Akon delivered the goods but not until 2 am yesterday and Brutal Jammers and Fusion entertainers tried desperately to calm the crowd which began calling for the star performer and pelting polar ice cans.
This was some minutes before 2 am yesterday, two hours after Akon was supposed to have begun his performance on stage. Some people at the show were well aware that the artist was not yet in Guyana and word is that he arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri on a chartered flight some time around 1 am yesterday.
In the meantime Brutal Jammers headed by Entertainers Ryan `Brains’ and Mark `Anaconda’ Batson, tried to keep the crowd entertained.
At any other occasion one might say they did a valiant job of keeping the ‘vibes’ flowing but not when a huge crowd was impatiently awaiting the arrival of a superstar. They definitely did not want to see two young men parading on stage covering songs of other artistes, even if they were going a great job.
So patrons started to do what they always do when a show does not go their way: bombard the stage – this time with the only available beverage container – the sponsor’s polar beer cans.
Under the barrage the mighty Fusion Disc Jockeys (DJ) took over in a brave attempt to calm the people. The crowd was then told that the Akon band had to make a changeover in equipment and the sound system proceeded to play some invigorating hits that were sure to keep the audience busy for a while – not for too long though as the crowd started to protest again. Once again they were assured that the star had arrived and that “we just making sure the lighting and suh alright fu de big man.” Realizing that drastic measures had to be taken to assuage the unruly crowd, footage of Akon and his DJ was shown – it was not taken at the Stadium – but the crowd did not seem to realize that. The mere fact that Akon seemed to be on Guyanese soil sent the crowd into a frenzy. DJ ‘Benny D’, Akon’s personal DJ finally did his introduction almost an hour after this footage was shown.
Life surged back into people as the energy from the stage seemingly spread through the crowd and people began to shout, scream and gyrate as the DJ’s first selection hit the air. Dressed in a kilt Benny D showed just why he is the Disc Jockey of an international star, putting the earlier peeved crowd in exactly the mood for Akon’s arrival. The star finally made it to the stage, to ear splitting screams singing ‘Shakedown.’ The artiste sung most of his hits moving from ‘We takin over’ to ‘Locked up’ and a host of others. He then proceeded to strip but stopped at his pants at the behest of Benny D. No one has to ask what the crowd’s reaction was to that performance; but it was when the artiste decided that he was going into the crowd that chaos erupted. Walking on outstretched hands he made his way to the stage that was set up for yesterday’s Carifesta closing ceremony in the field and nothing short of a mauling can describe what happened there. Several times the artiste disappeared from his precarious perch, pulled down by screaming women who frantically tried to touch him, almost taking his pants in the process.
Barely holding onto the microphone in his hands he appealed to no avail “do not pull me.” Finally fighting through a sea of bodies he made his way back to the stage, surprisingly to continue his performance. By this time though, sections of the crowd started to leave the stadium apparently tired from a weekend full of Carifesta activities and not up to seeing women jostle each other just for a touch of Akon.
What was also noted is Akon’s misconception that Guyana is an island which he kept repeating and his use of obscenities while talking onstage.
After Brutal Jammers, who opened the show, left the stage several locals came on. But most of them delivered performances that would keep the crowd’s attention for a few minutes, only to lose it. Screams, loud applause and hand waving (mostly from the wide body of young men) met the youth, Carlton Washington better known as ‘Gialiani’ when he arrived on stage, but most of his ‘American rapper’ sounding lyrics were drowned out at points by the audio.
A Sophia lad roused the crowd into gales of laughter with his rewrite of the lyrics to Baby Cham’s song: “We got the road now, but it nah do right; we got the DVD because we ah thief light,” and provided a light moment for the crowd.
Celeste David came on stage and as usual received a big welcome, but she left shortly after just performing about three songs and although the crowd rocked to her rhythms; one could not help but notice that the “Back it up” singer seemed to need a little backing up.
First Born’s appearance was first met with great enthusiasm, but the patrons must have had enough of them throughout Carifesta since boredom became evident at their prolonged performance on stage. The polar ice girls proceeded on stage but must have been really iced since they generated no heat in the crowd. People almost paid them no attention judging from the sparse applause at the end of their “dance.”
And while the Gospel concert was cut off by the police just after 1 am on Friday, this one was allowed to go way past this to accommodate Akon.
In comparison with the “Vegas” show and the Gospel Super concert the traffic congestion and crowds on the road on Saturday night could be considered tame.
