[GIST] MI, Omawumi celebrate Africa at ‘An Evening With Coca Cola’

African culture took centre stage at an
‘Evening with Coca-Cola’, a grand event that
reawakened the consciousness of hundreds
of Nigerian youths and rocked their world in
a sensational way. The event was the official
launch of ‘A Billion Reasons to Believe in
Africa’ Coca-Cola’s latest continental
campaign, which took place on Thursday
evening, September 6 at Habour Point,
Victoria Island, Lagos.
Thrilling the crowd was the amazing trio of
Iyanya, MI and Omawunmi, who were at
their best as they dished out hit after hit to
the joy of the teenagers, young adults,
celebrities in the arts, comedy, fashion and
music scene.
The event was anchored by witty
comedienne, Helen Paul and ‘Goge Africa’
host, Isaac Moses who projected a regal
pose through the evening. The DJ provided
a foretaste of the evening, which was
followed with performances by young poets
SageBlack, Elizabeth Ole and Nonnie. The
crowd was thrilled to a frenzy when a dance
drama depicted the evolution of Nigerian
music from the seventies till date.
Kukere Master, Iyanya, was the first to
perform and he got the crowd on its feet
with his hot single, ‘Kukere,’ before doing
the very popular ‘Your Waist.’ Iyanya said,
“I believe in the originality of Africans. God
loves us so much as can be seen from our
fantastic climate, free from natural disasters.
Though we have our own shortcomings, we
are blessed. Our hospitality is second to
none. I want youths at this event today to
aspire to be the best just like Coca-
Cola. Coca-Cola is one of the biggest brands
in the world and I’m telling youths to be like
Coca-Cola, and prove that they can
succeed.”
By the time MI got on stage, the entire room
was already electrified. He got the entire
arena to its feet with his rendition of ‘Action
Film’ and brought the house down with
‘Africa Number One.’ MI, speaking to
journalists, said he is an ideal candidate
that can inspire young people to believe in
the continent. “I landed in Lagos five years
ago with nothing more than a bus ticket and
the belief that I was going to be a success
story,” he said. “Today, I am celebrated and
respected everywhere I go. I have been to
many great places in the world and I am a
success story; I typify a reason to believe in
Africa.”
The sensational Omawunmi got everyone
dancing to her live performance of ‘If you
ask me’ and ‘Bottom-Belle.’
‘A Billion Reasons to Believe’ is an extension
of Coca-Cola’s global Open Happiness
campaign, which sees happiness in everyday
occurrences in our society. The campaign
seeks to celebrate and highlight all things
good about Africa, with the hope of raising a
new generation of Africans that are excited
about its future. The ‘Evening with Coca-
Cola’ was an expression of African poetry,
fashion, music and dance. Every guest had
the chance to sign the ‘Believe Wall’, stating
their reason to believe in Africa.
Olufemi Ashipa, Brand Manager, Colas,
Coca-Cola Manager, said the company’s
conviction in the unparalleled potentials
inherent in Africa’s youths. “The youths of
Africa have the manpower, the intellect and
resources to change the world,” he said.
“Nigeria is already taking the world by
storm with the great feats being
accomplished in the areas of technology,
fashion, business, music, literature etc. That
is what tonight’s event is all about;
celebrating the past with a forward view and
great hope for the future.”
Kenneth Archibong, a 200-level student of
Accounting at the Lagos State University,
said he was inspired by the Afrocentric
performances of the artists and the poets.
He said the fact that Coca-Cola gave him the
chance to meet and interact with his musical
idols was gratifying. “I had fun tonight and
the guys that performed were all on point,”
he said. “I enjoyed MI’s performance the
most and the poets were also very good. The
fashion show was also nice. I think Coca-Cola
pulled it off and, after seeing the whole
show, I’m going home with hope for a better
Nigeria and a better Africa.”
Another youth, Derin Oshineye, a student of
the University of Lagos, said she was excited
for Nigeria and believed the future would be
great. “Nigeria is blessed with good people,
who love to enjoy life and have fun,” the
Theatre Arts student said. “They are
hardworking and respectful. I believe all the
economic challenges are all designed to
make us better. Overall, tonight, Coca-Cola
made me proud to be African.”
Consumers can participate in the campaign
by sharing some of their reasons to believe
and personal stories of optimism, passion
and belief in Africa on the Coca-Cola Nigeria
Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/
cokenaija). Users of Twitter can also send a
tweet to @CocaCola_NG.
The evening was rounded off perfectly by a
fashion show by Touch of Magic, an award-
winning fashion house that works with
African fabrics.