Lagos Agog for Big Music Fiesta

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Lagos Agog for Big Music Fiesta

The Punch
Sunday Ojeme
14 Mar 2008

After weeks of breathtaking preparations, the much awaited 2008 edition of the Hip Hop World Awards holds on Saturday at the Planet One Entertainment centre, Maryland, Lagos. The event, which is the third in its series, will be nudged higher than the two previous editions, according to the chief organiser and publisher of Hip Hop World magazine, Mr. Ayo Animashaun.

Popular hip-hop star, Tu face Idibia, talented songstress, Asa, yahooze crooner, Olu Maintain and London-based producer, Omololu, are top on the list of nominees. More than 15 awards are to be given out with leading musicians and comedians lined up for performance.

A statement on Wednesday said the awards would be spiced with razzmatazz, colour and glitz which have become the hallmarks of the ceremonies. In the last couple of months, the organsers have been working round the clock to make sure that every package for the event is successfully unfurled with every item given a top priority.

“From venue to decoration, stage design to live telecast, sound to light engineering, souvenirs to award plaque, performance to presentation, vital components and elements that will make the HHW award 2008 hold without any hitch are being put in place for Nigerians to witness another sizzling show,” the statement added.

The award was conceived to complement the objective of the Hip Hop magazine which is to promote and report contemporary music and artistes in Nigeria. “We decided to organise a music awards that will be a reference point in Nigeria and bring on the same value that has positioned the magazine as the number one in the country,” Animashaun said.

Among other things, the HHW awards is meant to showcase the potential of Nigerian music by encouraging the artistes to become international stars. It is also aimed at organising an annual music awards that will compete with world standards and to provide a befitting platform through which the country can expose her vibrant music to the rest world. It is also to encourage Nigerian artistes by rewarding excellence in music.

To add steam to tomorrow’s show, the glamour, panache and finesse to be displayed on the Yellow Carpet by the stars attending the awards will be aired live on the Africa Independent Television and Silverbird Television as produced by HIP Television.

The Yellow Carpet event will be playing host to dazzling and eye-popping fashion and styles that will be adorned by Nigeria’s music stars and celebrities. From the bizarre to the iridescent, celebrities will try, like in time past, to out-do one another on the Yellow Carpet.

Style consultants and some of Nigeria’s best designers like Frank Osodi, MAI, Monami, Mutayz, Deola Sagoe, Tiffany Amber, Mudi, Tesslo Concept etc. are also expected to dish out the best in design and tailoring. Latest trends in male fashion and accessories will be showcased by Nigeria’s leading fashion icons. Expected to lead the pack are D’Banj PSquare, Weird MC, Kenny Ogungbe, D1, Elajoe, Ashionye, Zeal, Niyola.

All guests are to drive straight to SkyPower, GRA, Ikeja, from where they will be accredited and later conveyed in posh vehicles to the venue of the awards. The organisers also promised that security operatives and traffic officers from the police and Lagos State Transport Management Authority will be deployed to ensure the event is hitch-free while protocol officers will also be on hand to offer assistance to guests in this regard.

As part of the reward, the winner in the Next Rated category of the awards will drive home a Hyundai Sonata saloon car.

Nominees in the category include Wande Coal, Cyrus Da Virus, M.I, Banky W and GT Guitarman. Given to the most promising up-coming officially unreleased artiste in the year under review, the Next Rated category will be a battle as all the nominees are clear favourites for the crown.

“This is the first time a car will be added as prize at any music award ceremony in Nigeria. Rapper, O.D won the Jaiye Aboderin-endorsed category at the 2007 edition of the awards with a cash prize of N100,000 while the songbird, Asa, won the category at the maiden edition in 2006,” Animashaun said.

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