For two days, the usually calm Oluwaleimu Street in Allen Avenue area of Ikeja, Lagos was on lockdown as artistes and celebrities stormed the COSON House owned by Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) to pay last respect to a legendary Nigerian artiste, the Rub A Dub Master, Ras Kimono.
COSON pulled every stop to ensure Kimono’s funeral was celebrated in grand style like a King.
On Wednesday, August 23, a sleek red-carpet event, a tribute night like no other, was executed by COSON. The tribute night attended by music industry personalities of all persuasions, climaxed the week-long program of the funeral of Ras Kimono who died at Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi Lagos on June 10, 2018. The tightly-produced show was opened with an invocation by gospel artiste, Kenny Saint Best. And it featured first class performances by the likes of Tama Nisa, a beautiful young singer, who was flanked by five girls dressed in black, each with a lit candle. She wowed the audience with “Good Night Ras Kimono” adapted from Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind”.
Tama Nisa’s performance was followed by ‘Jolly Good Man,’ a moving tribute in song to Ras Kimono by reggae singer, Righteousman. Incredibly gifted singer, Essence Uwale was also on stage at the COSON Arena and she brought tears to the eyes of many with her unique rendition of ‘One Sweet Day.’
Instead of the traditional minute silence, there was a Minute of Whistles in which everyone in the audience blew their whistles in celebration of Kimono, very well known for his love of whistles. The show at the COSON House was streamed live on several media platforms and on a huge screen on Oluwaleimu Street where a significant audience lined the street and watched until the beginning of the explosive music concert on a huge stage set up by COSON on Oluwaleimu Street.
In between the performances, a documentary personally produced by the COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, which traced the life of Ras Kimono, was screened. It highlighted details from his birth in his hometown, Onicha Olona to his passing on in Lagos.
The event which had Koffi as MC, ended with a performance of ‘Holy Spirit’ by Majek Fashek after which differet artistes performed through the night and into the morning.
On the next day, Kimono was laid in state at COSON House. His body was placed in an all glass casket on an enchanting dais designed by Gbemisola Amedu and set up by Lefranc Eventors. People streamed in from everywhere to view the body and pay their last respects to the Rub-A-Dub Master. After the lying in state, a delegation of the COSON Board and officials; the Rastafarian community, members of the family, friends, other entertainment industry personalities and the media, set out in a convoy to Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The body in a white Cadillac Escalade hearse, which was cheered by Nigerians on the road, all the way to Asaba, was received in the Delta State capital, on behalf of the state government by the state Commissioner for Culture & Tourism, Mr. Emma Chinye.
At different stops along the way, ordinary Nigerians waved with many singing and dancing to ‘Under Pressure’, ‘What’s Gwan?’ and ‘Rumba Stylee’ among other hits of Ras Kimono who was a 100% COSON activist and Board member till his end.
