Jemiriye Adeniji, Naija voice spectacle in America
To many people, Nigeria is a country whose image had, intermittently, nosedived over the years, no thanks to the negative image given her by the Western media. It is also a country whose cardinal problem is leadership, according to famous writer, Professor Chinua Achebe. However, there are still some young Nigerians whose talents are also making the Africans in the Diaspora happy as AGOZINO AGOZINO discovered, while watching the performance of Jemiriye Adeniji, a young Nigerian, at the recent Black River African Dance in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Often, it is said that Nigeria is a country blessed with young talents, but, while many of them are not, usually, recognised back home, they get accepted and celebrated in their respective fields, whenever they are outside the shores of their home country.
Recently, at a one-day performance, entitled Spirit Voyage, held at the August Wilson Centre, Pittsburgh, USA, one of such young Nigerian talents, Jemiriye Adeniji, a singer, was a spectacle to behold during her performance.
The show, was organised by the Black River African Dance Conference in the large auditorium of Pittsburgh Foundation. It was a night of African music and captivating dance performances from countries, including Mali, Senegal, Guinea and Ivory Coast.
It was a day of African cultural brotherhood, and with Afrocentric musical renditions, drums of various sizes, the performers created sounds that drew a large audience to the theatre.
The poet sensation, Vanessa German, and a multidisciplinary art maker was the first to take the stage and, later, heralded Jemiriye’s entry, along with a large number of choristers to back her up. The Nigerian singer did not disappoint the audience. Her powerful vocal renditions expressed the beauty in African cultural heritage, as she dished out pulsating songs with her scintillating voice.
This sensational singer is already a household name in USA and had featured in the Take Me Out to the Ballgame, during the 2015 Jackie Robinson celebration in Philadelphia.
While the show lasted, the major question from some of the people in the audience was ‘where is she from?’, and those who had watched her performance in the past, readily, answered with pride, ‘she’s a Nigerian’.
With a highly commendable performance that night, it was glaring that Jemiriye, continually, works hard to manifest her calling with her captivating use of her vocal power to keep her audience glued to their seats, asking for more.
Hitherto, written off in Nigeria, she got to her turning point in the United States of America. Jemiriye, who is very proud of her cultural background, is always happy to be associated with promoting Africa’s rich cultural heritage, especially, her Yoruba culture and helping young talents.
According to her, “I am happy for what God has helped me to achieve today. I am very happy to say ‘Thank you, God’ because even those who always think I am fooling myself, are now surprised at what God is doing for me’’.
Since starting her musical career, Jemiriye, who is always adorning traditional outfits for her performances, had, since, collaborated with many groups in the United States of America, and with her colourful costumes, powerful vocal renditions to celebrate the rich African cultural heritage, she is an item with her audience anywhere, as attested to by Sylvester Omeje, a Pittsburgh resident, who said the singer is a blessing to the Nigerian community in the USA.
The graduate of Mass Communication from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos, Nigeria, was, actually, not recognised back home, but, her vocal prowess came to the fore when she got to the States and since then, she had performed in Italy, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, South Africa and many states in the United States of America.
The graduate of Mass Communication from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos, Nigeria, was, actually, not recognised back home, but, her vocal prowess came to the fore when she got to the States and since then, she had performed in Italy, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, South Africa and many states in the United States of America.
Her songs always celebrate Africa’s rich heritage, which informed her being addressed as a true African cultural ambassador and the Beauty of the Black Woman. “I am very happy that the society received me and my music with open arms”, Jemiriye added.
The event also featured Mama Kadiatou-Forte, the artistic director and founder of Balafon West African dance ensemble. The consummate teacher of dance and motivator believes that dance makes one stronger physically and mentally well in life. Hence, her group’s display at the event spiced up the night.
Also, Dr. Herbert Jones, Director and founder of the Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh, and one of the foremost figures in conducting songs did not disappoint as the large chorister brought their voices to bear.
Other highlights of the event included, song performances entitled Welcome to the House of Ancestors by the choral group, Dance of the Rapture, Dance of the Ancestors and Dance of Redemption.
