Plans have reached advanced stages for the first of its kind digital concert in Lagos State due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The entertainment industry has been one of the worst hit by the new coronavirus pandemic, due to the restriction on crowds and enforcement of physical distancing.
After about four months of inactivity in the sector, the Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture is experimenting with digital concert to try and breath life back into the entertainment sector.
Lasgidi FM’s UKPAI EZERA spoke with the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, UZAMAT AKINBILE-YUSUF, on the concept of digital concert.
She said: “the reason we are having this online party is just to tell the world that with Covid-19 we can still have our normal life. We know it’s not the best that we plan to have, but if this is the way God has created the environment we are in presently, we need to just adjust and continue our way of life with it.”
In line with the crowd restriction and social distancing guidelines, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, UZAMAT AKINBILE-YUSUF, said the venue from where the music of the digital concert would be played would not be revealed to the public.
“We are not coming to the venue. Nobody is allowed into the venue. So, we are not even going to tell the public where the venue will be.” The Commissioner explained.
Our entertainment correspondent AZUKA ONWUZOR also spoke with some Disc Jockey on the concept and potentials of a digital concert under the Covid-19 era.
D.J. YODEE, whose real name is FAPOHUNDA OLADIMEJI, said the digital concert is “…another dimension to reach to young, old and everything; but at the same, if you look at it, the world is now a global world that if you don’t have i-phone or internet, there is no way you can access it. ….at the same time, ill still go with the visual, because whether we like it or not, its not going to be in one place. You can see it all over the world.”
On his part; BENEDICT AFAGWU, whose stage name is D.J. HUMILITY, agreed that digital concert cannot be like the real concert, because “…It’s a party where you enjoy from the comfort of your phone. No be party where everybody dey together, you know, like the normal party wey everybody know about. You can’t compare it like the normal party.”
In another development; the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency has sealed Quilox Pool and Bar in Ajah for allegedly flouting the Covid-19 safety guidelines.
LASEPA General Manager DOLAPO FASAWE said the action was in line with the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017.
FASAWE added that operators of the facility failed to enforce the guidelines on the use of the face mask, social gathering, as well as the 10pm curfew.