Entertainment
How Carnivals, Street Parties Dominated Last Yuletide In Rivers
The entertainment industry witnessed an unprecedented boost in Rivers State last Yuletide as activities in the various aspects of the industry such as music, dance tourism and the hospitality outlets were at their peak. The season witnessed carnivals, beach and street parties, cultural displays beauty pageants and what have you?, while traders, operators of hospitality outlets and show biz personalities smiled to the banks.
The Rivers State Cultural Festival tagged CARNIRIV 2012 which coincided with the centenary celebration of Port Harcourt City opened the flood gate of activities that showcased the cultural heritage of the Rivers people and attracted both local and international personalities, tourists and big time investors who stormed the state to participate in the historic events.
Some of the events that brought the state to world recognition include the international aquatic fiesta and boat regatta that showcased the aquatic prowess of the state to the delight of the local and foreign spectators, cultural exhibitions, international heritage and Garden city free style heritage parades and Ekere Rhythm of the tribes that highlighted the rich and enviable cultural heritage of the Rivers people through music and dance.
Other events were dance of fireflies, highlife/old school Jams, Black African Music fiesta (BAMFEST) and Reggae 360. These events were dominated by music of various genres and featured seasoned local and international artistes such as Shaggy, Jamaican born Morgan Heritage, Raggae Idol, Ras Kimono, Oritz Whilliki as well as 2 Face, Tymaya, Port Harcourt first son, Duncan mighty, Peter Stone Cold, African China, Muma Gee and King Sunny Brown amongst others.
Within this period, the state also played host to Miss ECOWAS Beauty Pageant. These events were closely followed by beach parties in most of the local government areas of the state including Bonny, Buguma, Opopo, Ogu/Bolo Etc as well as street parties in almost all the major streets in Port Harcourt, while the villages were not left out in the celebrations.
In a chat with The Tide entertainment, a Port Harcourt based show biz personality and one of the organizers of most of the street parties in Port Harcourt, Prince Nicholas Duke noted that last year’s celebrations were exceptional in terms of fun, security and entertainment generally. According to him, last year’s carnivals and street parties were well organised hence there were no casualties or public disturbances like in previous ones.
Duke thanked the state government for the security arrangement and reiterated that the security personnel lived up to expectation. He said they should be encouraged because without adequate security, subsequent events may not succeed. He also advised that similar events should also be encouraged as they bring about love, unity and friendship amongst the people and serve as antidote to cultism and other social vices among the youths.
The Chief Executive of Dukesons Ventures said he was optimistic that 2013 would be better as people have embraced the new development and look forward to them. He said the awareness was encouraging and it would serve as a boost to the entertainment and tourism sectors of the state as well as generate more revenue for the state.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.
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