Despite the hard times and biting fuel scarcity, which made movement almost impossible, the Ondo State government kept the spirit of the yearly Mare Festival alive at Idanre. The event featured a marathon race, mountain climbing competition, cultural, musical concerts and raffle draws. Many won prizes ranging from motorcycles to standing fans and table refridgerators, among others, Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports.
Call it an enchanting dose of musical renditions or an exhilarating musical performances you are right.
That was the atmosphere at the close of the Mare Festival 2015, a mountain-climbing sport cum cultural festival held at the Olofin Grammar School playground, Idanre in Ondo State penultimate weekend.
The scintillating performances by the trio of female drummer Ara, Paul Play Dairo and African Queen crooner, 2Fface Idibia, who were the star acts at the festival, held the community spell-bound for several hours.
After about seven hours of scintillating musical performances by talented young musicians as well as Ara, Dairo and 2Face, the crowd overran the stage at the close of the concert.
Dairo’s rendition of his classic number Mose orire o took Governor Mimiko, his wife and other guests to the dance floor praising God for His mercy and blessings.
Other musical acts and comedians that featured were Romario, LSK, DJ Slow, Sahel, Oyes, Innate Music, MC Timi, Melodite, Samba, Psalm 23, Salome, ODD, Ojoro, Iyalode and Southsouth Entertainment.
The concert got to its peak when 2Face mounted the stage. And when Governor Mimiko, who arrived the concert at 10 pm, was to give his remark around 2am, the surging crowd become uncontrollable. At a point, the crowd became restless and shouting, 2Face, 2Face, 2Face.
“We want 2Face,” rent the air that was laden with thick cloud of dust from the marching jubilant crowd. Their plea however got 2Face excited that he disregarded compere’s directive to put his performance on hold for the Governor to speak. This created a scene of some sort as 2Face couldn’t resist the crowd’s urge for more performances. The situation was later brought under control when 2Face was offered a plastic chair to relax on stage, after he had been persuaded by the governor that the performance would continue after he had delivered his speech. Time was past 2am.
As the crowd maintained some calmness, Governor Mimiko said his administration remains committed to making tourism drive the state’s economy, especially through medical and domestic tourism.
The concert, which marked the close of the festival was attended by Governor Mimiko and his wife, Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, Ondo State Commissioner for Special Duties, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Femi Adekanmbi, Nollywood celebrities led by Jibola Dabo, Yemi Blaq, Bimbo Oshin, among others.
2Face started his performance after an introduction by Ara and followed by the miming of Ebenezer Obey’s evergreen song, Baby mi jowo. That brief duet with Ara added extra flavour to the concert. His hit songs African Queen and Rainbow were next as he took the crowd into memory lane. Decked in a black bodysuit on a white T-shirt upon black pant, Tuface dazzled the crowd with his legendry displays. The jubilant crowd however overran the barricade manned by security officials, when 2Face performed his Let somebody loves you hit from his ascension album.
Earlier, winners who emerged from the marathon and raffle draws, held at the Idanre Mountain Resorts were presented with prizes.
Information Commissioner Mr. Kayode Akinmade disclosed that by next year, Ondo State representatives would compete in the mountain climbing competition noting that the seeds sown by Governor Mimiko in Idanre would blossom. He said the Golf Course in the state is ready and by February, it would host the Governor’s Golf tournament.
Commissioner for Special Duties, Culture and Tourism Mr. Femi Adekanmbi said his dream as the new helmsman in the ministry is to improve Mare from its present level and turn tourism into income generating sector, stressing that ‘we must not depend on oil.’
He said the sector would be private investors driven that will involve private partnership with stakeholders in the sector. “If it means reaching outside the state for investors, we will not hesitate to do so. Expect a new dawn. I am a goal getter and I will do that in the next one year and Mare will be taken to another level,” he said. Adekanmbi said the state would host its first Ondo Carnival next Easter.
