Emmanuel Ukudolo
Lagos, Nigeria, June 14, 2016 – So much activities have been outlined by Committee for Relevant Art, CORA & Culture Advocates Caucus, CAC in collaboration with Nigeria’s music prodigy, Burna Boy to celebrate the legend, Benson Idonije who clocked 80 on the 13th of June.
The broadcaster and art critic is the grandfather of Burna Boy who is collaborating with CORA for a four-day activity in honour of the octogenarian.
Benson Idonije started his career in the 50s at the Ikoyi Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, after his study at the Yaba College of Technology. He soon moved on to bigger achievements first as an On-Air personality and later on, as the first manager of the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
From 1960 till date, Benson Idonije, who is a diehard Jazz lover has promoted the development of Jazz and continues to give informed music reviews.
His grandson, Burna Boy has made his impact in the music of this generation. Like his grandfather, Burna Boy has a keen ear for good sound and dishes it out with a more captivating voice.
Burna Boy and his friends will be performing new generation genres; hip hop and afro pop on the last day of the four-day event themed “The Benjay Phenomenon”. The event will kick off with a workshop with students of music, LASU ( coordinated by Biodun Adebiyi aka Biodun Batik at the MUSON centre in the morning to be followed by a colloquium at LASU.
The theme is ‘Essential Benson Idonije’. Pro-Chancellor, Pan-Atlantic University, Dr. Christopher Kolade will chair the event while Chief Biodun Shobanjo will be the anchor person. It will be followed by presentation of three books later that day. The three books are Dis Fela Sef : The Legend(s) Untold;The Great Highlife Party and All That Jazz.
The Chief Presenter is Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi. There will also be screening of ” The Essential Benson Idonije ” ( An Interview Documentary) to be rounded up with a concert at Freedom Park.
Events will start the following day, June 17 with HIGHLIFE CAP at Goethe Institut, 4th Floor, City Hall, Catholic Mission St., Lagos in collaboration with MMIS, Premier Music & Evergreen Music. There will also be a workshop with students of Music, Theatre Arts from UNILAG.
It will be followed with a talk shop with the theme Highlife- The Evergreen: Looking Back, Looking Ahead to be delivered by Prof. John Collins ( Founder/Chairman, Bokoor African Popular Music Archives Foundation ( BAPMAF), Ghana. It will be followed by a concert at 6 p.m.
The third day will feature Jazz & Afrobeat music at Freedom park, Lagos ( in collaboration with Lagos International Jazz Festival. There will also be a town hall meeting and an interactive session with COSON members. The theme is All That Jazz : The Standards, The Crossover, The Trans-format-ion. The speaker is Tam Fofori, Jazz aficionado, film maker, photographer, veteran writer of arts.
The 4th and final day will feature AFROPOP music at Freedom Park, Lagos( in collaboration with Black House Media (BHM). There will also be a talk shop on the subject, MUSIC FORWARD: Deconstructing, Reconstructing. The keynote speaker is Ayeni Adekunle. Activities will be rounded up with a concert, Featuring : Burna Boy & friends in Hip Hop and Afropop Genres. The event is coordinated by Committee for Relevant Art, CORA & Culture Advocates Caucus, CAC
