Ayefele storms London with 16 band boys on chartered flight

Updated: Friday 05-06-2009

Yinka Ayefele and the Merry Makers band
performing at the exclusive Mayfair Hotel in
Parklane, West End of London last week
during the 60th birthday celebration of
Mrs Arumeni Johnson.
Photos: David Ajiboye.One of the most popular musicians in Nigeria today, Yinka Ayefele, arrived the city of London last week aboard a chartered Arik Airline with all his 16-member band on a performance tour of the famous English capital.

The tour, the first leg of his summer tour this year, began with an outstanding performance at the 60th birthday of Mrs Arumeni, wife of the Chairman of Arik Airline.

Held at the exclusive Mayfair Hotel in Parklane, West End of London, the party, a surprise birthday organised by Chief Arumeni for his darling wife, proved to be the best party ever organised in recent time in London.
Ayefele stunned most of the invited guests when he arrived the venue of the party with all his band boys, a development which earned him a standing ovation.

Most Nigerian resident in London agreed that no Nigerian artiste has ever come to London with all their band members in the last 10 years.

The Merry Makers will conclude the first leg of their summer tour next week after a performance in Manchester.

Ayefele informed that he'll use the opportunity of the trip to shop for some studio equipment for his proposed Fresh FM station scheduled to begin operation before the year runs out.

It will be recalled that Ayefele toured about 40 states during his summer tour of United States of America last year and the tour is still being touted as the best by any visiting Nigerian artistes , in recent time.

The band is expected back in the country next week.

Durella in South Africa to shoot video

DurellaWinner of the MTV/Zain Advance Warning and self-styled ‘King of the Zanga’, Durella, has arrived in South Africa to shoot his latest music video courtesy of the global music.

The charismatic and energetic Nigerian hip hop/R&B artiste is in the rainbow nation to work with respected South African director, Morgan Dingle, well known for his stylish work for South African rockers, Cassette (‘Who Do You Trust’) and Prime Circle (“She Always Gets What She Wants”). They will be shooting scenes for ‘Life in the Zanga’, which plays on the contrast between Durella’s old life in the ‘Zanga’ or ‘hood’ where he grew up and his current lifestyle as a successful musician.

The music video for ‘Life in the Zanga’ is being shot on location in South Africa as part of Durella’s prize for winning the 2008 MTV & Zain Advance Warning contest on MTV Base, beating 26 up and coming Nigerian artistes including Kaha and Waje to be hailed as Nigeria’s most promising newcomer.

After being pronounced MTV base Advance Warning Artist in December 08, 2008 and taking home the five million Naira prize money, Durella’s career has gone from strength to strength, releasing his first album, Durella - King of the Zanga on TC-Records and receiving airplay for a host of successful singles including Wiskolo Wiska, Shayo and In the Zanga.

Combining raw energy with well-produced beats and irresistible hooks, Durella is seen at his lyrical best on the energetic but suggestive OJB-produced smash Wiskolo Wiska. Durella’s energy spills over to ‘In the Zanga’ and electrifies ID Cabasa’s basses and drums. ‘Shayo’ is an even more potent party starter than the beverage the song promotes so bashfully while the techno hit Enu O Se has been finding a home on dance floors across the continent and holding its own on MTV Base for the last two months.

The video for Life in the Zanga will premiere exclusively on MTV Base on Monday, 22 June 2009.