Ruby Gyang and company go live in Lagos

Usually, she said afterwards, artists are invited to sing “two or three songs” but as this was her show, she would be singing “a lot of songs”.

Already her first two songs on the evening had demonstrated a fact long acknowledged by anyone aware of her music: that Ruby Gyang possesses one of the best pairs of lungs owned by a contemporary Nigerian musician.  

She introduced Jessica Ikwue. The big-haired daughter of celebrated 1980s musician Bongos Ikwue possesses a rather remarkably husky voice and kicked off her set with Adele’s version of 'Make You Feel My Love'. Hers was more rock than Adele’s.

"The next couple of songs are from my album," she said before launching into songs with sounds heavily influenced by the west, at one point incorporating a few lines from Corinne Bailey Rae.

Soon after it was the turn of Dija, who sang a number of songs including her hit 'Awww'.

A theme was emerging: the songs and artists at this edition of O’Live seemed to exist on a continuum of western influence. The excellent backing band on the night was adept at playing music along this continuum. 

Dija dropped the microphone and was briefly enveloped in a hug by Gyang. In the audience sat Aramide, who duly received a shout out from Ruby before it was the turn of Lindsey Abudei to perform. Lindsey Abudei is “the only person whose voice I wish" I could trade mine for, said Gyang. 

This high praise was duly proven as deserved by Abudei who went on to deliver a performance so good, her vocals sounded even purer on her 2017 debut album And the Bass Is Queen. She transformed Asa’s ‘Jailer’ into something celebratory at the end, as though the song’s narrator was glad knowing that doom awaits her jailer and herself.

After Abudei’s exit came Nonso Bassey. His first song ‘411’ was a ballad in 1980s style, all earnest declarations and uber-demonstrative gestures. He moved on to the present with a medley of Frank Ocean’s ‘Thinking About You’, Beyoncé’s ‘Drunk in Love’ and Drake's ‘Hotline Bling’. His own songs followed, each as good as the last, as was a few songs performed with Jessica Ikwue. His sole unsatisfactory moment came when he attempted ‘Purple Rain’. Prince's low growl eluded him and the required earnestness for the song was of a different vibe than Bassey could supply.

To close the show, Ruby performed MI Abaga's ‘One Naira’ and her own ‘Shakara’, the former featured the rapper himself. And as the man rapped his verses, Gyang banged a tambourine on a thigh. Both have known each other since their pre-fame days in Jos.

"This song is about love, about friendship," said Abaga.

The evening too could be said to be about the friendship between the performing artists, all of whom seemed happy to be in a space with one another sharing microphones, bands, and a commitment to singing good music live.