Showbiz Presonality Reminisces Old PH Night Life

Mrs Peace-Anyam Osigwe

Port Harcourt, the capital
city of oil rich Rivers State is widely acclaimed as the garden city of Nigeria, while the state remains the hub of oil and gas operations in the country as well as a tourist destination of choice, home of entertainment and legendary hospitality and occupies an enviable position as the treasure base of Nigeria.
This is probably some of the major factors that attract visitors from different parts of the world, Local and foreign investors, tourists and all classes of fun seekers to the state on regular basis, either for business, investments, sight seeing or to catch fun in the ever bubbling entertainment outlets that abound in the city.
In a recent interview with The Tide Entertainment, a seasoned showbiz personality and group clubs manager of Afrique Express Hotels Limited, Port Harcourt, operators of Afrique Executive nite club, Rumuekini, Afrique New Moon nite club Igwuruta, Afrique Niger Delta nite club Omoku and Afrique New World nite club Aba Road, Prince Victor Ifeanyi Mini recalled with nostalgia the night  life that existed in Port Harcourt in the 1970s and mid 80s.
He noted that from the 1970s and 80s the state played host to both local and foreign personalities most of whom are now residents of the state which they regard as their home away from home, enjoying the conducive business and social climate as well as the people’s legendary hospitality to strangers.
According to him, in those good old years, the city bubbled with nightlife, night clubbing and cinema culture were in vogue. He said this was the era when Nigerian economy was buoyant, cost of living very cheap and affordable. When one United States’ dollar was an equivalent of Nigeria’s 75 kobo, before the Babangidarism of the Nigerian economy in the mid 1980s.
He reinstated that during those years of economic bliss a young graduate of a secondary school had automatic employment in the civil service or companies. The young secondary school leaver earned about N90.00 per month as a civil servant, while staffers of banks and other reputable companies received between N100.00 and N120.00.
The showbiz impressario disclosed that undergraduates and graduates of universities were seen as demi gods by society, cultism, kidnapping and the present day societal ills were unheard of, and there was free movement. He stressed that during this period of peace, tranquility and plenty, nightlife was very sweet and peaceful, night clubs and cinemas dominated the city. There were posh and standard night clubs and cinemas that dotted the entertainment clan, where fun seekers went to enjoy themselves.
The Veteran club administrator revealed that the GRA axis, Creek Road, Agrey Road Harbour Road and Borikiri in the Old Port Harcourt township as well as Diobu and Ogbunabali axis were the happening areas in the city, young city crawlers and night clubbers bedecked in their best elements and outfits stormed the popular night clubs, cinemas and other entertainment outlets to catch undiluted fun every weekend.
Prince Mini disclosed that in those days, most of the fun seekers adorned their latest soul train dancers get ups, “boogie woogie” shoes, Italian and Spain made designer sole branded Terio cudio shoes, James Brown style shirts and Bongo trousers, tight fitted shirts, stelleto shoes and 3 layer boots, jerry curls and Afro head dos etc, stormed the night and other entertainment hang outs to enjoy a fun full nights.
He stressed that when you stepped into any of the clubs, you felt the ambience of the cosy environment, the exotic lightening system that gave you the feeling of paradise on earth. A bottle of chilled beer was sold for 50kobo, a bottle of champaign cost less than one naira, while the gate fee was about one naira or less. A charered taxi cab otherwise known as drop from the GRA/Presidential Hotel axis) to Old Port Harcourt township was less than one naira.
According to him, with only N30.00 in your pocket you could have a girl of your for the night choice with all expenses paid, choice drinks at your beck and call, you were regarded as a big spender and the envy of friends and foes. Your dress code also spoke volumes of your taste, class and personality. What you wore showed your class and with N15.00 you could achieve it.
He also disclosed that the popular music genres were high life, pop, juju, funk Afro beat and reggae among others. The reggae faithful were recognised by their dread locks and they used Indian hemp as sacrament for all Rastafarians. Other drugs commonly used were madrass, Chinese capsul, solution etc, while the music stars then were Micheal Jackson, Bobmarley, Peter Tosh, U-Roy, I-Roy, Dellinger Anikulapo Kuti etc.
Their music were the rave of the period, the songs contained meaningful lyrics, inspiring with clear messages that appealed to the youths who saw them as role models and were influenced by their life styles, dress pattern and ideologies of their chosen music idols. Night clubs were the magnet for the big boys and girls who thronged the clubs for disco/funk jump manned by different disco jockies (DJs).
He said the dance steps in those days were the John Travolta (Saturday night Fever) style, Funky bebop steps, George Clinton boosty, soul train, Collin and Ricky James styles, Micheal Jackson’s Electric shock dance etc. this era marked the groovy years of entertainment in Garden City.
He enumerated the popular night clubs which included: Lido (Aggrey Road), Salt and pepper (Aba Road), Orupolo (Borikiri) Copa Cobena (Aggrey Road), Aquarius (Aba Road),  Land of Cannaan (Town) Dreams (Aba Road), Blue Pellican, Uncle Sam (Aba Road), Chi-Chi (Aba Road) and Executive Club 67 (Creek Road) among others.
Apart from the night clubs Prince Mini also stated that among the popular cinema houses that held sway in the city were Empress (Okija Street), Presidon (Aba Road) Rivoli, Plaza and Central cinemas at the Old Port Harcourt Township. He said with one naira or 50 kobo you could watch your favourite Indian Chinese and Western movies that dominated the cinema viewing culture in the city.
The showbiz entrepreneur reiterated that night life was indeed sweet and groovy as the city bubbled with fun under a peaceful and friendly environment devoid of this present day social malaise, kidnapping, cultism and other social vices. He stressed that people enjoyed music as most of the songs promoted social values and morality unlike today that the so called music stars sing gibberish, promote drug, immorality and gangsterism in their songs.
He, however, noted that despite the present day economic hardship and security challenges, Port Harcourt still remains the city to beat in terms of entertainment, hospitality and tourist attractions. He stressed that night life in the city is still lively as new night clubs spring up almost on daily basis the cinema culture is also at its optimum level as silver bird cinemas and Genesis Deluxe cinemas keep the flag flying.
The operators of entertainment outlets still do brisk business with growing clientele, while the state government have taken positive steps to tackle the security challenges. So, the beat still goes on.