By Damilola Adeyera
Tonight’s experience is called: Dinner Under the Moonlight. The seats are filled with guests. Just in front of you, the sea bellows.
“Janlolo janlolo!” The voice of OJ of Atunda Entertainers rings out as other members of the band join in the singing, dancing and overall gyration of the night.
For this moment, the dance step is one, two. One foot after the other. Just as this is being done, the drummers beat their drums. The singer is pacing her notes, while the backup singers match her energy. “Gbeere fun gbeere!” The call and response continues.
The moon shines brightly up above in the sky. The misty breeze from the sea instantly washes away the sweat of the day, leaving you with a refreshing sensation. The ocean waves provide their own background music, complementing the sounds of the drums and traditional instruments.
“Eyo, o, Eyo, o!” Atunda Entertainers continue with their songs of jollification.
Since it is a dinner experience, guests may naturally become distracted by their meals, conversations and the beautiful scenery around them. Yet, the brilliance of Atunda Entertainers is displayed when they take their performance beyond the stage and bring it directly to the audience.
Nobody is left out. For both young or old, the music becomes an invitation, the dance becomes a language, and the guests become part of the entertainment. What began as an evening dinner has transformed into a celebration of African culture, rhythm and togetherness.
And then, you look around.
Some guests are enjoying their meals, others are clapping, while some have abandoned their seats to join the dance. There is laughter, excitement and an unmistakable sense of belonging. The Atlantic Ocean continues to roar in the background, almost as though nature itself has joined the celebration.
Who needs foreign music when you are at the home of authentic African entertainment, redefined?
Atunda lo gbede. Ekaabo!
Life is all about angles and perspectives, just like the lens of a photographer. From one angle, it is a dinner by the ocean. From another, it is a cultural experience.