Nigeria - Having successfully organised the AY Live comedy since 2007, Ayo Richard Makun, a multi-talented, multiple award-winning standup comedians, and one of the most successful comic acts Nigeria has produced said his outfit, Corporate World Entertainment, was set to put up another mind blowing concert this year. Set for the world class 6,000 capacity venue of Eko Hotel and Suite, AY, as the comedian is widely known, said the show, initially billed for April 24, 2011, Easter Sunday, the comedian explained that the show now comes up Sunday May 1, a day set aside for the celebration of the Nigerian workers. The change in date, AY said, became necessary due to electoral activities that would take place in the month of April.

According to the organisers of the AY Live Comedy and music concert, the May 1 decision will enable all class of people, especially workers, to share in the fun and excitement at the 6,000-capacity venue of Eko Hotel and Suite since the following day after the show is also a public holiday.

Only last year, on October 6 and 10, the show went beyond the shores of Nigeria to the O2 Arena in London, and Birdcage, Manchester, with an overwhelming performance by AY, who also featured Gordons, Seyi Law, Gandoki, Elenu, Ushbebe, 9ice, and rapper, Ikechukwu.

The show has also succeeded in incorporating a very visible presence of Nollywood acts through the comic duo, Aki and Pawpaw, Genevieve Nnaji, Chidi Mokeme and Mike Ezuruonye in different comedy skits. This year's edition of the comedy show and also serves as a music concert has been tagged "Another Invasion."

According to the organisers, the show would be showcasing AY in his usual creative elements and equally features the best of Nigerian entertainers alongside some other notable international acts. Entertainers billed to grace in the show include I Go Dye, Gordons, Seyi Law, Elenu, Helen Paul, Ushbebe, Princess, D Don, Aki and Pawpaw, AY' Open Mic Winners, Yemi Sax, 9ice, MI, Banky W, Wiz Kid, Kas, YQ, Jesse Jagz, Ice Prince and Jimmy Jatt.

Also, international acts expected to be part of the show are names like Mohammed Jammal a.k.a White Nigerian from UK, DJ Jam Jam a.k.a Oyibo Swagger from UK, popular actor, Majid Michel and actress, Nadia Buari, from Ghana.

Among the media organisations that have given out their support for the concert are Africa Magic, Hitv, One Music, Silverbird group, Soundcity, Cool FM, Wazobia FM, Beat FM, Classic FM, Naija FM, Inspiration FM, Smooth FM, TV Continental, Galaxy TV, Media Crush, Mobile Screens and Sounds and a host of others.

As a comedian, AY attained stardom mimicking Rev. Chris Okotie in his hilarious jokes, and by 2006, when he began, was named the Best Up and Coming Comedian in Nigeria. In 2008 alone, AY carted home six different awards, from the Diamond Awards, Mode Men of the Year Awards, MBG Abuja Merit Awards, Arsenal Award for Excellence, Teens Favourite Awards as well as the National Daily Awards, and others.

Ovwe Medeme

Daily Independent/16/03/2011