Encomium
-How the Friday, December 19, 2014 spectacle really happened
– how much was splashed on the 7-hour show
– interviews with celebrities on the blue carpet
What started in 2004 as one of the biggest and most-anticipated entertainment shows in Nigeria, has, after a decade, become an entertainment spectacle featuring the brightest stars Nigeria has to offer.
A-listers in music and comedy took their turns to thrill the capacity audience who filled the over 2,000-seater Convention centre, Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos venue of the 7-hour extravaganza; and each of them brought their A-game.
Hosts, Rhythm FM’s IK and ace comedian, Basketmouth went for rather hip looks on the night as they exquisitely handled the mic throughout the evening, at some point they even rapped to loud cheers from the audience…here’s how Rhythm Unplugged 2014 really went down…
TIMELINE: MINUTE-BY-MINUTE ACCOUNT OF THE 7-HOUR LONG
21:30 Show starts…Rhythm FM’s IK introduces the hosts of the night, himself and ace comedian, Basketmouth. He goes around people at their tables.
21:45 Basketmouth joins him on stage
21:54 Comedian, Bowjoint up for first performance
22:05 Under whelming performance by duo, Da Posh
22:55 Gospel singer, Nikki Laoye performs…
23:34 Chocolate City signee, Ruby Gyang, dressed in a beautiful all-black gown, sings hit Goodman.
23:44 Crooner, Endia performs, is joined by Yung L.
23:54 Throwback, Rhythm Unplugged ten years after. A walk down memory lane performances reminiscent of the ten years.
00:05 To a roar from the crowd, Ruggedman storms the stage with sexy dancers performing his hit Baraje.
00:10 At the mention of his name, Jazzman Olofin got the crowd off their feet. He didn’t disappoint, giving a roof-raising performance to his smash hit raise the roof.
00:15 Yahoozee crooner, Olu Maintain is next on stage. Another roof raising performance!
00:22 Okey Bakassi thrills…
00:35 Nigerian full breed, Cynthia Morgan performs…
00:43 P-Square set stage on fire…
One hit after another, the dynamic duo rolled back the years. The crowd kept standing all through their more than 30 minutes performance.
01:20 Badoo, Olamide turns up the place with his bangers, Awon goons mi and Turn Up. Just when the audience thought the ride was over, Phyno joined him on stage and together they shut the building down.
01:31 Phyno takes over…
01:45 With her powerful voice and a live band, Waje thrills with some beautiful tunes…
01:56 Hypeman, Special performance…
02:00 Domot singer, Runtown wows…is joined by Davido
02:04 Davido grabs the mic…his energy was infectious!
02:18 More live music with Sound Sultan…
02:29 Eerie music, reminiscent of wrestling great Undertaker, introduces StarBoy, Wizkid (who in a bid to create suspense takes ‘forever’ to come up on stage)…puts up an amazing Fela Kuti-esque performances.
02:53 The Mavins are next…first, Don Jazzy and Dr. Sid with Surulere. They are joined by budding stars – Di’Ja; Reekado Banks and ‘Doro mega superstar’, Korede Bello. Of course, they performed their hit, Dorobucci.
03:09 The genius, Julius Agwu up next…
03:18 The spontaneous comedian as Basktemouth introduced him, Buchi grabs the mic…
03:24 Looking good in an all-white ensemble, I Go Save dishes out hilarious jokes after another…
03:28 In his usual Warri, Delta state swag, I Go Dye performs…
03:40 Yemi Alade performs…Johnny leave me follow Cynthia, she sings.
03:55 Miss Ragga raga, Seyi Shay up on stage
04:02 Mr. Incredible (MI) thrills…despite the audience being evidently tired from all the gyration, MI raised the tempo and they couldn’t help jumping to their feet…
04:12 With Amin, the enterkraner Dammy Krane storm the stage
04:16 Closing the show is Skales with Shake Body!
HOW OVER N50 MILLION WAS SPLASHED ON THE SHOW
As is the case with A-list events expected to attract the creme-de la-creme, millions of naira was spent by the organizers to deliver a memorable show.
ENCOMIUM Weekly’s findings revealed that over a eye-watering N50 million was splashed on the extravaganza. Here’s how the money was spent…
SECURITY: K SQUARE
Leading security outfit, K Square charges a flat rate of N15,000 per guard. Our head count revealed that about 15 guards were on duty on the night at various entrances and points’ bringing the total amount potentially expended on security to around N225,000!
THE VENUE: EKO CONVENTION CENTRE
Lagos’ favourite place for class events, Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, hosted the 2014 Rhythm Unplugged. The Convention Centre, which seats at least 2,000 people (including round tables) played host to the spectacle and according to reliable information available to ENCOMIUM Weekly goes for a whooping N9 million! Discount, however, is given based on the specific details of the kind of event and whether or not there is long-standing relationship with the management.
THE PERFORMERS: ARTISTES AND COMEDIANS
Not less than 20 entertainers wowed on the night, each taking the audience on a jolly ride with their performance.
For the music makers, A-listers such as P-Square, Wizkid, Davido and the Mavins charge not less than N5 million, and could be as high as N10 million!
While the likes of Runtown, Yemi Alade, Skales, Olamide, Waje, Seyi Shay and Sound Sultan command lesser fees which range between N500,000 and N3 million – potentially bringing the total expended on musicians alone to a staggering N40 million!
Comedians are no pushovers when it comes to their pricing; aces, veterans and A-listers all took their turns cracking the ribs to no end. From Julius Agwu to Okey Bakassi, and I Go Dye, Buchi – all frontliners, they charge not less than N1 million and could as high as N3 million! Add this to the over N40 miillion splashed on musicians, it brings the total for the entertainment content to over N50 million!
‘It is a pleasure to see that the show is still going on after so long’ -OAP, IK OSAKIODUWA
Rhythm FM’s OAP, IK Osakioduwa, who alongside comedian Basketmouth gave an amazing performance as hosts on the night spoke to ENCOMIUM Weekly on how Rhythm Unplugged has maintained its place as the best show in the land….
This is the 10th edition! How does it feel after all this time?
It is a pleasure to see that the show is still going on after so long. We are happy that it survived all the years and the times.
What has kept it going strong for a decade?
The fact is it always has everybody, all the entertainers that you want to see. It is a summary of all the music that has been made in a year, that’s what Rhythm Unplugged is all about.
How was this year’s edition different from the nine others?
It was different because we had new music, we had throwback music. It was a fusion of entertainers both from the past and from the present.
The year is coming to an end. What has 2014 presented you?
Great opportunities, new levels, new doors. I appreciate that 2014 was good to me.
‘Rhythm Unplugged is not just a concert’ -Mr. Nigeria, EMMANUEL IKUBESE
Looking fab on the blue carpet, the first runner up at the Mr. World contest, Emmanuel Ikubese had this to say about the show….
What do you think about the show?
Rhythm Unplugged is not just a concert but a concert that encourages Nigerian music and Nigerian artistes. It brings life to Nigerian music.
What are you looking forward to tonight?
An amazing show. A great show. A show with lively music, great performances, comedy and fun.
Your look…
I’m wearing Tinnah Styling tonight, that’s by Toyin Lawani. I’m in my artiste mood tonight.
‘I think Rhythm Unplugged is the biggest concert in Africa’ –IGOSAVE
Otaghware Otas Onodjayeke, famously known by his stage name Igosave, was on the blue carpet. Here is what he said about the show…
How does it feel being out here?
It feels great. I feel really good.
What are you looking forward to tonight?
As usual, maximum fun. Rhythm Unplugged has come to stay and I think it is the biggest concert in Africa.
Which performance are you looking forward to the most?
I’m looking out for all the performances. I expect the best from everybody, different performances for different kind of feeling.
Take a guess of who you think the international act is
I don’t know really.
Tell us about your look…
The names of what I’m wearing? I no dey fit cram them. They are all from different people. The shoes, the pants, the suit – all from different people. Except you want make I lie.
The year is almost over. How has 2014 been for you?
It’s been a very great year. I give God all the glory.
‘I feel excited’ -DJ SOSE
Rhythm FM’s DJ Sose, the tattooed one, was apparently not in the mood to talk, but he did chip in a word or two….
What are you looking forward to tonight?
For me, entertainment and fun.
What do you love about Rhythm Unplugged?
Everything!
How does it feel being here tonight?
Oh, I feel excited. I’m not just here as a guest, I just finished performing actually. I performed tonight and it was my very first time and it was a fantastic time.
What do you love about being here tonight?
Today happens to be my birthday! December 19, so I’m spending part of my birthday here. The stage is fantastic, the sound is amazing; of course, the crowd is wow! I had a great time doing a medley of three of my songs.
Oh! I look forward to the performances. It’s also an opportunity to network and see friends you’ve not seen for a while. Everybody has kind of come home for Christmas. It is a time of hanging out with friends and colleagues.
That sounded like a lot you did in the year. How were you able to juggle all these with your home?
I won’t lie to you, it’s been a lot of work. Beyond being a singer, I’m also a humanitarian. I mentor and counsel people with disabilities. So, it’s a lot of work for me. At the same time, I’m married and I have to handle my home. But luckily for me, my partner is on my management team, so we get to go to a lot of places together. It’s just been God who has been helping me.
