King Sunny Ade’s legendary status was again confirmed at his concert tagged Sunny On Sunday which held at the Temple Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Each of the performing acts mounted the huge stage with full compliments of their bands to churn out soulful melodies.
By the time the event went full swing, the hall was packed full as the event flow was masterfully marshalled by comedian Tee A and interspersed with generous doses of humour by the funny duo of Funke Akindele and Lolo Omotunde aka Lolo 1 of Wazobia FM.
To whet the appetite of the audience, the event opened with performances by fast-rising acts including Tyson Noir, Jeff, Moyeen and Niniola. Darey, Iyanya and Omawumi, took the momentum several notches higher with medleys of their popular tunes including Pray For Me, Kukere and Bottom Belle Medley, respectively.
King Sunny Ade pulled a surprise on Onyeka Onwenu as he joined her on stage to melt hearts with a seamless rendition of Wait For Me. Onyeka did not leave the stage without serenading the audience with tunes like Nyogogo and Ekwe.
The celebrant, King Sunny Ade, nodded and danced along as Darey, Tiwa Savage and Sir Shina Peters, SSP, sang his evergreen tunes. One of the highpoints of the night was when SSP dressed like a hip-hop star and bouncing with youthful energy took the audience down memory lane by dishing out some of his greatest classics.
Congolese sensation, Awilo Longomba with his exotic dancers sent the audience into revelry with his monster hit songs such as Gate Le Coin, Coupe Bibamba and Karolina.
Although he is 70 and aging gracefully, King Sunny Ade did not miss the chance to dazzle the audience with his famous footwork. When challenged to a dance duel by the Congolese sensation, Papa Youth as he is fondly called responded with equal gusto sending the audience into frenzy.
Bringing the gig to a climax, King Sunny Ade and his African Beats Band teased the audience with a medley of popular evergreen songs from his collection including Easy Motion Tourist, Merciful God and Aye N’reti among others. He then launched into praise chants of eminent personalities at the occasion. Toyosi Adegeye, the 13 year-old daughter of the veteran musician, capped the evening with a medley of Yoruba gospel songs.
The concert was beamed live on DsTV and GOTV to 278 million viewers within Nigeria and the rest of Africa.
The event attracted serving governors and ministers including Governor Ibikunle Amosu of Ogun State; Governor Ikpeazu Okezie of Abia State; Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture,; Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing; and Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Mines And Steel.
Some of the dignitaries at the occasion were Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Adewumni Ogunsanya, Herbert Wigwe, Tunde Folawiyo and Oba Saheed Elegushi.
Other celebrities at the occasion include Salawa Abeni, Kollington Ayinla, Peter Okoye, Waje, Lala Akindoju, Yaw, Toke Makinwa, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Mimi Onalaja, Niniola, Emma Nyra, Don Jazzy, Korede Bello, Tiwa Savage, Reekardo Banks and Dr. Sid.
