Why Hilife Fest Is The Most Beautiful Celebration Of Igbo Culture In Recent Times

The HiLife Fest train comes to a final stop at Polo Amusement Park in Enugu state on June 2nd, 2018. The HiLife Fest 2018, which started about 3 months ago, an indigenous talent hunt and initiative of Life Continental Lager Beer, is responsible for championing the course of promoted and sustained the Igbo culture through highlife music. This year’s edition is themed “The Complete Experience” and features a rich blend of traditional instruments, cultural dance and vocal renditions.

The regional rounds saw highly publicized auditions that had hundreds of hopefuls vying for the coveted spots in the competition; followed by a rigorous selection process in 7 eastern cities. It climaxed at the cities with 6 upcoming highlife musicians and 5 dance groups slugging it out at the regional finals for a spot in the quarterfinals.

The quarter final stage of the competition returned to Aba with 7 cultural dance groups and 14 highlife musicians taking their best shots at the star prize. These contestants had been mentored by veteran highlife maestro, Bright Chimezie, music producer/actor, David Jones David, astute dance instructor, Dr Akas Nicholas and a celebrated drum virtuoso, Jude Agazie. The competition had thrilling performances from Flavour N’bania, Obiligbo Brothers, Tipsy kelvano and Chibest David, King of HiLife Fest 2017.

The grand finale will have 5 contestants from the music category and 4 cultural dance groups competing for the grand prize of two million naira. The first and second runners up will go home with five hundred thousand and four hundred thousand naira respectively. The grand finale will feature highlife music legends – Onyeka Onwenu and Bright Chimezie, while new school acts including – Phyno, Obiligbo brothers, Tipsy Kelvano amongst others would light up the stage with their contemporary traditional touch.