Lai Mohammed, Steve Ayorinde storm Lagos Glo Laffta Fest 

The increasing popularity of Globacom’s hilarious comedy concert, Glo Laffta Fest, as the go-to entertainment event, was underscored again last weekend, as the Victoria Island, Lagos, edition of the event pulled some A-list guests, including the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde.

Both Alhaji Mohammed and Mr. Ayorinde came with an entourage of friends, aides and some officials of the ministry who all had a great time soaking in the hilarious jokes, interacting with members of the audience and taking photographs. The Executive Chairman, Lagos Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Ayo Subair, and the Chief Revenue Optimisation Officer of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Mr. Ola Ayodeji, were also in attendance.

There were also Nollywood stars who added glamour to the event and delighted the audience further. Those who came were Funke Akindele, Richard Mofe-Damijo and Odunlade Adekola. Glo ambassador, Omawumi Megbele, also graced the event.

The show, which was held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, got underway quite early in the evening with audience-participation activities including a dancing competition held for male and female guests. The winners, who were picked by the audience, were presented Globacom branded gifts.

As has become the tradition, upcoming artistes had opportunity to share the big stage. They put up spectacular performances, which elicited great applauses from the crowd. Some of the upcoming comedians featured, include Kemex, MC Medical, Koye from Rock City and British Pastors.

They pleasantly surprised the audience by delivering very mature yet hilarious jokes that had the crowd laughing throughout their performances. It was a mix-bag of jokes as they made fun of the police, threw jibes at themselves, mocked Lagos residents, especially those in Lekki Peninsula, which was ravaged by flood recently.

Outstanding in their performance were the British Pastors who exchanged banters with the crowd and got them to take sides either with the Pastor or the Interpreter; who represented private schools versus public schools. The duo made the audience to sing hymns and songs that were popular in both school categories, which was great and excitement.

The established humour merchants thereafter took over and raised the entertainment decibels even higher. The eight comedians from Nigeria and Uganda kept the audience rocking with laughter into the late hours of the night. Princewill, Frank D Don, Bash d Cash, Arinze Baba, Dan D’Humorous, I go Dye, Gordons and Salvador from Uganda ensured the hall remained full until the last performance of the show.

Again, Arinze Baba used his ingenious style of music and comedy to great effect. The audience was hugely thrilled with his narration of how Igbo musicians had turned Senator Dino Melayé’s Yoruba song, “Ajekun iya ni o je” into Igbo highlife music, even without knowing the meaning of the song. There was more laughter when he performed the song in Igbo, with the DJ supplying the tune.

Uganda’s comedy king, Salvador, made Nigerian songs and movies the butt of his jokes, with RMD at the receiving end when he said that rich people liked giving their dogs nice Nigerian names “…like RMD.”  RMD who was in the audience enjoyed it all, as he laughed his heart out.

The next edition of the show will be held in Kubwa, near Abuja, on Sunday. Other cities that will host the show in the weeks ahead include, Makurdi, Ikeja, Ikorodu, FESTAC, Ajah, Suleja, Ibadan, Kano, Port Harcourt, Lokoja, and Anyigba.

To attend the Kubwa show, Glo subscribers are expected to use up to N2,000 credit within one month and text LOL with the location name to the short code 240; for example, “LOL Kubwa” to 240.