Nigerians and Non-Nigerians came out, all clad in glittering
green and proudly waving a Nigerian flag
, to represent Africa’s most populous nation at the official Naija corner at the popular Nottinghill carnival on Monday
August 27.
Gathered at the official Nigerian stand 'Naija Corner' on
Golbourne road W10, from noon until day-end, were iconic rapper M.I, comedians
Gbenga Adeyinka and Princess, Encomium publisher Kunle Bakare (who came with
his son), Nollywood's Sam Dede, Jaiye Opayemi, Grafton's Tonye Ibiama, Alariwo
of Africa, NET publisher Ayeni Adekunle, KJV, MTN's Kelvin Orifa, celebrated
filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, as well as executive producer Abisoye Fagade and his
Naija Corner partner 'Layinka Oyedeji.
With Africa's best DJ Jimmy JATT behind the music, and
Mayhem Crew and Papa Jones in charge of sound and PA, the Naija Corner was a
seven hour concert, with music and performances from almost everywhere in the
world. And the audience, made up of a mix of Nigerians, Jamaicans, Britons (one
British gentleman, pictured above, proudly wore a Nigerian emblem, T-shirt, and
had our flag with him all day), South Africans and Ghanians, happily danced to
the cocktail of hits from all four DJs drawn from Lagos and the UK. 'It's
definitely gotten better and bigger this year' says Fagade. 'You can see
everyone mixing, dancing to Wizkid, Davido and D'Banj; eating Nigerian food and
wearing green-white-green. This is the kind of cultural integration we hoped to
achieve with the Naija Corner when we started, and i'm beyond pleased to see it
happening today...'
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Other prominent guests at the Naija Corner included Dele
Okelowo of Digiprints, Akin Oyebode, Rickie Davies, Azuh Arinze (publisher of
YES! International), CORE media CEO Jide Adediran, THISDAY's Azuka Ogujiuba,
Ayo Animashaun of Smooth Promotions, set designer Bolaji Durojaiye, Funsho
Arogundade of TheNews, and Mr SOLEK (who gave a brief performance that left
guests asking for more). The Naija Corner, the official Nigerian Corner at the
Nottinghill Carnival, was organised by Sodium Brand Solutions and Reve
Entertainment, in conjuction with Mayhem Crew, BlackHouse Media Group,
Digiprints, Emblue Media, NET, CORE Media, Encomium Weekly, Hip TV and First
Class Incorporated. Other partners include Global News, News of The People, E
24-7, KISS, Nigezie, PlayCentre, Aquila oil and Gas,JATT Inc, LaffMattazz,
Alexia and other proudly Nigerian organisations.
'This is such a great thing that's happening. The music is
great, the fans are so real and spontaneous. I feel very happy to be here, and
for me as a artiste, this are the kind of platforms we're looking for, to
further push our art, and take Nigerian stuff to the world' surprise act M.I
told NET backstage. 'Once I got there for sound check and I heard the sound, I
knew were were in for a helluva time' iconic DJ Jimmy JATT told us. 'Naija
Corner had the second biggest sound at this year's Nottinghill Carnival, and I
feel proud that we were able to entertain this huge multi-cultiural crowd,
without a single dull moment'.
Last year, Naija Corner held at Adela Street, off Kensal
road (Harrow End), W10, London and featured thousands of participants from
Nigeria and the UK including Hit maker, Eldee, Iconic DJ Jimmy Jatt, super
compere, Tee A, 9ice and Banky W. This year, the carnival attracted over one
million revellers, the highest number ever. Now in its 48th year, the
Nottinghill Carnival is an annual event which takes place on the streets of
Notting Hill, Royal Borough of Kensington
& Chelsea, London. Regarded
as the second most popular carnival in the world, at least, 1 million
people from all over the world attend the ‘street party’ each year.
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