It was in 2017, I had just returned to portharcourt from school. We had closed for the semester. It was the end of the year so there were lots of concerts happening around that time. Ranging from music concerts to comedy shows and end of year parties from companies to close the activities of the year. It felt like that year had the most concerts. I had never attended a musical concert and was excited that for the first time, I would attend at least one. I was so happy when I got a ticket to attend the concert of the famous portharcourt bred reggae artiste Timaya. I was over joyed. I started panicking actually. Thinking of the perfect outfit and the most comfortable one too. Since it was a night show, one had to be really comfortable just in case.
Meanwhile I had gotten a new phone prior to that event. Blackberry was invoke and of course I had one. It was a gift from a friend for the festive season. I was excited for my new phone. Whoever used blackberry phones will agree with me that q5, was just super perfect. The camera quality was topnotch and it was as slim as I love my phones to be. Oh goodness, I love super flat phones.
THE PREPARATION
The day of the concert was here. I remember getting ready at 5pm. The show was to kick off at exactly 9pm. Well in this part of the country, we don't attend events at exactly the time. We have what we call African man time. Whoever started this mentality has really messed us up. Because people no longer keep to time. The actual sense of being time conscious has gone. And when you see someone who is time conscious,you laugh at the person for keeping to time. They will ask you if you want to go and open the event for them. Oops, I am also guilty of this crime.
So I started getting dressed at 5pm. Didn't finish until almost 9pm. Well, reason was that I wasn't certain of my outfit. So at some point, i was wearing and removing my clothes. When I finally settled for a particular outfit, I went over for a makeup session. I am not a makeup guru but i think I tried. I was set and done and ready to hit the road. I was going with a friend who had a car. So the stress of looking for a cab to take me to the event and bring me back home was totally settled.
HOW THE SHOW WENT
We headed out for the show. When we got to the gate, the ticket sellers asked for our tickets and we showed them and went in. I had a VVIP ticket which I got from the radio station I did my industrial training. so it gave me the privilege to sit in front of the stage. I could see everything clearly from where I sat.
The show didn't start until about 11pm. I was tired of waiting actually but I had to stay put. About 60% percent of the guests were tired. However they were playing soft tunes at the background for us to enjoy before the show kicked off officially .And then it started, it started with upcoming artistes performing their songs and then gradually known faces started climbing the stage. First was our own portharcourt MR 2kay. That was the first time I was seeing him that close. He did a live band performance. Duncan mighty climbed the stage too and then we had some Lagos artistes who performed too. Harrysong, Ice prince, orezi,kcee, Dbanj, Don jazzy and a host of others. We also had some comedians who also performed. It was a night full of fun. And finally my favorite part was when Timaya came on stage. He really made the show an amazing one. His energy was just so out of this world. Wow. I had an amazing night.
OUR JOURNEY HOME
The show didn't end until 4am. We left for our car and was heading home.
I realized I had no cash and wanted to withdraw from the ATM. We stopped briefly at some ATM spots and wasn't successful as there were no cash loaded in the machines. So we headed for the last ATM booth. We were also disappointed. Just as we were about to get into the car,some group of boys came to us. I was terrified. They asked us who we were and we told them we were just coming back from the show. I was scared and wanted to get into the car quickly. As I opened the car to enter,one of the boys pushed me away and took my bag. I was about struggling with him when he held my hand and was about to cut it. Whatever made him change his mind is what I cannot explain till today. They took all that was on my friend and i and left. What? My new phone had gone. The pain of loosing all the captured moments at the show. The beautiful pictures I took with those artists back stage too had gone. I would have shown you all the amazing pictures. But for now,just make do with my random pictures gotten from 
We quietly got into the car and headed to the police station to report the incident. Oh well the policemen asked for the items that was stolen and their worth. We wrote a statement. One of the policemen followed us to the spot of the incident and walked around hoping to find the thieves but to no avail. He asked us to go home and return when the day is dawn. We went home. I was still in shock. I just slept off and didn't wake up until about 2pm in the afternoon. The shock has still not left my mind till date. Don't ever invite me for a night show because I won't attend. Lol. I haven't gotten over the memory till date.
Well, my year was cut short of excitement because of that incident. I had blamed myself for years for not going home straight. I would have withdrawn anytime during the day right?Gradually I am beginning to understand that life is worth more than anything in this world. My items were lost, but my life is still intact. What if one of those thieves had succeeded in cutting my hand. What would I have said? That I went for a concert? I have moved on by the way. But did I learn any lesson? Yes I did.
