THISDAYonline

Thousand miles away from home I read in the papers that ace musician Adewale AYUBA was shot in the leg at the weekend by mobile policemen in Abeokuta last weekend. I immediately called home to get a better update and was informed that he had a successful show at the June 12 Cultural Center and was heading towards his hotel when four mobile policemen jumped on him and his band manager. Despite having his own police escort who should have intervened, his entourage was asked for a "settlement." The "settlement" was not enough and one of the policemen shot Adewale and one of his police escorts. Ayuba, who was bleeding profusely from the gunshot wound in his leg, was rushed to a hospital with the injured police escort.

I was informed that an operation to remove the bullet from Ayuba's leg was scheduled for today (last Monday). I am glad to hear that the Ogun State Police Commissioner, Mr. Udom Ekpodoum disclosed that the policemen concerned have been put under custody facing a police trial.

This incident really surprises me because during all my tours and concerts, the Nigerian Police extended every courtesy possible to me. Some of the States Commissioners of Police, after a personal courtesy call, would go out of their way to provide the needed security and the Policemen directed to assist, were always very helpful. But I guess there are always the bad eggs. I wish Adewale Ayuba all the best and a speedy recovery. "American Skin," a new Bruce Springsteen song inspired by the police shooting of Amadou Diallo, had inspired insults from the New York Police officials and a call for cops to boycott the Sprengsteen Madison Square Garden concerts. "I wasn't expecting it" Spreengsteen said, I think race is the central issue facing America in the new century and I wanted to write about it ."Spreengsteen performed the song each night of the 10-nigth Garden shows, most often to loud cheers from his loyal audience. He also met backstage with Diallo's parents. "Very, very gracious people," he said. Diallo died in a hail of 41 police bullets, a number that provides the song's haunting introduction. The song is one of the centerpieces of the new Jersey rocker's latest projects, the double CD: "Bruce Springsteen and the street band. "Live in New York City.

It seems there is a comeback for classical music worldwide. A glance today at Amazon.de (that's the German version of Amazon.com) reveals this astonishing top-10 list of best selling CD's in Europe. No.1) J. Lo (Jennifer Lopez) No. 2) Wagner's Ring (Wilhelm Furtwaengler) a classical CD. No.3) 1 (The Beatles) No.4) Viva Verdi (Claudio Abbado, Georg Solti) No.5) Beethoven String Quartets (Alban Berg Quartet) No 6) Beethoven Symphonie/Concerti (Otto KLEMPERER and Daniel Barenboim) No.7) No Angel (Dido) No.8) Richard Strauss: Orchestral Works (Rudolf Kempe) No.9) Sing When You're Winning (Robbie Williams and on No 10) Bach Organworks (Werner Jacob). Six out of the top-10 best-selling CDs were classical. At No. 2) we have a 14 CD set of Wilhelm Furtwaengler's historic performance of Wagnero's epic "Ring Cycle," some 15 hours of the most difficult-to-absorb music ever written by man. What could account for this apparent rediscovery of classical music? As it turns out most likely nothing other than an error by some low-paid clerical worker who evidently prices these mega-CD sets at the price of a single CD on sale. That's roughly $7.plus shipping. But news of the mistake spread worldwide at the speed of light (or speed of the Internet). It started innocently enough with a posting on "rec. music.classical. recordings" on of the thousands of Usenet newsgroup. Many of the regulars are self-proclaimed addicts who have CD collections numbering in the thousands, or even ten of thousands. Many own dozens of recording of the same piece of music. By now the Wagnero's Ring is available for about $90.- plus $ 15 for shipping and handling. Its current Amazon. de sales rank ins now 11,517. But classical lovers, take heart: Viva Verdi is still hanging in there at No. 4.

The Global Album Chart April 9th 2001 looked like this: 1) No Angel (Dido) 2) Reptile (Eric Clapton) 3) The Marshall Mathers LP (Eminem). I don't want to bore you with too much of hit parade detail so lets talk about Disc Jockeys mix it up with electronic grooves. They mix, they scratch. Some even sing. All of them steal! Yes they steal the music from where ever they can and remix it in their private studios or just in their bedrooms. Disc Jockeys are climbing out from behind their turntables to become bonafide Pop Stars.

I hope you will support Nigeria's show business and use this long extended week-end to see some Nigerian acts. There will be the usual concerts on Lekky beach; I'm sure some concerts at the Balewa Square and every club, including my favorite hangout, the Ocean View, will have something special for your Ester enjoyment. I am sad not to be back home for the holiday but I shall be performing in Thailand and try my best to get some rest too.