2face Idibia, M.I Abaga bring down Lagos with best concert of their careers

This is what it is. A show designed to bring together two legendary and phenomenal stories. Legends in their rights, rulers of the African music space, and disruptors of systems. 2face Idibia is a legend of pop music, who in over 3 decades have had a strangling hold of pop music, with genre-defining classics, albums and collaborations that have rewritten Nigerian music as we know it.

M.I Abaga became a legend when he democratized Hip-hop, and brought the rap game closer to the masses. With three studio albums, one compilation album, and 3 Mixtapes, he has stood tall on the mic. Off the mic, he is currently tasked with leading a new generation of talent into superstardom from Chocolate City. A task that currently occupies his waking moments, he has already brought on Koker – aka ‘Mr Do Something’ – who is climbing up the ladder fast.

‘ organized by a team led by veteran showman, Helen Abutu, seeks to create a concert that will epitomize the works of Nigeria’s modern craftsmen put in in a time capsule, and preserved for generations to come. Carefully conceptualized, scripted and executed, the concert prides itself as being the biggest of 2016.

Andre Blaze had his footprints and voice all over the event. He swaggered on to the screen with a behind-the-scene clip on the show, and then walked on stage in dapper outfits, sprinkling mischief, and controlling proceedings. Opening acts streamed through going as quick as they appeared. Trish, 10-10, Zora, JT, TG, Brenda (The Voice Nigeria), CKay, Ruby Gyang, and Dice Ailes, where all on point. Before the show took a somber turn, as AceTunes made the crowd cry with a love song, and Mi2 took to the piano to pay tribute to 2face Idibia with a solemn composition. Yung L wrapped up the first set of performers, coming through with the acclaimed ‘SOS’ single.

2face Idibia has been busy this year working as a judge and coach on The Voice Nigeria. He did bond with members of his team, and so had to bring them on his special night. His entire team from the reality TV show were on hand, as they rendered a special rendition of 2face Idibia’s classic, ‘One Love’. That was followed by a short display by 3 Eyo Masquerades.

The 2face Foundation, then brought warmth to hearts as they gave the 2face Peace Awards. The award, in its third edition, saw Fatima Askira, founder and director of Borrow Omen Development among this year’s recipients.

Others are freelance journalist Jack Vincent Fidelis, NGO specialist UbimagoWilliams, photo journalist Fati Garangan, Priscilla Achakpa; who is a conflict resolution specialist, and Rachel Begonet. The six individuals have contributed immensely to the peace in the northern region of the country, as well as helped make lives of the internally displaced persons worthwhile.

And then the show started.

A show reel portrayed M.I as British spy James Bond and then with breathtaking choreography, acting, and showboating, he fired off Action Film, Who do this song, Undisputed Champion, Sexual Healing, Beef,

M.I got a lap dance, had women swarm all over him, and changed costumes, brought on Kelly Handsome to make mockery of a beef that had existed between the two. This was the vintage M.I Abaga; one who had over the years become less confrontational and pursued industry peace, while preaching messages of love and cohesion. He also did bring on Ruggedman, payed tribute to Eedris Abdulkareem, and Modenine. He switched between fun and emotion, thrilling the fans and connecting with their every mood. He brought on his family, starting with Djinee for ‘Safe’, then Ice Prince and Jesse Jagz for ‘Overkilling it (remix), before Jesse Jagz and Ice Prince both had their performances of ‘Wetin dey’ and ‘Oleku’, and then some more, with Nosa joining in for a rendition of brother.

Waje took the baton with some vocal acrobatics on ‘I wish’. She collaborated with M.I Abaga on ‘One Naira’, before he ran through his singles, and bowed out with the soundtrack to popular TV show, Game Of Thrones’. This was a display that had all that M.I had to offer, inclusive of his backstories and his celebrity. This was the best M.I performance ever, reeking of endless practice sessions and effort. He executed perfectly, every turn, dance, extra and collaborators falling in place.

There was an interlude for TV show ‘The Gist’, featuring Emma Ugolee, Osagie Alonge and AY Makun. 2face disrupted it, and together with M.I, ran through some of their collaborations. Sound Sultan joined in. Cobhams was on hand to throw in his quota, after driving into the venue. From then on it was emotional for 2face. He cried for the country, literally, and brought on Ruggedman to join in the tears, only this time, it was for the late OJB and Nomoreloss – two entertainers who died this year. Other performers who joined him include Vector, and Vanessa Mdee.