CITYPEOPLE ENTERTAINMENT CELEBRATES INSPIRO/NAIJAZZ BOSS, AYOOLA SADARE

THE BOSS-AYOOLA SADARE

Citypeople Entertainment recently celebrated Inspiro productions CEO and NAIJAZZ (Nigerian Jazz Project) Founder Ayoola Sadare in recognition of his contribution in the Jazz, Entertainment and Arts/Culture sector. The event tagged ‘An Exclusive Evening with Ayoola Sadare and His friends' was an eclectic time of live Jazz, Spoken Word, Comedy, Art and more at one of the Nation’s  rave culture hotspots Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos.

The event turned out to be a mini Jazz festival held Alfresco as the rains were held back. The stage was  professionally designed, set up and well lit with crystal clear well mixed sound from ace sound engineer Sesan Kazeem (Pangolo). A sizeable number of people came to celebrate with the man fondly referred to as ‘Shaddie Bobo’ by all. They filled the entire venue designated for the event and spread into the courtyard. The guests roll call included The Consul General of South Africa Ambassador Monaisa and his wife, staff of the SA High commission in Lagos, Accomplished musician T-Mac, Yinka Davies, Keziah Jones, Joey Ducane, Stella Monye, Tintin of igrooveradio, Jahman Anikulapo, Makin Soyinka,Toni kan, Deji Toye, Victor Ehikhamenor, Toyin Akinosho, Femi Odugbemi and his wife, Bimbo Nzeh of Mona Matthews, Chief Kole Adeniyi-Williams, Messrs Taslim & Bankole Animashaun, Femi & Yewande Abimbola, Schullz of Classic FM, Cordelia of Metro FM, Nseobong of Thisday Glitterati, Sam Ukpong and wife, Dr Ola Balogun, Tosin Ajirire, Tony Ogaga, Seye Fadahunsi, Ayo Olumoko, Muyiwa Majekodunmi, Theo Lawson, Iyabo Aboaba, Mr. Ola Fajemisin of NTA, Sadare’s family which included his brothers and sister, lots of his friends, colleagues and associates from way back and a host of others.

Soul R&B Singer, EBISAN

OBA

The outdoor ambience of the venue helped enhance what the evening was designed to achieve, a showcase of some of the leading and emerging Jazz musicians, poets, writers and culture practitioners. On parade were performances from Deni, Irawo the female Talking Drummer, Nesta, Smooth Jazz guitarist Femi Leye, OBA, Ayodele the lyrical poet, Afro Jazz pianist Dapo Dina, Ace trumpeter/percussionist Victor Ademofe, Imole Afrika and Nigeria’s No 1 bassist/Director of the SPAN academy of Jazz and contemporary music Bright Gain amongst others.

Seye Kehinde (publisher Citypeople Media Group) and South Africa Consul General Ambassador Monaisa

In his address the convener of the event and publisher of Citypeople Media group Seye Kehinde gave reasons why CITYPEOPLE chose to organise the event and celebrate Sadare. He said “I have known Ayoola Sadare (Shaddie Bobo) for years and been able to observe his activities. Always mobile, enthusiastic and trying to connect people and make things happen.  He is truly a man of many parts constantly making friends with people and has succeeded in making friends and acquaintances in music, media, arts & culture, entertainment, business and life generally. His passion and identity remains Jazz and Jazz related music, a genre of music which he is successfully promoting and making popular through his companies Inspiro productions and NAIJAZZ – The Nigerian Jazz Project. He is also strongly connected with other African countries starting with South Africa pursuing the Tale Of Two African Cities project – Nigeria South Africa week. NAIJAZZ is his baby which he is tireless working to promote. A project with an objective of returning and restoring Nigerian music to its glorious position. Promoting authentic and indigenous Nigerian music and musicians for global relevance in a classic and contemporary format. A worthy cause which is set to bring honor to this great country Nigeria which we call home. We at Citypeople are bound to support such a vision because of its legacy value. Sadare believes Nigerian music can be more prominent on the global stage positively and we also believe and urge him on in this quest”. Seye Kehinde also thanked all who honored the invitation to the event.

Veteran Musician T-Mac and son

In his response Sadare thanked Citypeople and all who came, citing that the celebration was a platform to recognize all who have one way or the other contributed to helping  him on the journey to fulfilling his dreams saying that no man is an island, no man can succeed alone, no man can afford to stand alone. He also gave reasons for pursuing the NAIJAZZ dream saying “I believe that for long we have pursued other forms of music to the detriment of developing our own kind of music. rich, diversified and instructive. NAIJAZZ music is refining and restoring Nigerian music to its glorious position. There was a golden era of Nigerian music and the diversity was our strength. Beautiful music was being made all over the country from Lagos to Lokoja, Kankia to Okrika. Other countries have musical ambassadors to the world playing music in their mother tongue refined, packaged and presented to the world. This has brought not only the musicians fame and recognition but their country’s image has been enhanced. You can’t beat others at their own game, bring on your own game.  We too can play our music and get global acclaim to the Glory of God and for our country Nigeria. This is the NAIJAZZ dream, this is what we are pursuing, this is what we will achieve in Jesus name. I believe one day in the near future, NAIJAZZ artistes will bring home the Grammy to honor Nigeria and Glorify God.’’

The event  was supported by  Freedom Park and its management, La Casera, Tasman, Musikal, Pomat Peters, Steady Pace Concepts, PDR media, Barollo, Effrakata, 1 Smooth Event, One Management, House Of Dreams, Q8 Consulting, Talents@gidi, Jazzhole, Efizzi, TomideSpeaking , Omo T prints, Nine Plus Afrika, Clickhouse, Pure links,  DJs Lami, Lati and  Ray Bee Brown, Celebrite, Sesan Pangolo, igrooveradio, Metro FM, ARTZERO, David Bebiem and various print/broadcast media houses.