Despite the ban on interstate travel and social distancing rules aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19, Naira Marley, 26, and Oprah took a private jet owned by Jetlyfe, en route Abuja and on arriving the federal capital performed at a concert held at the Plum Jabi Lake Mall, the ex-Big Brother Naija housemate, Kim Oprah, was the event anchor.
The concert planned to be a drive-through, became rowdy as the crowd gathered at the venue without any form of social distancing. Reports stated that the Fans came out of their vehicles and converged by the performing stage while they dance to the performance by Naira Marley
This is a second time around, the first being the Artiste indictment when he showed up at the party of the Akinedele’s in April 2020 during the COVID 19 lockdown. Although Akindele was arrested and indicted many of those who held various parties at the time, as well as those who organised the recent Oniru Coronation Parties, have not been chastised or held responsible for there misdemeanour. Perhaps the reason why the Artiste went ahead with the splash in Abuja
The concert was put together by Play Network Africa, Traffic Bar, El’Carnival, and was sponsored by Glenfiddich. Silverbird Entertainment Centre was the venue of the sold-out concert while Nairabox and Ariiya sold the tickets for N20,000 and N250,000.
In ZIMBABWE, Live shows are the primary source of income for most musicians in the current lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19 has left many without a regular income.
Such challenging times call for a change of approach to business, and most musicians have come up with alternative means to get income.
Live online shows are now standard on social media platforms, with singers seeking partnerships with corporates and also ensuring they keep in constant touch with their fans.
Musicians like Janet Manyowa, The Charambas, Alick Macheso, Freeman and Kinnah have featured in online shows.
Others embarking on online projects are Victor Kunonga, Aggabu Nyabinde, Tembalami and Ronald Mhundwa.
In an interview, Kunonga said the lockdown had given them time to interact with fans more than they usually do when they have busy schedules.
Before COVID 19, the world was at a stage that many scholars ascribed as a peak of digital media influence. However, with the Pandemic and social distancing, the use of various channels of digital technology became the norm: video conferencing took over typical daily business meetings of world leaders and the general public. Musicians and promoters are not left out as they seek a different outlet to connect with fans and the general public.
In seeking new models to make performing possible again, performing Artistes and Musicians have now upgraded to Online live streaming. In South Africa, the Urban Sessions, a series of live-streamed music concerts, now explores online performance to help musicians miscued by Covid-19 restrictions.
This innovation has gone viral with many alternatives from YouTube, Zoom media to Tick Tock platforms. These digital platforms have encouraged bonding despite social distancing laws, in England, USA and Italy. At the start of the lockdown in Italy, videos went viral on social media of neighbours singing with each other across their balconies. This trend also happened in Israel, Spain, Iraq, the US, France, Lebanon, India, Germany and other countries. And it wasn’t just balconies. People went to their rooftops, windows, and even online.
The Urban Sessions offer a series of life streamed ticketed music sessions, whose jazz offering is curated by Aymeric Peguillan (former host of both the Orbit Jazz Club and, before that, neighbourhood venue Peg’s Cosy Corner).
The platform is Militia Broadcast, whose founder-CEO since 2010, Eban Olivier, is an award-winning videographer and director, previously part of the founding teams of MTV Base and SkyroomLive.com. The two met through the Orbit’s second-anniversary festival, collaborated on the Mzansi Magic television series Downtown Jazz, and discovered shared production values.
