatically appeared from the bowels of the stage in a 1960 Chevrolet Impala to present the Song of the 60s award won by Victor Uwaifo’s ‘Joromi’. It was simply amazing and a repeat of Chief Okoroji’s dramatic arrival on the stage of the National Theatre from the roof, decades ago.

Actor Kalu Ikeagwu and fast-rising singer, Seyi Shay who presented the award of the Song of the 70s won by Prince Nico Mbarga’s Sweet Mother arrived in style in a Citroen D Super.

At the star-studded event were Sir Victor Uwaifo, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, Mike Okri (PMAN Ist Vice President) and Pa Chris Ajilo. Also in attendance were Orlando Julius, Sir Shina Peters, Bright Chimezie, Dizzy K. Falola, Flavour, Righteous Man, Bracket and Zakky Adze, among many others.

From the Nollywood community were stars like Fred Amata, Segun Arinze, Patrick and Iretiola Doyle Jennifer Eliogu, Fidelis Duker, Kalu Ikeagwu, Beautiful Nubia, Annie Macaulay Idibia, newlywed Femi Brainard and media personality, Prince Bisi Olatilo among several others.