TIPTOPSTARS

Keenly, this reporter watched how Naomi Achu comported in a completely different mood. That was perhaps the first time he noticed the Cameroonian music icon in deep solemnity. All along the artist put on a coaxing smile that apparently won the admiration of Dayo Chiedozie Akinwande more and more. This mood was diametrically opposite to that you would watch when Naomi is performing the art she knows best – singing and dancing!

Dayo Akinwande is the handsome gentleman who will henceforth be husband to this Cameroon’s illustrious daughter the country seems to be more and more proud of. Wife and husband are yet to come out of the stupor of wedding joy they fell into since last Saturday, July 27, 2013. They should be honeymooning as we write, at least even if we don’t know where. It has honestly been described as a celebrity wedding. Indeed, it was!

Scores of friends and family members thronged Maryland to accompany Naomi and Akinwande in this new order. Perhaps, what was more exciting is the Africaness of the event. Clad in Yuruba (Nigeria) traditional regalia, then later the North West (Cameroon) ‘toughe’, husband and wife painted a beautiful picture of the ever clenched relationship between Cameroon and Nigeria. The love bond became even stronger as they spoke. And though ‘it was hard to describe’, the star’s spouse managed to tell his guests the kind of woman he saw in the music queen. “She is most beautiful, most gracious and most caring woman I have ever met,” he said with uncontrollable emotions.

AKinwande was glad the D-Day had come – he so badly waited for it – seven years in courtship. And during those seven years, he watched his future wife keenly and what perhaps held him spellbound was Naomi’s drive. This drive has been noticeable in the singer’s music career – a trait many observers had had to mention time without number. Living the rest of his life with Naomi is not only Akinwande’s outmost wish, but the gentleman’s concrete option. He pointed out this with no hesitation.

In a pampering tone, the author of Suga, Naomi’s latest hit tract simply saluted Akinwande’s efforts. “Ashia {pidgin usage for recognizing efforts} to my man,” she simply told the day’s groom.

Also clad in North West traditional regalia, the black wedding coordinator, Barrister Ntumfor Nico Halle, renowned international legal expert and long-time spokesperson for North West Fons, who flew in from Douala, Cameroon, enjoined guests to bless the couple and hoped that God was going to have His mighty eye on them. “Seven years down the line, seven years is completion, finished, May God bless you,” the Ntumfor concluded.

Perhaps, what makes a celebrity wedding described as such is largely due to the presence of celebrities. They were at Naomi’s nuptial knot clenching in their numbers. Celebrity cameras spotted amongst others, gospel music artiste and Dallas-based Anita Etta and her Cincinnati counterpart Pandita Njoh Eta.

Clad in a three-piece-suit with red bold tie, Maryland-based film actor and producer Kang Quintus communioned with other colleagues in absolute joy. Then in a black (with white stripes) party gown, actress and TV host Fru Pridine smiled along as she wished Naomi a happy matrimony. In similar attire, singer Adele-Clarise could be spotted.

Celebrity cameras also zoomed on actor and musician Abraham Takoh, clad in the North West traditional regalia as well as the renowned Cameroonian sound system specialist and Maryland-based DJ Anselmo.

As friends, fans and family members parted with Naomi and hussy Saturday, a new life had just begun for this extra-ordinarily talented artist. An observer, who placed her arguments on Naomi’s prolific nature in her career, conjectured that the Afro RAP musician would surely be translating Saturday’s event into song and said she would not be surprised by the release of a video with Akinwande as protagonist. That also is the task of artistes.

Meantime, Naomi Achu is by every indication one of Cameroon’s leading contemporary singers in the diaspora. She is widely admired for her captivating stage performance and singing prowess. Her clips have regularly been top-rated and have fetched Naomi many more fans at home and abroad. Amongst others, tracks such as Alhadji, Suga, The Kind of Man, Kitchen Near You, I Can Love You Like That, have propelled the Cameroonian singer the apex spot she now enjoys in her music career. Salut les maries!!!!!!