Entertainment
FirstBank Connects Fans, Promotes Culture with Sponsorship of Davido’s Timeless Concert
Nigeria’s premier banking giant, FirstBank, has once again, threw its weight behind one of Nigeria’s biggest music export, David Adeleke, better known as Davido as it sponsored the much-anticipated Timeless concert by the pop star. The event was an electrifying music showpiece that further reiterated the lofty height and growth that has defined the Nigerian Music industry in recent years, and FirstBank’s first position in connecting fans, promoting culture and boosting the music industry.
The Timeless Concert in Lagos was the climax to the treble of concerts to complement the 31 March 2023 launch of his fourth studio album, ‘Timeless’. Before the Lagos concert, Davido performed at the Irvine Plaza in New York on 2 April 2023 and in London on 5 April 2023.
The 17-track project album has topped several charts, breaking and setting several records. Big amongst these was the recognition of the Timeless album as the first African album to hit Number 1, topping the US iTunes Albums Chart which is credited to be the world’s biggest music market.
Davido the Timeless Concert in Lagos was indeed more than music, as it unified individuals from all works of lives, irrespective of tradition, culture, economic strata and nationalities. Fans and music lovers trooped to the venue, the historical Tafawa Balewa Square, from far and wide to show their love and support for Davido, have fun, relax, connect and reunite.
A show without a well-constructed stage is a no show as staging promotes the interaction and connection between the artistes and fans.
The Timeless stage, the biggest in West Africa and second biggest in Africa, was groundbreaking in both design and aesthetics.
The beauty of the stage was reminiscent of the words of Canadian international bestseller, Yann Marte: “Nature can put on a thrilling show. The stage is vast, the lighting is dramatic, the extras are innumerable, and the budget for special effects is unlimited”.
These words simply depicted the nature, class and details applied to the construction of the Timeless stage as its exquisiteness was conspicuous during the day well ahead of the fall into the night when the concert took centre stage at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre.
The hosts of the night, celebrity skit makers and comedians, KieKie and Mr Macaroni added spice to the event, as they thrilled fans to a more than music experience, whetting their appetite for the grand performance of the evening; who else but Davido.
Timeless Concert was lit with a sensational performance by several leading artistes including, Asake, Mayorkun, Skiibii, Iyanya, B-Red, Pheelz, Fave, Spyro, Iyanya, Khaid.
Other artistes that added spark to the night include Peruzzi, The Cavemen, Majeeed, Odumodublvck, Starboy Terri and May D, amongst many others.
Expectedly, Davido’s entrance received a never-ending ovation as fans could not hold back their excitement of seeing him perform yet again. The Nigerian music legend and globally acclaimed music sensation’s well over two-hour electrifying performance on stage had his fans spellbound on several classical hits from previous albums and those from his most recent album, Timeless.
The hits performed from his previous and most recent albums included, Skelewu, Dami Duro, Gobe, Aye, Unavailable, Over Dem All and Feel.
Davido also performed Electricity, a duet with Pheelz, a smash hit in 2022.
A déjà vu of some sort to Davido fans, as FirstBank was the headline sponsor of Davido 30 billion concert in 2017.
Also, as part of its yearly DecemberIssaVybe fiesta and supported events in 2021, the Bank sponsored ‘A Decade of Davido’ Concert, organised to celebrate 10 years of achievement of the Nigerian American pop singer and global music sensation. Fast forward to the Timeless concert in 2023, the Bank’s yearly DecemberIssavybe fiesta, no doubt came pretty early much as it is a long road to December from this month, April.
The bank’s dedication to going beyond functional products and benefits for its stakeholders and providing these types of enabling experiences sets it apart in the industry and solidifies its position as a leader in not just directly supporting the arts and entertainment industry but economically impacting its value chain.
Anyone not following the Bank is surely on a long thing but hey, it is never too late as there are still many exciting moments the Bank creates on its social media ecosystem via @firstbanknigeria (Instagram); @FirstBankngr (Twitter) and First Bank of Nigeria Limited (Facebook).
FirstBank’s support of Davido’s Timeless Concert is undoubtedly a curtain raiser as the bar has been raised for another back-to-back hit for the financial giant to create more memorable experience for its customers and social media followers in 2023 as the year fast edges into DecemberIssavybe due to hold in some 9 months’ time.
Nigerian music sensation, Innocent Idibia aka 2Baba, has dismissed earlier claims that his Instagram account was hacked.
In a video shared on his Instagram story on Sunday night, 2Baba confirmed that a controversial post on his social media page regarding his separation from his wife, Annie Idibia, was indeed made by him.
The earlier Instagram post announced the end of his 13-year marriage to Annie.
The post read: “Hello to my beautiful people of all federations. Well, this thing I have to say is short but also long…I and Annie Macaulay have been separated for a while now, and currently filed for divorce.
“I would grant a press release soon to say my story. Not because it is anyone’s right to know about my personal life but because I love my people and I need them to know my innocence or offense. Stay blessed my people. I love you all.”
Shortly after, another post appeared on the same account, claiming that the page had been compromised.
It read: “My Instagram account has been hacked, efforts are being carried out to take back control. #onelove!”
In a surprising turn of events, 2Baba later released a video clarifying the situation.
He disclosed that his account had not been hacked, contrary to the previous statement, and implied that the initial post about his separation was authentic.
Entertainment
EFCC Has Most Corrupt, Wicked People in Nigeria, Bobrisky Lashes Out at Anti-graft Agency
Nigerian controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky, has taken to his social media account to lash out at officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The self-exiled transvestite, while reacting to EFCC’s plea to be kind and show sympathy for an official who was shot during a raid in Anambra State, alleged that the anti-graft agency has the most corrupt and wicked people in Nigeria.
Bobrisky, who criticised the EFCC for its hypocrisy, said he does not like reading about the anti-graft agency and feels like throwing up each time he does.
“I just don’t like reading anything about EFCC online, cus I feel like I want to throw up each time I read about them.
“You are asking the public to be human about the loss of one of your staff but you are the most wicked people in Nigeria,” Bob wrote on his official Instagram page.
He also recalled how his home was ransacked and he was manhandled by officials of the EFCC when he was accused of money laundering and naira mutilation.
“When I was in your custody, you took me to my house and searched my house.
‘‘When I asked you guys why, you claimed I’m into money laundering, you want to check if I’m not printing money in my house, Police are better than you all one million times…” Bobriksy added.
Nollywood actor, Saidi Balogun has reunited with his estranged wife, Faithia Williams at the graduation ceremony of their son, Khalid Ayomide Balogun.
The couple, both Nollywood actors, who called it quits with their marriage a few years ago, had cause to come together, to celebrate their son’s achievement as he graduates from the University of Lagos with a first-class honours.
Trending videos and photos captured the couple in jolly mood posing for photographs and exchanging pleasantries with well wishers and friends.
Saidi and Faithia had a bitter separation, which prompted Saidi to caution his ex-wife to desist from using his name, Balogun.
