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Tag: Benson Idonije

  • Benson Idonije, others shine at ‘Music Minds’ Get Together’

    Benson Idonije, others shine at ‘Music Minds’ Get Together’

    It was a night of fun pen-ultimate weekend when music lovers, came together in a gathering tagged ‘Music Minds’ Meet and Greet’, at the home of Otunba Yinka Alakija’s premises in Jibowu, Lagos, organised by a group of professionals known as the Music Minds, to end the year.

    One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of awards in honour of men who have contributed their quota to the music industry by promoting and supporting Nigerian musicians.

    One of the awardee was Benson Idonije, honoured with an award of excellence; a veteran journalist, writer, broadcaster and music critic.

    Highly respected for his talents in writing, and use of various musical instruments, Idonjie, who is known to have managed late Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s band for eleven years said the Music Minds award gave him a feeling of “déjà vu”.

    Next award was given to Odion Iruoje, recognised for giving many popular musicians the break they needed. He has worked as Area Manager for King Sunny Ade, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Sunny Okosuns, Tunji Oyelana and several other great artistes were signed on the EMI label and produced by Iruoje.

    The producer is acclaimed to be the first international music producer that laid a solid foundation for the modern music producers. He was said to have initiated the idea of solo artistes recording, hiring session men for their backup. He also recommended advance royalty payment that enabled many musicians invest in new sets of musical instruments. He provided enabling environment for artistes. His golden era of creativity was not lost on progressive minded members of Music Minds who honoured the great Nigerian.

    In attendance was Former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba, also a member of Music Minds, accompanied by his wife, Mrs Derin Osoba, among others.

  • Benjay: Tributes as the phenom clocks 80

    Benjay: Tributes as the phenom clocks 80

    There was jazz, there was eloquence, and there were friends and well-wishers as the Committee for Relevant Arts (CORA), Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Goethe Institut, and other culture-inclined bodies appositely celebrated the 80th birthday of Benson Idonije. It was a kindred ambience of respect that pervaded the celebrations as people gathered to celebrate the former broadcaster, teacher, and writer whose nom de guerre, Benjay, once was a household name.

    The celebration lasted for four days across multiple venues including Muson Centre at Onikan, Ojez Restaurant at National Stadium, and Freedom Park, all in Lagos. The first day featured a plethora of tributes to Benjay as his former colleagues and friends in the media paid homage to him at the Muson Centre.

    Secretary General of CORA, Toyin Akinosho, delivering the opening remarks, mentioned that ‘Uncle Ben” and Cora go a long way. He narrated how Benjay, still brimming with energy after he left broadcasting, wanted to bond with young people.

    “We met at an event,” he said, adding that: “he gave us tips so we started a highlife programme, which has been a source of inspiration to many young people.”

    This comment proved to be just a tip of the iceberg as the chairman for the day, Dr. Christopher Kolade expressed his delight at being invited to chair the occasion. Of the importance of Benjay to the broadcasting community, and indeed to the country as a whole, he said: “We tend to think from all the rhetoric going around that there is much room for improvement. Benson Idonije represents a very important facet of our history – where we are coming from.”

    He also recalled that when Benjay started his career in broadcasting, his activities perplexed people who wondered who it was that troubled them with his knowledge of music. He was, Kolade said, regaling them with things which they already knew. Alas, there were many things which they did not know, and which are contained in Benjay’s books and works.

    Taking a nimble jab at administration in the country, he praised the excellence of Benjay and his colleagues while he was their boss, declaiming that if the country still had people with such commitment at the helm of affairs, then things would be better.

    In a similar manner, Dele Adetiba, another former colleague of Idonije said: “No two people could have done it like Benson Idonije. I knew he was very good, but I never knew he was that good until I started reading him in the papers. He was usually quiet, but he would become a tiger with so much firepower behind the mic.”

    Meanwhile, the celebrations continued on the second day with a number of discussions on the subject of Highlife, especially as this was an area which Benjay focused on immensely. It was chaired by Professor John Collins from the University of Ghana, Legon, who has published about 50 books, including 32 on highlife.

    He lectured extensively on the origins of highlife music as well as the growth of the musical careers of such icons as E.T. Mensah and Bobby Benson. He also noted that Afrobeat and Fela’s music were influenced by highlife. He thrilled the attendants with musical illustrations as he ambidextrously played both the mouth organ and the guitar simultaneously.

    In the same vein, another speaker and friend of Benjay, Ray Mike Nwachukwu excited the audience even further with a prepared recording which explained the deep passion and magic of highlife music with accompanying narratives, and musical clips transcending Africa.

    Chairman of Evergreen Music Studios, Femi Esho then capped the lectures on the growth of Highlife by speaking to the topic; ‘Highlife must not die’. He exemplified evergreen music as a major fighter for the cause of immortalising highlife music, while ruing the sad reality that during the celebration of Nigeria clocking a half century of independence, none of the old music maestros were invited.

    By the fourth day, the discourse had escalated to its climax. A panel consisting Femi Akintunde-Johnson, Molara Wood, Ayeni Adekunle, Osagie Alonge, and Chris Ihidero (the latter being the moderator) examined the music industry in the country and agreed to an extent that credible criticism of the music industry is now an extinct practise. This, they concluded, accounts for some of the underdevelopment in the industry.

    Rounding up the four-day celebration was a concert themed ‘A toast to grand-dad’ in which Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, performed alongside others to celebrate the good health of Benjay.

  • Celebrating Benson Idonije at 80

    Celebrating Benson Idonije at 80

    Seasoned broadcaster and music critic Benson Idonije popularly known as Benjay turned 80 on June 13. The creative community trooped out to celebrate the man, his music and muse. They paid tributes to him at a weeklong festival of intellectual/music feasts in Lagos, Evelyn Osagie reports. 

    He beamed with smiles as he spotted some colleagues, friends and acquaintances. He waved at some, walked and took the seat reserved for him.

    These days, he takes front seat with a hearty smile. Why? Pa Benson Idonije has  attained the milestone of 80. The creative community celebrated him with week-long activities in Lagos.

    Born on June 13, 1936, in Otuo, Edo State, the octogenarian grew to become a force in the development of the music industry.  Idonije, a seasoned broadcaster known for his promotion of classical music, is one-time manager of the late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and a former recipient of the Life Time Award for Journalism Excellence from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

    His 80th birthday was marked with cerebral feasts and musical funfair.

    The art community marked his birthday  with training sessions, colloquium, tributes, book launch, documentary screening and musical concerts anchored by some notable personalities.

    A huge attended number of Jazz critics, musicians and art lovers.

     

    Idonije the canvas

     

    The celebrations, which were later christened The Benson Idonije @ 80 Celebration by the Committee for Relevant Arts (CORA) and the Cultural Advocates Caucus (CAC), began with Olu Ajayi Studio-inspired Living Legends portraiture at Freedom Park.

    Idonije made history by being the first music critic to be so honoured. Before him, the Living Legends initiative has also documented other notable Nigerians, such as Prof Wole Soyinka, Prof J.P. Clark; the late Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa; former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon (rtd); iconic artists Bruce Onobrakpeya and Yusuf Grillo.

    Ajayi along with his five colleagues – Dr Emmanuel Irokanulo, Bolaji Ogunwo, Ademorin Aladegbongbe, Theo Lawson and Duke Asidere – immoratalised Idonije on canvas.

     

    Workshop for students

     

    Last Thursday, June 16, there was a workshop for Lagos State University (LASU) Music students coordinated by Biodun Batik. It was a two-day event.

     

    Colloquium, book launch, documentary for Idonije

     

    In the afternoon, the celebration moved to the Agip Hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan, for a colloquium/session on tributes. The  theme was Essential Benson Idonije and the event was chaired by Pan-Atlantic University Pro-Chancellor, Dr Christopher Kolade. It featured the celebrator’s friends Victor Johnson and Mr Kevin Ejiofor as lead speakers; Chief Biodun Shobanjo as anchor; Mr Tunde Adeniji, Chief Dele Ajakaiye, Osaze Iyamu, among others. Three of Idonije’s books – Dis FelaSef, The Great Highlife Party and All That Jazz – were presented by Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi. They were reviewed by Dr Reuben Abati and Layiwola Adeniji.

    The event ended with a documentary, The Essential Benson Idonije screened in the evening. A musical concert featuring a Mixed grill of Sound was held at the Freedom Park.

     

    All roads lead to celebration

     

    The students’ workshop at LASU continued on June 17 and in the afternoon all roads led to O’Jez Restaurant at the National Stadium,  in Surulere, Lagos for conversation on  highlife music. Founder/Director Bokoor Popular Music Archives Foundation (BAPMAF), Ghana Prof. John Collins presented the keynote address on Highlife – The Evergreen: Looking Back, Looking Ahead, kick-starting a discussion session. The session, chaired by veteran journalist Aremo Olusegun Osoba, featured recorded chronicles and documentaries of highlife music.

    It was followed by Dancing with the Stars, a segment featuring music maestros Victor Olaiya and Jimi Solanke,  among others.

    Music lovers and well-wishers partied all night as highlife bands treated them to classic tunes.

     

    COSON, CORA/CAC celebrate Idonije

     

    June 18, the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) took over with its session in the afternoon. The event was anchored by COSON Chairman Mr Tony Okoroji, who asked that Idonije be given a national honour. It featured interactive session and music performances.

    The train moved to Freedom Park for CORA/CAC’s session where Jazz critic and photographer Tam Fiofori took the audience into the history of Jazz music in his paper titled: All that Jazz: The standards, the crossover, the transformation.

    The session was followed by a concert in collaboration with Lagos International Jazz Festival at another side of the venue where Dede Mabiaku, Yinka Davies, Liberian Music icon Miatta Fahnbulleh, Mike Aremu, Edaoto and others thrilled guests with music.

     

    Burna Boy pays tribute to grandpa

     

    The activities climaxed on June 19  the CORA in collaboration with Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NEC)  held NECLIVE Mini-Series featuring at Freedom Park. The keynote address was given by Mr Ayeni Adekunle; Mr Laolu Akintobi chaired the event. The interactive session featured the author of  Indigo, Molara Wood and Osagie Alonge, among other notable music and culture scholars and enthusiasts in attendance.

    There was a concert tagged: A Toast to Grandad featuring Idonije’s grandson Damini Ogulu popularly known as Burna Boy and notable acts, such as Dede Mabiaku, Phyno, General Pype, Gloria Ibru and DJ Max Kendy.

     

    Season of tributes

     

    Ace poet and social critic Prof Niyi Osundare: “Frequently and assiduously, Mr Idonije trains his focus on music as art and profession, vocation and special calling…Without a speck of doubt, as far as music is concerned, Idonije is a Benson of all trades and master of all… Under his gaze, at his prodding, the evergreens assume a more sonorous depth and richer resonance…This is a piece on Benson Idonije, the Asiwaju of Nigeia’s Social Music Critics, the man who makes sure we never lose the memory of our sound – and sense.”

     

    Dr Kolade: ‘’We must continue to celebrate people like Ben because they give us hope for tomorrow. They have brought so much value, intellectually contributing to the development of Nigeria.I respect him for contributing a counter force to what we are experiencing as a nation. If this country were to find people who would give genuine interest to what we do, we would be better off. Ben is one of the people I have not just respect for, but admiration’’.

     

    Fiofori: “In 1973 Benson Idonije organised Jazz jam sessions for Radio Nigeria from the Floating Buka, featuring a band that included Crossdale Juba on trumpet and Willie Bestman on drums…Thankfully, Black music writers and broadcasters like Amir Baraka, A. B. Spellman, Stanley Crouch and myself while in America and, our own Idonije and Lindsay Barrett in Nigeria continue to set the records straight…There is the need to debunk certain mindsets in Nigeria about Jazz music. Jazz is not Oyibo music or Big Man’s music and, neither is it difficult to understand and like…We should not just concentrate on music for the waist as the head needs nourishment too…Jazz is that music that is cerebrally stimulating.”

     

    Ace thespian Emanuel Francesca: ‘’I welcome him to our club of the 80s. I wish him happy birthday. I came to understand different kinds of Jazz and educate myself better. Although my instrument is voice but I see myself as a lover of Jazz and all kinds of music. Idonije deserves a national honour’’.

     

    Art collector, Chief Gbadamosi: ‘’Tribute in a lifetime is sweeter than any other time’’.

     

    Dr Abati: ‘’Ben Jay deserves to be congratulated on his tenacity in bringing out, against all possible odds, a memoir as he correctly describes it on Fela – legend, maestro, counterculture hero, mystic musician, philanthropist, iconoclast, rebel, patriot and one of Africa’s most significant contributors to the world of art and music in the 20th century’’.

     

    Former PMAN President Tee Mac: ‘’Benson was a very outspoken radio presenter; so, he had his programmes where he had the opportunity to push and discuss good music. Benson will not compromise: he knew what was good music and he pursued those. He was part of Fela’s and many other artists’ promotion. It is only when you have somebody to talk on your behalf, people will know you. So, it was a very important role. I wish him many more happy returns and I wish that the government recognises people like him more’’.

     

    Former colleague and friend Johnson: ‘’Idonije is level-headed and intellectually upright’’.

     

    Molara Wood: ‘’It is a pity that people like him do not ‘’.

     

    The ‘birthday boy’s’reply

     

    ‘’I’d like to thank all of you for the outpouring of love and appreciation. What else can I say that to say: “Eyin naa a dagba”.

    Without Fela, there would be no hiphop. I started managing Fela in 1963; most musicians faded because they lacked originality. He went from Jazz to Afrobeat. His ideals were his staying power. This generation needs to listen more to their elders/leaders like Soyinka to lead and guide them. They are doing the wrong thing and the wrong thing is right for them and what you’re teaching is old school. My quarrel has always been that we are imitating foreign cultures. But my tone of criticism in the last few years has reduced’’

  • Benson Idonije, others to speak on 90 years of Nigerian music

    Benson Idonije, others to speak on 90 years of Nigerian music

    Legendary music broadcaster, Benson Idonije, is set to speak on 90 years of Nigerian popular music as part of events to celebrate this year’s social media week. The event holds today, at the Goethe Institut, Lagos.

    Idonije, who has over 50 years of experience in the Nigerian music industry, will be speaking on ‘Nigerian popular music: The glory years 1925 – 1960.’

    Idonije, one of the first managers of the late Afrobeat King, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, started his career with the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, where he was producer and later Head of Training before his retirement. After his retirement, he has for over the last 20 years gained further acclaim as a music journalist, maintaining a regular column with The Guardian. He is also grandfather to popular dancehall sensation, Burna Boy.

    The event which is being organised by Music In Africa, aims to celebrate Nigeria’s popular music heritage over the last 90 years – from its rudimentary origins to the modern digital age.

    According to the organisers of the event, 2015 marks the 90th anniversary of the first Nigerian popular music recordings, first done in 1925, by Ladipo Solanke and Justus Domingo, under the Zonophone label.

    Aside Idonije, other confirmed speakers include Mark Redguard, CEO of 960 Music Group, formerly CMO of digital music platform, Spinlet who would be speaking on ‘Nigerian Digital Music Revolution’ , blogger and music historian, Uchenna Ikonne, and special guest speaker, Obi Asika, former chairman of Storm 360 and Dragon Africa.

    The discussions will be moderated by the West African Regional Editor of Music in Africa- Ed Emeka Keazor.

    The evening shall also feature a special tribute to eight Nigerian music legends, who have contributed significantly to music growth, over the last 90 years, and whose works laid the foundations of its future.