Tag: MUSON Centre

The Commercial director of Promasidor Limited, Mr Kachi Onubogu, has marked his 40th birthday at Muson Centre in Onikan, Lagos, with a fundraiser to procure equipment for the cardio unit of a missionary hospital at Ogidi in Anambra State, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) Ozolua UHakheme

That evening at the Muson Centre, Lagos was unusual. Amidst the wining and dinning was a bigger agenda by the host. Instead of collecting gifts from friends and well wishers, he urged the guests to support him in equipping Iyi-Enu Hospital, a missionary hospital in his home town, Ogidi in Anambra State.

His concern for the hospital followed the report that Cardiovascular disease (CVD) claims about 17.3 million lives annually. More worrisome for him is also the latest report released on World Hypertension Day that about 30 million Nigerians (or 20 per cent) of the adult population suffer from hypertension and other heart-related diseases. Only about 30 per cent of this number (9 to 12 million Nigerians) are said to be aware they suffer from it.

Onubogu plans to raise fund for the hospital in order to make a difference in the lives of many in his community and environs. According to him, he is raising N15 million to buy some equipment to support the cardio unit of the hospital.

He noted that the 40 years of his life has been a roller coaster, adding that together with God’s grace and favour, he can still make greater impact in society.

“What inspires me is the ability to touch the lives of other people. I derive joy in making people happy which was the reason why I chose my profession, I want to render services that people could look back in future and say look this man has improved their position in life, either for the wealthy or those who don’t have enough.

“In my life, I like to give back to the society, I want to leave a foot print on the sands of time by the time I pass through this earth so that those who will come even 300 years after I have passed on will look back and say there once lived a man called Kachi Onubogu.

“I want to be remembered for one thing, that I was able to bring a change in my environment; I was able to make a difference in my environment. It is a sterling memorial that I would like to ascribe to my tombstone that I was able to make change,” he said.

Onubogu, a thoroughbred professional, is like a goldfish that cannot hide. His goodness, gentility and candour were most admired by his friends. His professional touch to marketing has helped change the landscape for Promasidor and positioned it as one of Nigeria’s niche beverage companies with high level respectability and corporate identity.

In January, he was elevated to the position of Commercial Director. Prior to this, he had been the Marketing Director of the company since February 2012. Onubogu is an experienced marketing and business development manager with cross functional and multi-national living and working experience across Africa.

Before he came to the scene, the hospital had made several unsuccessful appeals to well meaning Nigerians for financial assistance towards equipping the cardio unit of the hospital.

Iyi-Enu Hospital had its early beginning in the Church Missionary Society’s (CMS) Niger Medical Mission at Ozalla, Onitsha, where the mission carried out ministry of healing through tending the sick, the suffering and the dying.

The hospital has grown in leaps and bounds since it was established in 1907. In spite of the proliferation of hospitals and doctors in and around Ogidi, Nkpor and Onitsha, Iyi-Enu Hospital is still putting more smiles on the faces of patients and people living in some parts of the former Anambra State (now Enugu and Anambra states).

The hospital has maintained a class of medical excellence specialising in managing health care holistic challenges. For instance, the hospital has put in place various ultra-modern equipment and services which could compete favourably with any specialist hospitals in Nigeria.

These include the following: Ultra Sound Machines, Dental, Intensive Care Units, X-Ray facilities, Cold Chain Refrigerator (from Pathfinder), Specially equipped ambulances donated by an NGO Max and Syl Foundation, California US in 2005, run by Mr Tobby Onwunyi through their friends, Bob Ambulance Services of US, Computerised Pharmacy, Internet and Electronic Library, Chain Project a bid to stem the rising profile of HIV/AIDS infection in Nigeria, Modern mortuary facilities with trained morticians (1999), among others.

For two consecutive weekends in July, hundreds of Lagos theatre enthusiasts had a full dose of classical performances when the Thespian Family Theatre and Productions presented Crystal Slipper at the Agip Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, recently.

The audience described the package as a ‘waoo show’ but the organisers call it ‘theatre unusual.’ It was organaised as a fund-raiser in support of Asthma advocacy, especially by Oluwakemi Memorial Foundation for children living with asthma in Africa.

Crystal Slipper, which is a stage play from the producers of 5 Maids of Fadaka and The Mad King of Ijudiya, is a total theatre presentation enmeshed with a rich pot-pouri of songs, dance, folklore, comedy and concert. With eight accompanying songs and a powerful musical concert, there was no dull moment for the audience. It was directed by Abiola Segun-Williams.

Starring artistes such as Gideon Okeke, Iyke Okechukwu, Florence Okechukwu, Shifi Bello-Akinrimisi, Chinedu Emmanuel, Kyptic Kids, Adesua Etomi and Kemi Lala, the presentation takes the audience’s feelings through a personal experience of suspense, humour and delight.

Apart from the thrilling performances by individual artiste, the choreography and costumes of the cast were more than adequate for such a package. The cast managed the stage to its optimum benefits such that there was no missing link.

Crystal Slipper is written by playwright, Ayo Jaiyesimi, who was particularly excited about the production. “I have been able to get multi-media, concert and choreography woven into this very simple play and this makes it particularly exciting,” she said.

The play, described as tales from yesteryears production, is a popular story projected in a contemporary Nigerian setting with an intriguing twist.

It reminds the audience of some common family issues in most contemporary Nigerian homes. These include high-handedness and over domineering tendencies of a wife who comes into the home after the husband lost the first wife. This manifests in what the central character, Adesewa who lost her mother, faces all through the play. The only world she knows is one of beauty, love and the joy of being the centre of her father’s attention. But her father decides to re-marry and for Sewa, that should be the crown of her joy. Her world would be once again complete… A loving father, a happy home, and now, a mother that she had always longed for… However, Sewa gets much more than she bargained for. She gets total maltreatment and oppression for her father’s new wife, Atolani and her two children, Adeola and Adelani.

Crystal Slipper runs for 90 minutes and is greatly enriched with drama, choreography and song that usually characterised Thespian plays. Notwithstanding its entertainment attractions, every act and antics of Atolani and her children was becoming predictable by the audience. But for the seeming counters from Malik, Ojemba and Mary (the domestic staff of Atolani’s husband), the play would have become a mono.

The THESPIAN Family Theatre and Productions, an organ of SPIIN (Societal Positive Impact Initiative), was created by Ayo Jaiyesimi, a Human Resources Practitioner and Chartered Accountant together with other professional colleagues, who are passionate about Nigerian community and the arts.

“We see theatre as a great tool for reformation and community work. As Nigeria moves towards closing the chapter on the first 100 years of its existence as a country, we believe that it is time for the Theatre Arts to take its place in providing wholesome entertainment and also support a cause,” the group said.

Pianist Babatunde Sosan made an impression at his piano recital Romantic Classics at the Muson Centre, Lagos. In an attempt to relive the memories of his mentor and instructor Raymond Banning who died last year, Sosan displayed an impeccable artistry with the white and black keys of the piano. Playing pieces from Schumann, Chopin, Debussy, Rachmaninoff and other celebrated romantic composers, Sosan proved his keyboard prowess to his audience.

Opening with the exquisite melody line of Schumann’s ‘May, Charming May, Sosan set the mood for a night of provocative relish in romantic classics. Like an adventurous sailor, Sosan led his audience on a romantic voyage by playing pieces of Mendelssohn, Chopin’s   formidable No. 1 G minor ballade, Poulene’s Novelette. At the rendition of his own piece,’ Precious Jewel’ Sosan displayed a subtle approach that reflects the romantic influence in his personality. Closing the first section before an interval with a Concertino for trumpet and piano with Michael Oladugba as the trumpeter, the pianist whetted his audience appetites who were already seated before the second section.

Sosan opened with a brooding Rachmaninoff Prelude in C sharp minor, which was followed by Evans’ ‘Peace Piece’, the most romantic ballad of the night. With his skillful fingers, Sosan lured his audience into a flirtatious tempo, adding embellishment to the notes, stretching the romantic ambience with his textures.

In a special dedication to Raymond banning, a song he claims was his late mentor’s favourite, ‘La cathedral egloutie’, Sosan once again drew inspiration from its inner being with the ascension of the notes into a melodious harmony.

Adding flavour to the recital was the performance of the MTN Project Fame’s vocal coach, Dupe Ige Kachi, popularly known as Ige. She gave a very powerful rendition of the popular Benjamin Britten’s ‘Johnny’ with choreography by Zoe Chinaka who played the bride and Obinna Ifediora who played Johnny.

The choreography provoked laughter from the audience who were amused by the way Johnny kept leaving his lovely bride heartbroken despite her ambitious ways of getting him to propose to her. He was always lovely in the beginning of their dating but suddenly became overwhelmed by an inexplicable aura; he jilts his lover over and over again.

While the audience might have shed a tear or two for heartbroken Chinaka, she came back on stage to sing the award winning “I will always love you” by the late Whitney Houston with Perpetual Atife on the saxophone, Nelson Taiwo on the bass guitar and Sunday Oruoghor on the drums.  With a soulful voice, Johnny couldn’t help but did what she had always wanted him to do:  he came back on stage going down on one knee, he finally proposed to her. This definitely brought the love drama to a satisfactory end as the audience applauded the characters.

Perhaps the duet with the German based pianist Dapo Dina was the peak of the concert. It brought the house down with an outstanding performance by the two pianists. Performing the classical theme from love story composed by Francis Lai, the pianists stamped their foot on this brilliant music. At a point, they were both lost in a trance of the music that they conjured impeccable melody and harmony that got the audience screaming for an encore. It was so brilliantly performed that one could see the satisfactory grins from the audience as they tapped their foot and sway their heads sideways in melody.  It was the most successful of all the performance of the night.

Sosan is the Acting Director of the Muson School of Music and also the Resident pianist. He is the great grandson of the music legend Dr. T.K.E.  Philips.

His musical career was influenced by his grandmother Arinola Sosan and his church organist and master of music, Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos, Mrs. Tolu Obajimi.

Though he graduated from the Lagos University Teaching College of Medicine as physiotherapist, he proceeded to Trinity College of Music Greenwich, England, where he was privileged to be tutored by the late renowned pianist and teacher at the college, Raymond Banning. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Piano and Organ performance.