Some Nigerian music veterans honoured in Lagos

Some veteran Nigerian musicians were honoured in the early hours of Monday in Lagos for their contributions to the development of Nigerian music.
The awards, tagged: “The Headies Veterans’ Night”, held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, were presented to Tony Okoroji, Sir Shina Peters, Laolu Akins, Stella Monye and Ras Kimono.
Others were: Mike Okri, Adewale Ayuba and Victor Olaiya.
Chief Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation Magazine, Patrick Doyle, Femi Lasode, Edi Lawani and Grand Master Lee also won awards for their contributions to Nigerian Art.
The annual event, organised by Smooth Promotions, was a celebration of evergreen Nigerian music rendered in contemporary genre platform by younger artists.
The musical performances, which brought back fond memories in the audience, saw a pop artist, Jaywon, opening the event with a rendition of a veteran, late Fatai Rolling Dollars: “Won Kere Si Number Wa.”
Chidinma performed “Seun Rere” by late Christy Essien-Igbokwe.
Dammy Krane performed Pasuma’s ‘Liga Liga Li’; Sean Tizzle rendered King Sunny Ade’s ‘Merciful God’; Sound Sultan sang Majek Fashek’s ‘Send Down the Rain’; while Tosin Martins replicated Adewale Ayuba’s ‘Ijo Fuji.’
The highlight of the infectious night was when some of the veteran musicians in attendance joined the younger artists in an impromptu duet.
The electrifying moment saw Ayuba joining Martins on stage to perform, while Ras Kimono teamed up with Sound Sultan in performing his evergreen track, ‘Rumba Stylee’.
Dr. Sid performed ‘Guitar Boy’ by Sir Victor Uwaifo, while Teju Babyface cajoled Sir Shina Peters into performing ‘Shinamania’ with him.
Babyface repeated the same trick with Mike Okri, who also came onstage and performed the old track, ‘Omoge.’
Saxophonist, Mike Aremu, also leveraged the night’s tempo with his replication of Lagbaja’s ‘Cool Temper.’
The organiser of the event, Ayo Animashaun, said the awards were in recognition of the veterans’ contributions to the development of the Nigeria Music Industry.
Animashaun said: “The Headies Veterans Night’ has come to stay and will continue to precede ‘The Headies’ music awards.
“We are lucky to have all these veterans of the Nigerian music industry with us and we will continue to honour them and those that have left us.
“There will be no Nigerian music industry without them and the millions the industry enjoys today from endorsements, performance fees and sponsorships would not have been possible without them.”
Earlier, Momodu commended the veteran musicians for their use of music as a vehicle for social and moral mobilisation.
Momodu said: “Music is the commonest bond that ties all humans together.
“We will always be indebted to you (the veterans) for what you did for us in this country.”
Darey, another artist, attributed his limited success in music through a video, to the inspiration from the veterans.
Meanwhile, the organisers also announced that ‘The Headies Music Awards’ for 2013 would hold on December 26 in Lagos.