Biggest entertainment event flops of 2017

The Nigerian entertainment industry had a slow start as regards events at the beginning of 2017 but later picked up towards the tail end of the year. Saturday Beats reviews some of the biggest event flops and disappointments in 2017

Majek Fashek 30 years on stage and album lunch

In his heyday, veteran singer, Majek Fashek, was highly regarded by music lovers locally and internationally for to his musical prowess. In fact, some people believed in the power of his songs. For instance, ‘Send down the rain’ was considered to be so powerful that whenever he performed it on open fields, the heavens opened.

But that was in his glory days. Years down the line and the musical has-been has become a shadow of his former self. His concert, ‘Majek Fashek 30 years on stage and album lunch’, which was meant to celebrate the singer turned out to be a big flop and it would go down in the history as one of the most poorly attended shows in 2017, both by celebrities and fans.

Despite the fact that the show started late, the venue of the event was deserted, while the seats reserved for VIPs were virtually empty. The hall was so sparsely occupied that the organisers had to literally beg the few people in the regular section to occupy the tables meant for their VIP guests, which were close to the stage. While on stage the singer’s manager, Uzo, mentioned that he had to put his car up as collateral for the hall because they could not pay the full amount required to rent it. Sadly, the former rainmaker could not even make it drizzle on his concert.

COSON Song Awards 2017

Copyright Society of Nigeria is one of the bodies charged with getting royalties and other necessary dues for artistes in the country. So, one would have thought that the event would be a star-studded affair. Sadly, the event was more or less like a gathering of has-beens and wannabes.

Despite the fact that the event started late, most of the winners of the award were unavailable to receive their plaques.

The interior decoration for the event was poorly and shabbily done and the sitting arrangement at the venue could be likened to that of a seminar or church service. Although there were different tags for VIPs and regular guests, it was not duly followed and people sat down anywhere they liked. The show was so unappealing and Saturday Beats observed that no celeb from the new generation was present.

Best of Nollywood Awards

The first edition of the Best of Nollywood Awards held on December 6, 2009; that was eight years ago. But till date, the organisers of the award have not got their act together. After all, a child that was born about eight years ago should be preparing to round off their primary school education.

Compared to other Nollywood award ceremonies, BON Awards, which held in Ogun State, seemed like a joke.

When it comes to movie award ceremonies, celebrities show their impeccable style, especially on the red carpet and it was not different with BON Awards. However, the show was so poorly put together that Saturday Beats heard a notable Nollywood actress complaining that she wasted a good dress for the event.

One of the organisers actually confided in Saturday Beats that this year’s edition was poorly put together. There was a very low turnout of people and the hall looked so deserted that anyone could quickly do a headcount of those present.

The event started late and Saturday Beats gathered that as soon as the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun, got to the venue and realised that the event had yet to start, he left.

The biggest joke of the night came when the organisers announced that the ceremony was over and as the few people in attendance were making their way to the door, a voice on the microphone said, ‘Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, did you people notice that we skipped a category? Can we please be seated briefly?’ Some of the attendees laughed as they headed for the way out, while some others hissed furiously, out of irritation.

Lagos State Street Carnival

Most people who attended the Lagos State Street Carnival, which held at Oba Akran Road, would want to forget about it as quickly as possible.

The show, which was meant to hold between 12 pm and about 7 pm, started late; therefore, extending the 7 pm deadline. Saturday Beats learnt that when it was getting dark, the show began to get rowdy, especially for the ladies. Some hoodlums also used the opportunity to harass some ladies. While narrating her experience to Saturday Beats, a young lady said, “I was bored at home, so my friend and I decided to attend the carnival. We noticed that the place was very rowdy and men, who were smoking, used the situation to assault women. They pressed my buttocks and breasts and my friend also had the same experience. So, we had to leave.”

The state government had to use its initiative to stop the show before things went out of hands and this denied some fans the opportunity to see their favourite artistes perform on stage. One of such artistes was CDQ, who took to his Instagram page the next day to apologise to his fans.

He said in the caption of a picture he posted, “To all blessed fans. Absolutely sorry we couldn’t perform last night @ the Lagos street carnival due to the order from the Lagos State Governor to stop the show as the environment was becoming in-conducive to the public good (sic). I was actually on time as agreed by the agency and my management.”

source: Punch