Controversial artiste, Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, got many people talking after a dramatic performance at the New Afrikan Shrine, Ikeja, Lagos, during the week.
The singer took his fans by surprise when he was carried to the stage in a white coffin. On stepping out of the coffin, the crowd went wild in excitement. He was then welcomed by a female drummer, who was dressed in a sequin traditional attire. His performance also featured different kinds of dramatic and rigorous dancing. While some felt that appearing on stage in a coffin was too extreme, others are of the opinion that it was all part of showbiz and giving his fans memorable experiences.
Days before that, the self-acclaimed ‘were olorin’ (mad singer) had caused commotion at another show held at the Agege Stadium, Lagos. At the show, which was organised by another artiste, Temitope Adekunle, aka Small Doctor, some of the fans in attendance vehemently rejected Portable’s performance. When he mounted the stage, the angry fans threw different objects at him. Though Small Doctor pleaded with the crowd to let Portable be, the crowd was adamant about not allowing Portable to perform.
A day before the show, Portable had posted a video on social media, where he lambasted Small Doctor for refusing to feature him on a song before he rose to stardom. He also claimed to be doing better than Small Doctor. He said, “Were (mad man), he (Small Doctor) said they should strip me, that he will come and settle it. Ogun will kill you Small Doctor. I am tougher than you. It won’t be well with you. Where is your father’s house in Agege? I am from Agege. I only ran away from home to look for money. You sent Awawa boys (cultists) to catch me…”
On December 17, the singer also went viral on the Internet after he jumped into the crowd during his performance at the Afro Revolution concert, which took place at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. Though many artistes jump into the crowd during their performances, what made Portable’s action notable was the fact that the crowd practically refused to let him go back on stage.
This was even he has got many people talking when, on different occasions, he climbed poles to dance rigorously.
Also, he has got tongues wagging with his style of slamming himself on the ground and acting like someone having an epileptic convulsion.
However, while some feel that his on-stage antics are getting out of hand, some of his fans enjoy his performance. What is not in doubt, however, is the fact that his actions have made him one of the most talked-about artistes in the country at the moment.
