The 3rd Annual Thisday Africa Rising Festival kicked off on July 11, 2008 in Abuja, Nigeria with performances by Jay-Z, Rihanna and Usher. The annual festival seeks to raise awareness of African issues. Using the theme ‘Africa Rising’ the intention is to put emphasis on “sustainable solutions” instead of “problems” which Africa faces.

Following the overwhelming success of the festival, now in its third year, Nigerian media mogul Nduka Obaigbena is taking his brain-child cross-continent with scheduled events in Abuja, July 11, Lagos, July 13, Washington DC, August 1, and London, October 14. The world-class festival is set to project positive images of Africa by showcasing the renaissance of Africa’s music, fashion and the arts.

Source: Nigeria: Thisday’s Third ‘Africa Rising’ Festival Goes Global

Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, came alive last night when music and fashion industry icons from across the world kicked off the THISDAY Music and Fashion Festival with their scintillating stage performance.
Abuja residents who had been waiting for the show for weeks started trooping to the Central Business District in Abuja where the THISDAY Dome is located for the concert as early six o’clock yesterday evening for what was billed as the greatest show ever to be staged in the city.

Rihanna showed Abuja residents what has kept her on top of the charts by reeling out hits after hits from her various albums. ‘Turn me On Boy’, ‘Shut Up and Drive’, two of her most popular hits had the crowd yelling for more.

Her rendition of Bob Marley’s classic, ‘Is This Love’, got the audience singing along with her enthusiastically and drowning out her performance. But the ecstatic response was like a drug for Rihanna who gave them the thrill of their lifetime.

Just when it seemed like she was retreating, Jay-Z joined her and spurred the crowd into leaving their seats. The duo fed the crowd with Rihanna’s biggest hit to date and obviously a crowd favourite, ‘Umbrella’, which stayed atop the US music charts for several weeks after its release last year.

Jay-Z, who was performing for the second time at the THISDAY Music and Fashion Festival, stayed on and proved why he has remained a favourite of music lovers  in Nigeria over the years.
He performed his hit single, ‘Show Me What You Got’, which showed that the Hip-hop/Rap music genre definitely has a huge fan base in Nigeria.
Perhaps missing his longtime heartthrob Beyonce, to whom he recently got married, he gave a one sided rendition of their duet, ‘Crazy in Love’.

After Jay-Z’s performance, the R&B/Pop crooner and ladies idol, Usher had the audience eating from the palm of his hand with his popular hits and incredible footwork as he danced on the stage tirelessly.  As he sang his new single hit from his latest album, ‘Love in the Club’, the audience went wild singing and dancing along to his performance.

Source: Africa Rises in Abuja: Jay-Z, Usher Rock FCT

Supermodels Naomi Campbell and Tyson Beckford attended the 3rd Annual Thisday Africa Rising Festival on July 11, 2008

Photos: 3rd Annual Thisday Africa Rising Festival 2008, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Usher