April 25, (THEWILL) – The AY Live Show, an annual entertainment event hosted by Ayodeji Makun, otherwise known as AY, took place between Sunday April 17 and Monday April 18. Ivory Ukonu brings you the highlights of the 15th edition of the event, aptly tagged ‘The Greatness Edition.’
A crowded show
Ayo Makun’s shows are usually sold out and this year’s edition was not different. The turnout was massive. This is because the event is always thought-out and properly packaged. The guests got good value for their money, no doubt. It is for the same reason that they keep getting attracted to the show each year.
Shortage of seats
A few guests who bought VIP tickets arrived at the venue of the show only to be told that there were no vacant seats left. Some of them had to choose between paying a token of N2,000 to secure seats right inside the hall or standing on their feet while the event lasted.
Off to a late start
The show started at about 9pm instead of 7pm, which was two hours behind schedule. It was deliberately delayed till the arrival of guests who had purchased the premium table VVIP tickets for N5 million. Even after the show kicked off in earnest, most of these guests arrived much later.
Eko Hotel and poor service
The more than 6,000 capacity Expo Centre Hall at the Eko Hotel, which costs N21 million for a day’s show, was as hot as an oven. The hotel apparently did not fix the air-conditioning units in the hall. It got so bad that even the VIP, VVIP guests resorted to fanning themselves with brochures placed on their tables. At some point during the show, those who purchased regular tickets had to voice out their discomfort. But of course, there was nothing the host could do about the situation except threaten to sue the hotel management. Whether he meant to carry out his threat or he was simply clowning remains to be seen.
The naira and dollar rain
There was a torrential rain of naira and dollar during the show. Some of the guest artistes went home richer than they were before they climbed the stage to entertain the audience at the event. Onitsha based standup comedian, Ogbuefi, went home with more than N2 million naira in both currencies from some VVIP guests. Another person who got richer that night was Habeeb Okikiola, otherwise known as Portable, who kept eulogising Emeka Okonkwo, otherwise known as E-Money, during his performance. The host, Ayo Makun, was not left out. He however had to ‘threaten’ E-Money for outshining him at his own show. He was eventually appreciated with N200,000, which he shared with his younger colleague, William Uchemba.
E-Money, the biggest spender of the night
Although other VVIP guests like Francis Nwaogwugu Mune, the boss of Vintage Interiors; Chief Mmerigwo Henry Iyke, CEO Merimerid International Limited, etc, all doled out money to the above mentioned acts, E-Money was however the biggest spender of the night. The 40-year-old businessman came prepared with bundles of naira notes, which he gave to his bodyguards for safekeeping.
Bodun and Tolulope Onalaja partied hard
The founders of RevolutionPlus, the real estate firm that was in the eye of the storm a few months ago for failing to allocate plots of lands to customers, years after they made payment, were at the show to let their hair down. After doing the needful, the business couple has since put the past behind. The couple was one of the major sponsors of this particular AY Live Show.
Obi Cubana’s absence
Obinna Iyiegbu, otherwise known as Obi Cubana, was expected at the show. Unfortunately he couldn’t make it as he had to attend to his own business. He took the opportunity of American rapper, Rick Ross’s presence in Nigeria to host him at his Abuja Hustle and Bustle club. He was one of the major sponsors of the show via his newly launched Odogwu Bitters, which was generously distributed to VVIP guests.
Ageless Modupe Haastrup
Except for her grey hair which she styled nicely, many must have mistaken the former lover of retired Supreme Court Justice, Adesola Oguntade, for a younger woman. The grandmother who looked very stylish in her all-black ensemble didn’t look anything like someone who was kicked out of the home she shared with the former United Kingdom High Commissioner. Modupe looked as though she had closed that unfortunate chapter and moved on with her life. She arrived at the venue of the show in company with celebrity designer, Bunmi Olatunji and her daughters.
Regular segments of AY Live missing
Fans of AY Live Show have come to associate the event with certain segments of it. There is usually a live drama performance where the comedian and a handful of celebrities re-enact events affecting the country. Unfortunately, this was missing at the latest show. Also, lucky attendees get an opportunity to win prizes through raffle draws or by randomly picking registered phone numbers. In the past, attendees won plots of land, high end phones, smart televisions etc. However this segment didn’t feature at this year’s event.
That Edris Abdulkareem performance
After the host got introduced on stage, he began with a speech appreciating everybody present at the show and immediately launched into jokes from his repertoire. Sighting rapper Eedris Abdulkareem, who wore a face mask, he launched a verbal attack on him, asking if he wanted to choke himself to death even after the Federal Government had relaxed COVID-19 rules. Edris stood up from his seat and charged towards AY while muttering expletives at him. There was momentary silence as everyone thought he wanted to do a ‘Will Smith’ on AY. He tried to grab the microphone from AY, who refused to let go and wondered why Edris would want to harass him in his own show. Eventually, he let go of the microphone and walked off the stage. At this point, Eedris suddenly changed course and started singing his hit single ‘Nigeria jaga haga,’ assisted by the disc jockey. But this time, he switched the chorus to ‘Buhari Jaga Jaga’ and got everyone singing along. Going by his antecedents, not a few heaved a sigh of relief that his ‘altercation’ with AY did not degenerate into a fisticuff.
Between Acapella and a VIP guest
Comedian, Benneth Daniel, aka Acapella’s great performance was almost marred by a guest’s indiscretion. While making a joke about Jesus Christ having only 12 disciples (followers) and Bobrisky having over 4 million followers, a VVIP guest threw something at him on stage, telling him to stop joking about Jesus Christ. Acapella tongue-lashed him so much that the guest had to apologise and left his seat. The comedian didn’t allow this to dampen his performance, which turned out to be quite thrilling.
The return of P-Square
Although they now have individual stage names – Peter Okoye (Mr P) and Paul Okoye (Rude boy) – which they adopted during the period they were both separated, they will forever be known to their fans as P-Square. The singing twins got a standing ovation even before they were announced on stage. And they took the audience down memory lane with their hit singles. The 42-year-old twins apologised for the pain they caused their fans and Nigeria at large with their breakup and attributed their reunion to the grace of God.
Davido, a child of grace
That David Adeleke, otherwise known as Davido, is a child of grace is simply stating the obvious. Most of the guests didn’t mind waiting till 4am to watch him perform from his repertoire of songs. As soon as he left the stage, some of them and street urchins besieged his 2021 black Rolls Royce Cullinan, which cost almost N240 million, in expectation of a giveaway from him.
Performances
In addition to Davido, Portable, P-Square and Edris Abdulkareem, Goya Ameno and Winner of the Big Brother Naija shine ya eye edition, Hazel Onu aka Whitemoney performed at the show. Others were country music artiste, Ogak Jay Oke, the Saxophone gang, etc. Over 15 standup comedians performed at the show.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
