"ONCE UPON A TIME IN AWKA" by Augustus Bill

Let's go back in time to when Awka had a nightlife even without the street lights, and our Sunday activities as Zikites didn't just end at Garuba Square and Garden of Grace; when Fayrouz Chillout was our Madison Square Garden and Whyte View was our Royal Albert Hall. The days of Gaga and Lounge 24, the good wet days when GMX and Sureboys organized Club parties that rocked our stay here at Unizik.

Let's take it back to SlimShady's Laff & Jamzz, to those days when "K'opuo" was the most polite way of asking an artiste off the stage after a terrible performance. The days when Prince Neche was still Prince of Comedy, Yanbaba was still I Go Yan, Ipublicise Africa was still Olosho360, and Emeka Solomon was still SchoolBoy.

Those days when Slimshady wasn't confused about his career, and was just still a dancer; when DJ Jerry held down Fayrouz every Sunday night with those good sounds. Those Good old days when GMX was an entertainment powerhouse and not a renamed construction company. And KK's Campus Amebo still sold for N30.

Upon a time in Awka when Bishop Graphics had no competition and Chris NX was the only one holding it for Cinematography with DJ Bennieman as the costliest A list DJ in the city. Then Denning's Sheesom Photography and AZ Kells were our Movable Apple Studioltd. When we still had the rights to Boo Kiss Daniel off the stage even with his already trending Woju.

A time ago in Awka when Muruako was still a Model and not an OAP with a confused career path; when Davidson was just a Banky W lookalike model. Those grey days when Oby Okeke's Nautimes, Ezenwa Obiora's USN, and Buka C's Unizik Facebook page were our major sources of legit campus news, and Franklin Onwubiko was still a campus reporter for SUN and Nation Newspapers. When Social media was still a virgin and we used Buses with loud speakers for our viral publicity.

4 years ago, 11:59PM, would be too early to hit the house on a Sunday Night, as the sounds from the other side of Fayrouz Chillout was enough to keep the groove on into the morning. The Laff and Jamzz show packaged by Slimshady every Sunday at the open bar was the peak in the nightlife of Awka.

The show, which was usually headlined by the duo of Mc Gentle and Angel Gabriel was all you needed every Sunday night to keep the body and soul ready for the week ahead, as different artistes both good and bad, but mostly good took turns in entertaining a charged crowd that always sat or stood the entire hours the show lasted clapping and booing performances as they rolled by.

Laff & Jamz would be remembered for holding it down for the Awka Entertainment industry, it was the incubator and testing ground for most power houses we now have in the Industry. It was the first battle line of any Awka artist, your career could end or begin here. Maverick Hurt, the Beast, Thothee, and many others can testify.

No wonder it was considered a testing ground for Star Trek in 2013 when Nigga Raw headlined the show at Fayrouz. Slowdogg, Hype MC, Bosalin and others also held it down at Laff & Jamzz show every Sunday Night. It was one show that united every Awka artist, whether you were performing or not, you just wanted to be there to listen to good music, laugh and interact.

Too bad, unsettled disputes led to the termination of the show after it ran for over 3 years.

Bahamas Night, Spartacus Night, Wet Dreams and many other parties were the handwork of Chuky Ezenwa and his GMX crew, and they were the ones that laid a strong foundation for gender inequality in Awka with the ratio of their ticket fees. It was unfair to always have the guys pay for the girls, but who cared, as long as we had fun. Sureboys also came around with dripping wet parties that always brought lasting hangover.

There was just a lot to make one's stay on campus quite eventful, whether religious or social, but gradually things began to fade, and like an over boiled soup the city began to lose its sweet taste of entertainment. Pageants came into the system, betrayed the trust we had for event organizers and demolished our interests for most social events.

The support is slacking, but the hustle is still on. Thanks to the oldies and the newbies that have kept the lights burning. Chuky Ezenwa, Slimshady, Martin Beck, Prince Neche, YanBaba, Unku SP, Gpenzy, Mmiri, Will, Ygb, TheWilsonEjikeme, Oscar Whylle, Pella Iyke, Rhatti, DJ Feelinxs, DJ Vegas, DAZZLE, MEstery and many others holding it down.

The media houses that continue to register their immense support, Global Gist Communications, Gist Africah, Track Media, Colossus Gists, Oakland Gists, Ipublicise Africa, Jambaze, Mean Vibes, Campus Amebo, Muse Magazine, The Bug Magazine and others who have continued to build the reputation of the Industry.

The Creative hands that have given us the aesthetic touches, Final Touch Graphics, Johnny Montage, Fly Dragon, Mean Graphics, Iboboy Graphics, Kelvin Ogidika, Chime Pixel, Elpee Visuals, Austin Rain, Amy Udez, Lilian Khenzy, Sleek Studio, House of VOC, Maryann Nwankwo and many others that have continued to help maintain the beauty of the industry.

We are getting there.

#AugustusBill