… As stars pledge their willingness
By Emma Ogbuehi
#CharlesOkogene
A star studded musical concerts is in the works as part of the activities to kick start the burial of Architect Aibangbee Harris Igiehon otherwise known as Aibtonia, who bowed out in far away America recently. The concert will take place at The Freedom Park in Lagos on the 2nd of February 2025 and in Benin city between the 6th and 9th of February 2025 when he will be laid to rest at his residence in the Edo State capital.
Aibtonia
Aibtonia in his days brought life to live outdoor music concerts in Nigeria.
His forays into the Nigerian entertainment industry began in 1982 when he brought several Jamaican superstars such as Marcia Griffiths, Mukta Baruka, Steel Pulse, Mighty Sparrow etc on a mini tour of Nigeria which kicked off at the main bowl of the then Ogbe stadium (now Samuel Ogbenudia stadium, Benin City).
Aib as he was fondly called, was the originator of the annual Nigerian food and culture festival which usually held at either the TBS of the Trade fair center at Ojo both in Lagos. During this week long festival you had several top and upcoming musicians and cultural groups perform while every state had one or two representatives to showcase the peculiar culture of the states in their booth.
During these festivals artist such as: Evangelist Sonny Okosuns, Alhaji Kolington Ayinla, Queen Salawa Abeni, Onyeka Onwenu, Daniel Wilson, Amos McRoy, Comfort Omoge, Pupa Orits Williki, Ras Kimono, Majek Fashek, The mandators, Mike Okri, Uche Ibeto etc perform live.
Aib was also the brain behind the General IBB led Federal military government sponsored MAMSER (Mass Mobilization for Social Awareness) nation wide musical tour from February to April in 1989.
On this tour you had artists such as:
Evangelist Sonny Okosuns, Majek Fashek, Christy Essien Igbokwe, Dan Maraya Jos, The Mandators, alongside several locally based artists.
Aib also organized several Nationwide or regional musical tours in conjunction with several multi-national companies such as: The Nigerian Breweries Plc, Golden Guinea Breweries, Sona Breweries, Cadbury, PZ, Lever Brothers and a host of others.
Besides all these, Aib was a father to all in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
He touched so many lives in the industry such as Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Evangelist Sonny Okosuns, Alhaji Kolington Ayinla, Queen Salawa Abeni, Onyeka Onwenu, Daniel Wilson, The Ja’stix, Amos McRoy, Majek Fashek, Black O’Rice, George Orwell’s, The Mandators, Orits Williki, Ras Kimono, Christy Essien Igbokwe, Mike Okri, Sound on Sound (S.O.S band) and many more.
It was Aib who rescued the International renowned “Reggae SunSplah Organization” when they brought several international music stars on tour of Nigeria and several west African countries as well as Gabon.
They came with concert equipment from the United States of America which uses 110 wattage electricity while Nigeria uses 220 wattage, hence none of their massive equipment could work in Nigeria, they were in a serious dilemma until somebody introduced them to Aib who had just shipped in his customized JBL live concert equipment which was eventually used for Reggae sunsplash tour 1988 and had artists such as: Burning Spear, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Judy Mowatts, Sly & Rubby’s Taxi Gang, Chalice band, Cotch band, Ja’stix Reggae Ital etc.
There are efforts being made right now by Amos McRoy Osifo who has put together a committee made up of a group of friends and artists whose lives were greatly touched in one way or the other by Aib Igiehon’s Midas touch hence desires to give him befitting tribute Concerts to honour and immortalize his name and legacy.
CREDIT: The Niche
