Entertainment
Bole Festival Pulls Large Crowd – As Fun Seekers Defy Bad Weather
There is no doubt that the entertainment industry in Port Harcourt is growing by leaps and bounds with innovative and creative ideas by the shakers and movers of the industry.
This came alive as Port Harcourt fun seekers defied the rain in their number and trooped into the main arena of Peace Park on Aba Road near the Airforce Base to participate in the Bole Festival, late afternoon penultimate Friday and Saturday.
The festival however, turned into carnival as the both side lines of that part of Aba Road witnessed gridlock. Fun lovers adorned different fashionable clothes like don green (jean upon jean), black T-shirt and black chino jean trouser and other assorted fashionable clothes which added more colour, pomp and pageantry to the festival.
Port Harcourt residents, especially those who took part in the festival would not forget so soon that the huge success achieved by the management team and the organisers of this event, as though there was no cash crunch in the nation’s economy, has proved that the entertainment industry in the state is rich and robust, waiting to be explored and tapped by both indigenous and foreign tourists.
Little wonder, despite the bad weather and the presence of fierce looking bouncers and other private security men at the main entrance into the Peace Park, the gate fee of two thousand Naira (N2,000,00) and the small pieces of bole in a foil plate which was sold at two thousand Naira (N2,000.00) participants did not mind as they queued up and paid in their number.
There were other festive lovers who could not find their way into the Peace Park proper, due to the large crowd, but brought their bole from volunteers in the main bowl of the peace park behind the wire cage on the counter.
Speaking to The Tide, the volunteers who preferred anonymity said they had to assist the organisers and the management of the bole festival was ensure that every fun seeker is treated as an important personality which was responsible for huge patronage. They also revealed that there were some patronisers in the festival, who did not have money on them, but availed themselves of the POS services rendered by the volunteers.
In the large crowd, The Tide spoke with a member of the management team, Mr Divine Agulu, who declined to grant interview, but promised to get in touch with the head of the media team of the event but did not return back whilst The Tide waited endlessly in the rain accompanied by cold breeze.
In another development, there were important lessons to learn from the bole festival, it has created employment amongst the teeming youths in the state, as they voluntarily elected to work as volunteers and to be paid handsomely for their services by the management of the festival.
Again, the bole festival has proved beyond any reasonable doubt that if the right atmosphere, innovation and creativity are put in place, the entertainment industry in the state has a lot to offer in the areas of employment, comic relief, fight against boredom which are elements of healthy living. In consideration of the huge crowd that was attracted by the bole festival, fun seekers in the city would be willing to pay any amount of money just to catch fun.
However, the two-day bole festival which shook Port Harcourt has come and gone, but the memory would continue to linger in the hearts of both the crowd who participated in the festival, the management and the organisers for a long time.
By: Okwein Parker/Newlife Sunday
Popular businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, aka Cubana Chief Priest, has said that his relationship with singer Davido is beyond money and gossip.
He stated this in a recent interview with BBC Igbo.
“Davido is my friend. He is my in-law; he married Chioma who is from Imo State where I hail from.
“So the relationship I have with Davido is beyond money and gossip,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that Chief Priest disclosed via his Instagram page that his outfit for the wedding of the singer, Davido and his wife, Chioma, in Lagos on Tuesday cost seven million Naira.
The socialite recently appreciated Davido for not “discarding” Chioma.
He stated that the DMW boss has made Imo State proud by choosing to marry from the state.
Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has lent her voice to the ongoing anti-tax hike protests in Kenya.
The Tide’s source reports that Kenyan youths are marching against tax hike in widespread demonstrations tagged ‘RejectFinanceBill2024.’
Five people were shot dead and dozens wounded after police clashed with protesters who stormed the parliament building in Nairobi on Tuesday, according to Amnesty Kenya.
Reacting via her X handle on Tuesday night, Simi declared her support for the demonstrators.
She stated that “it is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights.”
The singer wrote, “I stand with the people of Kenya. It is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights. Godspeed and Strength. [Hash tag] RejectFinanceBill2024.”
In a series of other posts, she wrote: “Wow. When you’ve had enough, the fight is almost inevitable.
“African leaders- have not you done enough?
“I can’t wait for the day Africa is not a weapon fashioned against Africans. All of this amazing Black power and human resource, but the majority are not likely to thrive unless they run.”
Famous Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Davido was spotted among other top artistes at Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour concert in Atlanta, Georgia.
Asake’s performance at his sold-out show at the 17,000-capacity State Farm Arena in Atlanta began on August 16, 2024, and is set to run for 10 days.
In a trending video on social media, Davido appeared backstage with American rapper Quavo to support Asake during the live performance.
Other musicians in attendance included Nigerian hitmaker Zlatan and American rapper Russ Millions.
The Tide’s source reports that Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour is set to cover six U.S. cities, where he will headline notable venues including Madison Square Garden in New York, the Toyota Center in Houston, and the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Asake’s tour comes just days after the release of his latest hit, ‘Lungu Boy,’ which features several superstars, including Wizkid, British rappers Central Cee and Stormzy, Travis Scott and Brazilian singer Ludmilla.
‘Lungu Boy’ set a new record for the biggest opening week on Spotify Nigeria, garnering 18.9 million streams in its opening week and breaking the previous record of 14.4 million streams held by Davido’s ‘Timeless.’
