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Tag: Ras Kimono

  • RAS KIMONO goes out after 60

    The cold hand of death snatched one of the Nigeria’s best reggae artistes, ‘Rhumba Stylee’ crooner, Augustine Onwubuya popularly known as Ras Kimono, on June 10. He suffered a heart attack, June 9, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja on his way to United States. He was rushed to a Lagos hospital where he eventually died on second day.

    The artiste who had recently clocked 60 was laid to rest at his hometown, Onicha-Olona in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State on August 25 .

    Sadly, three months later, EfemenaOkedi, his wife and manager, also died on September 23.

  • COSON sends Ras Kimono home like a king

    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.

  • Ras Kimono for burial August 25

    The family of late reggae musician Ras Kimono has slated August 25, 2018 for his burial. This was made known in a statement released on Sunday by Afam Ugah on behalf on the fammily. However, other funeral details will be made later.

    “The family of Ras Kimono Onwubuya wishes to inform the general public that the Burial Ceremony has been slated for the 25th day of August, 2018,” the statement read.

    “The program of the events leading to the funeral will be made available in due course. We wish to thank everyone who has individually and collectively supported us during these trying times and we pray the Almighty God to guide and protect us all.”

    Born on May 9, 1958, Ras Kimono, whose real name is Ekeleke Elumelu Onwubuya, rose to fame in 1989 with his album, ‘Under pressure’ which launched him to stardom. It set the tone as he released more songs and started touring Africa, Europe and the U.S.A. He also won several awards, including the Nigerian Music Awards, and Fame Music Awards.

  • Reggae music and the exit of Ras Kimono

    I subscribe to the definition of music as a universal language. A piece of music which is pleasant to the ears is enjoyed by millions of people(s) of the world, irrespective of the language in which it is rendered. That is why I do tap my foot in time to the songs of Brenda Fassie, although the language which she used to sing most of her songs is unintelligible to me. And millions of Nigerians dance to the Makossa music, owing to its rhythmic euphony. Today, in Nigeria, most Igbo people are fans of Yoruba musicians, who are exponents of the Afro-juju genre of music, although they do not understand the language in which the songs are rendered. That is a proof that music is a universal language.

    More than this, music has a therapeutic property. It ministers to our existential needs. For example, Don Williams’ songs contain philosophical messages, which serve as guide and compass to us in our tortuous earthly peregrinations. The thematic concerns of his songs, which range from love to death, and to other issues, contain wise sayings, which instruct and teach us on how to live right. And our own Osita Osadebe produced pieces of music, which have philosophical bent, too.

    But music can be put to other good and noble uses other than giving us immeasurable pleasure and offering us solutions to our diverse individual problems. Bob Nesta Marley, the Jamaican-born reggae star, used his reggae music to fight western imperialism wherever it existed. In South Africa, Lucky Dube effectively deployed music to fight Apartheid, which was instituted and entrenched in South Africa by the Afrikaans, that is, the Dutch people. Sadly, Lucky Dude was mowed down by armed robbers in his native country, South Africa.

    Back home in Nigeria, the Ozidi king, Sonny Okosun, used his melodious songs to call attention to the leadership problem in Nigeria, which stunted our national development.

    Many years after we had attained self-rule, the ship of state is still as dangerous as Okosun sang in his immortal and evergreen songs. He belonged to the class of Nigerian musicians who produced protest music. Others in that revered class include popular music acts like African China, Orits Wiliki, Majek Fashek, Idris Abdukareem, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, and others. Back then in our country, music was used as a tool for effecting social change, for upturning bad political order, and for molding the personalities of our young people.

    It was then in the late 1980s and early 1990s that Ras Kimono came to national limelight. Then, his danceable reggae songs filled with didactic, revolutionary, and social messages ruled the airwaves. He used his reggae songs to question the status quo ante bellum, then. I still remember the lyrics and title of his song, “What gwan in a this country?”  In the song, he said, “See them flying in the skies; see me walking on the land.” He used his song to tell us that while the thieving ruling elite are living in opulence, the rest of the people in the country are impoverished and living below the breadline. More so, one’s listening to his piece of music can take one to the summit of ecstasy. And his virtuoso live musical performances were delightful.

    That’s why the name, Ras Kimono, has been imprinted in the minds of millions of Nigerians. Those who were in their early teens when his music ruled our airwaves grew up listening to his melodious songs and adoring him. And the songs had a great influence on them, too.

    However, now, reggae music is no longer in vogue. I doubt if it can make a comeback again. Today, it is the hip pop songs that enthral and fascinate us, both young people and old ones. Flavour, a Nigerian-born musical star, is the very master of erotica. His bawdy lyrics and salacious description of ladies objectify them. But he is not the only musician who sings about women, love, and the female private parts. That genre of music, erotica, is the rage now. In fact, we are told that nothing sells like sex. And I have found out that it is the truth owing to our incurable desire to listen to pieces of musical erotica.

    So, I urge our rising musicians and the established ones to emulate the positive attributes and good side of Ras Kimono, who left this physical dimension recently. His death jolted us, no doubt. But, it is unwise for us to remain disconsolate over his death. Ras Kimono’s name is forever etched in our collective psyche and he has entered the pantheon of musical greats through his melodious and evergreen musical masterpieces, although his sojourn in our terra firma was brief.

    • By Chiedu Uche Okoye

    Uruowulu-Obosi

    Anambra State

     

  • Ras Kimono (1958–2018)

    •A composer, singer and energetic dancer is gone

    His 1989 debut album Under Pressure, with the popular single Rhumba Stylee, was a hit that signalled the arrival of a new star. This was reggae, but with a local flavour that attracted fans thrilled by the music and stirred by the message. What’s Gwan, released the following year, was a greater success, and underlined the musician’s musical power.

    Ras Kimono, who died in Lagos on June 10, aged 60, stamped his personality on his music. He wore dreadlocks and projected Rastafarianism. It is believed that the deprivation he experienced in his early life influenced his music and lyrics. He advocated social change, and employed music as a weapon to fight for social progress. He defined his work as “singing about the ills of society.”

    Before his breakthrough as a reggae musician, he had experimented with various music genres. When he eventually got it right, his devotion to reggae, a genre that originated in Jamaica in the 1960s, showed that he had found his path. Reggae, which is especially known for its tradition of social criticism, suited Kimono’s concept of music. He said of reggae: “That’s where I feel I can express my feelings proper.” He became an important ambassador of the genre. Kimono may well have been influenced by Jamaican reggae maestro Bob Marley, who boosted reggae in Africa by his visit to Zimbabwe in 1980.

    Kimono proved that his success was no flash in the pan. He released several other hit songs in a musical career that lasted over three decades.  He said: “My inspiration comes from Most High Jah and from the environment. I live with the people; I live where the masses live, where people cannot afford to buy a loaf of bread a day.  I know what the people are suffering. The people motivate me.”

    It is a measure of his stature that he took his brand of music to other African countries, Europe and the United States. He won several music awards within Nigeria. Kimono was an instrumentalist, a composer, a singer and an energetic dancer.

    It is testimony to his stardom that he was better known by the stage name, Ras Kimono. His real name, Ekeleke Elumelu, did not ring a bell in entertainment circles, but everyone knew the alias, Ras Kimono.

    Born in present-day Delta State, Kimono attended Gbenoba Secondary School, Agbor. At the early stages of his music life, he was a member of a group called The Jastix, which included Majek Fashek, who also rose to stardom as a Nigerian reggae musician in later years.

    Kimono was a striking pioneer of Nigerian reggae. His generation of reggae performers was responsible for the 1990s golden era of reggae in Nigeria. Kimono later travelled to the U.S., where he spent six years, which kept him out of the limelight in his country.

    When he returned home, he was able to reintegrate into the Nigerian entertainment environment. It is to his credit that he remained musically relevant till the end. He still performed at shows and his music was still played on radio.

    Kimono’s manager, Daddy Faizer, gave an insight into the star’s life: “I was an undergraduate when I met Ras Kimono. Being friends with someone for 34 years means you guys must have a strong bond. He was a nice person and he would always share your problems. If you needed help and he was in a position to assist, he would gladly do so.”

    Kimono earned his recognition. He will be remembered for his creative strength, his social consciousness, and his awareness of the social power of music.

     

  • Lai Mohammed, Ita-Giwa mourn Ras Kimono

    •Rastafarians plan candlelight procession in Ebonyi

    The minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has expressed shock and sadness at the passing of the globally-acclaimed reggae star, Ras Kimono.

    The minister in a statement signed by Mr. Segun Adeyemi, Special Adviser to the minister of Information and Culture stated that late Kimono will be remembered for his contribution to the elevation of reggae, his love of the masses, his life of discipline and his service to humanity.

    “Kimono helped to blaze the trail for the phenomenal growth of the Nigerian music industry, and he was a worthy mentor to the younger generation of Nigerian musicians,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

    “His legacy will surely endure.”

    The minister also extended his condolences to the family, friends and fans of the late artiste, and indeed to the entire Nigerian music industry, for losing a foremost proponent of reggae, a prominent campaigner for a better life for the people and a patriot.

    Also, former Presidential Adviser, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, described Ras Kimono’s death as a major loss to the country.

    Speaking in Calabar, Cross River State, she described Ras Kimono as not just an amazing entertainer, but an intellectual and activist, who used his music to send messages on issues that should be corrected in the country.

    Expressing shock at his demise, Ita-Giwa, who is also the leader of the Seagull Band, one of the five competition band at Carnival Calabar, said plans were underway to have him join the band in the carnival in December this year.

    “He was to join the carnival last year,” she said.

    “In fact he was to join the carnival this year. I am truly shocked and we miss him a great deal.

    “He should be honoured for his contribution to the development of this country and for democracy. He cried out for democracy. Nigeria needs to celebrate him.”

    Ras Kimono died on Sunday morning at the Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos. He was scheduled to travel to the US on Saturday but complained of ill-health on Friday evening and was rushed to an hospital in Ikeja, Lagos before he was transferred to Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi.

    In May, he turned 60 and celebrated with coleagues in the music industry.

    Born Ekeleke Elumelu Onwubuya on May 9, 1958, Kimono who hailed from Delta State released his debut album with his Massive Dread Reggae Band, ‘Under Pressure’ while signed to Premier Music in 1989.

    Also speaking on the burial plans, Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria, COSON and friend of Ras Kimono, said Kimono’s family is yet to announce the burial plans but COSON is planning to give the late reggae star a befitting burials.

    “Meanwhile, flags are flying at half-mast at COSON House. There’s a condolence register at COSON House that are people are coming to sign on. The music of Ras Kimono plus he visuals of his biggest performances are showing at COSON House. We wuld ecelbrate him mightily. His funeral would be one of the best organised in the history of Nigeria with respect to artistes. I can assure you that.”

    Also, Rastafarians in Ebonyi State are planning to hold candlelight procession for Ras Kimono.

    Though a date is yet to be fixed, the reggae artists said that the procession was to honour Kimono “because of his great contributions to the development of the brand of music in the country.”

    Until his death, Ras Kimono who was a vegetarian for 37 years before his death practiced Rastafraianism.

     

    James Okoh, alias Rasta Omege, said he would coordinate the activities to ensure that Kimono was given a befitting tribute by Rastafarians in the state.

     

    “We would immediately convene a meeting to deliberate on ways to honour our departed father and further propagate the reggae gospel in the state and the country.

     

    “We would also organise candle light procession, hold road-shows, music concerts, Rastafarian-night, among other activities, to give Ras Kimono a befitting farewell.”

     

    Another Rastafarian, Charles Nduka, alias Rasta Iree, said Kimono’s contributions to the development of music, especially reggae and the entire social sector of the country, was unparalleled.

     

    “Kimono inspired young musicians in the country to embrace reggae and this helped in some of the positive changes witnessed in the society,” Rasta Iree said.

     

    “Kimono, through his songs, ensured that music was given its pride of place in the country and corrected the wrong notion that it is a venture for school drop-outs and never do wells.”

  • Kimono will be remembered for elevation of reggae – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says the late globally acclaimed reggae star, Ras Kimono will be remembered for his contribution to the elevation of reggae.

    In a statement issued on Monday, the Minister said Kimono’s contribution to that genre of music can never be forgotten.

    Mohammed expressed shock and sadness at the passing of the reggae star, adding that he would be remembered for his love of the masses, his life of discipline and his service to humanity.

    “Kimono helped to blaze the trail for the phenomenal growth of the Nigerian music industry.

    “He was a worthy mentor to the younger generation of Nigerian musicians. His legacy will surely endure,” Mohammed said.

    The minister extended his condolences to the family, friends and fans of the late artiste, and indeed to the entire Nigerian music industry.

    He said the music industry had lost “a foremost proponent of reggae, a prominent campaigner for a better life for the people and a patriot”.

    The minister prayed that God will grant his family the strength to bear their loss, and grant repose to the soul of the departed.

  • Clerics, others describes late Ras Kimono as a fearless philosopher

    Rev. Fr Pius Eluka, a Catholic cleric on Monday said that Ras Kimono was a fearless philosopher and demonstrated the quality it in his lyrics during his life time.

    “This Reggae master was a disciplined singer who spoke to the people and was very futuristic in his music,” he said.

    Similarly, Rev. Fr. Tony Afariogu, a lecturer at All Saints’ Major Seminary, Ekpoma, Edo, described the late Ras Kimono’s music as good and sensible.’’

    Afariogun said that a listener could learn something positive from old tunes unlike the modern music where musicians were only adding all sorts of words together and call it music.

    “The modern music is full of immoral words. It is not good for Christians. The youth should learn from the old music.

    The lyrics and wordings of old music teach moral lessons,” he said.

    Afariogun urged parents not to allow their children and wards to listen to majority of today’s kind of music.

    Also, a reggae guitarist with U-B 40, Temitope Babayemi, said that Ras Kimono was as a Reggae colossus whose content would out live him.

    Babayemi, the Vice-President, Actors Guild of Nigeria, said, “The 60-0year-old veteran was a true Reggae master who had left an indelible mark on the sand of time.

    Read Also: Ras kimono: Rastafarians to hold candle light procession in Ebonyi

    “His death was a painful one to me personally and to his numerous fans and friends.’’

    He prayed that God should give his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

    Babayemi however advised the government to improve on the nation’s primary healthcare so that people that needed medical attention could get it fast.

    “Kimono came, saw and in spite of the incredible odds, conquered. May Jah grant his great soul sweet repose,” he said.

    He also advised artists to learn to be a reflection of their immediate environment.

    Similarly, a gospel artiste, Paula Mbah (JP), told our reporter that Ras Kimono had good content that would outlive him decades after.

    “Though, the Reggae master is gone, his lyrics will remain alive in the minds of people because he took after the likes of late Bob Marley who dropped powerful contents,” she said.

  • Ras kimono: Rastafarians to hold candle light procession in Ebonyi

    Rastafarians in Ebonyi have concluded plans to hold candle light procession for departed Nigerian Reggae icon, Ekeleke Onwubuya, popularly known as Ras Kimono.

    Kimono died on Sunday at the Lagos Lagoon hospital of an undisclosed ailment at the age of 60.

    Rastafari, sometimes termed Rastafarianism, is an Abrahamic religion that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s. Scholars of religion and related fields have classified it as both a new religious movement and a social movement.

    The reggae artists told our reporter in Abakaliki on Monday that the procession was to honour Kimono “because of his great contributions to the development of the brand of music in the country.”

    James Okoh, alias Rasta Omege, said he would coordinate the activities to ensure that Kimono was given a befitting tribute by Rastafarians in the state.

    “We would immediately convene a meeting to deliberate on ways to honour our departed father and further propagate the reggae gospel in the state and the country.

    Read Also: Reggae in Nigeria, Blues in Ethiopia

    “We would also organise candle light procession, hold road-shows, music concerts, Rastafarian-night, among other activities, to give Ras Kimono a befitting farewell.”

    Another Rastafarian, Charles Nduka, alias Rasta Iree, said Kimono’s contributions to the development of music, especially reggae and the entire social sector of the country, was unparalleled.

    He added that “Kimono inspired young musicians in the country to embrace reggae and this helped in some of the positive changes witnessed in the society.

    “Kimono, through his songs, ensured that music was given its pride of place in the country and corrected the wrong notion that it is a venture for school drop-outs and never do wells.”

    Bede Asomugha, alias, Ras Uncle, noted that he had a personal experience with Kimono in 1997, shortly after the death of late Afro-beat music icon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

    Ras Uncle said “I was a drug addict and was resident at Fela’s African Shrine with others affected by the demise of the late afro-beat star.

    “Kimono encouraged me to return to Ebonyi after I had shun drugs one year earlier. I am a living example of Rastafarian not engaged in drug abuse.”

    Christy Mbaleke, a Reggae fan, urged the federal, state and music organisations not only to immortalise Kinomo but enhance the welfare of artists in the country.

    She said “Ras Kimono used his songs to fight apartheid in South Africa, military dictatorship in Nigeria, poverty, oppression, among other malaise in the society.

    “Relevant stakeholders should look into the welfare of artists and the entertainment industry to check the rising cases of death among them.”

    Some of Kimono’s hit songs include: Whats Gwan, Rumba Stylee, Natty Get Jail, Senseless Killings.

  • Nigerians mourn reggae star Ras Kimono

    The Nigerian entertainment industry is mouring the death yesterday of Reggae legend Ras Kimono.

    Kimono, 60, who passed on at the Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos, is survived by his wife and musician daughter Oge.

    Recounting his last moments, Kimono’s one-time manager and friend Eddy Lawani, said the musician was billed to travel to the United States but complained of being unwell on Friday.

    He was taken to a hospital in Ikeja from where he was referred to Lagoon Hospital.

    “He was in the Intensive Care Unit on Friday because he said he could not breath well.

    “But on Saturday, he was receiving visitors and friends; we were all with him. And they all joked and left.

    “This morning (Sunday), suddenly between 11am and 12pm, I think he went into some kind of situation. By 12:30pm he was pronounced dead. The post-mortem is not issued yet.”

    Famous for his rub-a-dub style, Ras Kimono was born Okeleke Elumelu Onwubuya, on May 9, 1958. He hailed from Delta State.

    Kimono released his debut album with his Massive Dread Reggae Band, ‘Under Pressure’ on Premier Music label in 1989. It was a hit.

    He started his musical career as a student of Gbenoba Secondary School, Agbor, Delta State and joined a group cJastix Reggae Ital along with Majek Fashek, Amos McRoy and Black Rice Osagie.

    Known not to shy away from political activism, Ras Kimono who said he lived as a vegetarian for 37 years, used his songs to address socio-political situations in the country.

    He released among other albums, ‘Rasta get jail’ and ‘Rhumba style’, He won many  awards including the Nigerian Music Awards, and Fame Music Awards.

    In a tribute, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) “deeply regrets” the death  of a front-line member of our board, great African and great musician, the reggae toaster, the great Ras Kimono Onwubuya.”

    Senator Ben Murray Bruce, tweeted: ‘I feel so sad hearing about the death of reggae legend, Ras Kimono. He redefined the face of music and there will be none like him. He will be dearly missed.’

    Senator Dino Malaye too tweeted: ‘Death why! Why! My brother and my friend. Legend Ras Kimono rest in Peace. What a black day! What an unceremonious exit. I love you and will miss you. Sad sad sad,’ he said.

    Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Steve Ayorinde also posted Ras Kimono’s picture on his Instagram handle, with the caption, ‘RIP Ras Kimono.’

    Media guru Taiwo Obe tweeted: ‘On Sunday, February 3, a bubbly Ras Kimono, accompanied by his first cousin, Austin, visited me to discuss a show he was going to have at the Freedom Park towards his 60th b’day later in April. We had an engaging evening. Some mins ago, @qedng broke the news of his death.’

    At the deceased 60th birthday party which took place at Times Square, Ikeja, Lagos were celebrities like Sir Shina Peters, Chief Tony Okoroji, Eddy Lawani, Daddy Showkey, Eddy Remedies, Kenny Saint Brown, Oritz Wiliki, Alariwo of Africa, Righteous Man, Bisi Olatilo and others.

    At the party, Daddy Showkey revealed how Ras Kimono made him a successful musician by giving him the chance to perform at Floating Buka and blessing his first CD at the late musician’s Omole, Lagos residence.

    After a hiatus, Kimono in 2017, returned to the music scene with a single, ‘Blessed Africa’ which critiqued the continent’s ironic poverty, despite its rich deposit of human and natural resources.

    He said: “We are in a situation where Africans are poor even though we have plenty in terms of good soil, crude oil that has become a curse to the nation,” Ras Kimono said in an interview.

    “We also have intellectuals that would prefer to take their intellects elsewhere other than Nigeria. We have musical talents that are being exploited and left in penury, our pensioners cannot eat the fruit of their labour, our schools are in horrible conditions, we have half-baked graduates who cannot complete a statement. What is really wrong with a continent that is really Blessed by God?”