Lagos will go agog with the celebration of Nigeria at 60 in October as Nigeria will be witnessing yet another landmark historical celebration in the Centre of Excellence.
Before the country’s Independence in 1960 and till date, Lagos State remains the heartbeat of entertainment and continues to foster different generations of musicians from diverse culture.
It is against this background that the organiser of Ariya Eko has put together the celebration of 60 Iconic gatekeepers of Nigerian musical history who have contributed to the economic growth of Lagos State since Independence.
According to the organizers of Ariya Eko Music Festival, a yearly music festival, put together to promote core indigenous music and encourage band culture, this year’s theme, WAZOBIA INDEPENDENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL is centered on celebrating 60 years of Nigerian Musical journey in its diversity and will feature different Musicians from different culture with a State Ball Performance as a reflection of the cosmopolitan city.
The Festival endorsed by Lagos State Ministry of Culture and Tourism is in partnership with Africa’s Largest custodian and promoters of music of yesteryears, Evergreen Musical Company Ltd.
Bimbo Esho, the Managing Director of Evergreen Musical Company in a statement made available to INFOTRUST said, “Lagos state is a melting point of people of diverse culture with deep rooted history, colourful traditions and immense resilience, event of this nature has become pertinent in order to tell our Musical stories and showcase our Musical heritage to the world.”
Last year the maiden edition featured over 18 popular Nigerian Musicians, notable among them are Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, Sir Shina Peters, Dr Tee Mac, Obesere, Sir Jimi Solanke, Yinka Davies, Jesse King Buga. In attendance at the ceremony were the Crème De La Crème of Business, Politics, Entertainment and traditional institutions. The high point of the event was an induction ceremony into the Evergreen Hall of Fame of one of Nigeria’s leading musical giant, Ebenezer Obey who has the highest song ever recorded in Nigeria.
Part of the event line up for this notable year is ‘A Lifetime Achievement Award’ designed to recognize iconic music grandmasters both dead and alive in the Nigerian entertainment industry. Also the Lagos Music Hall of Fame Award, in recognition of 3 prominent musicians from the 3 major tribes in Nigeria who attained the peak of their musical career in Lagos Sate.
An introduction of DO YOU REMEMBER SEGMENT has become pertinent in this year’s event as upcoming musicians will be paying homage to the Grandmasters of the African Beat.
The organisers have promised a low key event this year due to the Covid 19 pandemic while ensuring that strict measures and compliance will be put in place. However, the event will be broadcasted live on various social media so that Lagosians won’t missed out of this once in a lifetime event
