Monday, 31 December 2012 00:00

IT was a night of music, comedy at the Velet sponsored Veleta, Grand Touch Xmas  Carol with Nollywood stars held at Terra Kulture, Tiamyu Savage Street, Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday, December 20.

The well attended event had lots of Nollywood actors and actress in attendance. Among them include veteran producer Zeb Ejior (popularly called Shiekh), President of Grand Touch Productions, Mr. Chico Ejioro, Segun Arinze,  Charles Novia, Zik Zulu Okafor, Emem Isong, Sony Mc Don, Fred Amata, Paul Obazele, Lilan Bash, Saheed Balogun, Kate Henshaw, Bukky Wright, Zaki Azzay, Okey Bakassi, others are Head of Marketing, Intercontinental Distillers, Mr. Innocent Oboh, Brand Managers of Veleta fruit wine, Chioma Alonge among many others.

From the way the Nollywood stars were exchanging pleasantries it was evident that some of them have not seen each other for a long time.

Speaking on the sponsorship Alonge said Intercontinental Distillers decided to sponsor the event because of the brand uniqueness in associating with people. “Veleta, Nollywood Xmas Carol is about friends and networking; celebrating, relaxing after a long year of success and that is what Veleta represent.

The stars have worked round the clock all this years and it is a time to celebrate the success the industry has recorded over the years; celebrating live, special moments that is what Veleta is all about,” she said. “The Veleta brand is a nourishing fruit drink that can conveniently compete with the foreign brand, excellence quality from the home of Intercontinental Distillers, the home of quality. Veleta is our non-alcoholic fruit drink, it comes in three variants. We just want you to experience the drink at this time of Christmas celebration.”

The initiator of Veleta, Nollywood Xmas Carol Mr. Chico Ejiro of Grand Touch Production said  the event which is the maiden edition it put together for Nollywood stars to celebrate each other, and a way of having fun.

“Basically the show is to celebrate the season and to inspire the youths in the area of entertainment; we want people to know the value of Nollywood that it is not about fighting and stuffs like that, we are here to celebrate, and to prove that we can sing, and dance,” he said.

During the event, a minute of silent was held in honour of some Nollywood heroes comprising Enebeli l Enebuwa, who died at the age of 66 at a hospital in India after a protracted ailment. Others are Pete Eni, Geraldine Ekeocha among others who died in active service.

Hosted by Okey Bakassi, the actor and stand-up comedian who worked with the former governor of Imo State Ikedi Ohakim as the Senior Special Assistant on Entertainment Matters thrilled the audience with rib cracking jokes. His jokes made the guests reeling in laughter. As if that was not enough Lagos City Chorale led by Sir Emeka Nwokedi light up the entire hall with their presentation of several Xmas songs.

They rendered such songs as Joy to the World, Happy Birthday Jesus, 12 Days of Christmas,  Holy Night among others. Dressed in black and white attire the group brings fond memories of Christmas with their breathtaking performances. In the end the group got a standing ovation from the guests. There was also a special rendition of Heal the World originally done by the late king of pop Micheal Jackson, the piece was presented by a group of actress.

Up-an-coming stand-up comedians Ushe Mouth, and Elder O gave a good account of themselves as they dished out jokes that added colour to the event.