It was obvious right from the gate of Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos that something intriguing was happening. And as one moved closer to the Expo Centre, the scene took a more interesting look. The event was the Girl Power Unleashed Concert featuring the crop of up and coming female artistes in Nigeria.

Usually, girls accompany guys to shows, but it was different last Friday at the concert because men paid no gate fees while the ladies parted with N1500. The show was packaged by Orangootan. In attendance were the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu; Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Abiola Bashorun and representatives of the sponsors, Jagal Pharma Richard Hargrave, makers of Tetmosol.

All the young ladies listed in the list of performers were on hand to give a good account of themselves. Blaise, from the Orangootan stable was the first to perform.

Blaise, who proudly calls herself the first lady of hip-hop and her rendition of The Definition went down well with the audience. Just back from making a bold appearance at the recently held Hip Hop World Award, Blaise blazed a trail that others in the game had a tough time catching up with. With bold and catchy lines and dance groove, delivered in half street, half uptown flavour, she proved that she could be one of the next best things that might happen to the contemporary Nigerian music.

Amaka was another act that made a daring appearance. Her track, Changes was as mesmerising as her flowing gown.

The University of Lagos undergraduate, Niyola, performed Bring It On in a way that dared the audience not to move their body. Kemistry did the song, Shake and was followed by bootilicious Zeal. Sasha was also on board to perform E Ti Da Mo and Ashionye; perhaps the most sassy of the lot performed three songs. When she did Dance For Me, the crowd moved their body to the groove.

There were guest appearances by Weird MC, Kween and the loquacious comedienne, Princess. All the performing girls later came together to perform I'm a Woman, written by Ashionye with contributions from Kemistry, Blaise and Sasha.