A committee of friends and associates of the late Aib, led by Amos McRoy Osifo to celebrate Aib’s life and times, celebrate his legacy, and honour his memory through a major, befitting tribute series of concerts. Consisting of musicians, entertainers, the media, and related fields, whose lives were greatly touched in one way or the other by Aib Igiehon’s Midas Touch, the objective is to immortalise his name and legacy
Cutting across the various genres of music he promoted through the various initiatives he ran with his beloved wife and partner, Tonia, the artists include Pupa Oris Williki, Amos McRoy, Gboyega Adelaja, Black O’Rice, Sir Shina Peters, Charlimo, Zubi Enebeli, Gloria Ibru, Yinka Davies, Lt. Shotgun, Righteous Man, Buchi, Emma Grey, Alex O, Felix Duke, among others…
Aib, as he was fondly called, was the originator of the annual Nigerian Food and Culture Festival which usually held at either the Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS or the International Trade Fair Complex. The week-long festival usually featured several top and upcoming musicians and cultural groups performing, while every state had one or two representatives to showcase the peculiar culture of the states in their booth…
HARRIS Aibangbee Igiehon, co-founder and lead partner of the once famous AIBTONIA, the music and entertainment promotion outfit, who passed on May 11 last year, returns to his maker, next week.
The remains of the entertainment czar, who ruled the heart of the showbiz industry in the 80s through the 90s, will be interred in his beloved home source in Benin Edo State. The remains have been brought home from Maryland, in the United States, where he had lived his last two decades on earth.
Described as “an entertainment veteran, legend and a founding father of live music concerts in Nigeria” by his associates and mentees, Aib, died in the USA after a long bout of illness, which had left him incapacitated for a while.
However, before Aib, the trained architect turned showbiz impresario, proceeds on his final journey, his friends and associates, many of whom had profited from his stark commitment to promotion and upliftment of their career, have decided to give him one last massive salute.
Led by the popular reggae act and activist, Amos McRoy, with support of such eminent artists as Pupa Oritz Wiliki and Black O’Rice,’ among others, the concerts will hold both in Lagos and Benin City at about the time the funeral rites would be in progress.
Thus on Sunday, February 2 at the Freedom Park, Lagos Island, a galaxy of renowned music makers and showbiz practitioners will converge to stage the first of the two-pronged tribute concert. The concert train will then proceed to Benin City on the 6th and 9th.
“The star-studded musical concerts in his honour are slated for the 2nd of February 2025 at the Freedom Park, Lagos, and in Benin City between the 6th and 9th of February 2025, when the remains of the enigmatic godfather of the entertainment industry in Nigeria, would be laid to rest at his residence in Benin City,” stated McRoy of the popular group, Ja’stix.
The galaxy of stars….
The lineup is vast, and not incredibly consisting of who-is-who of those whohad been on the scene since the 80s and are still well-honed in the business.
Cutting across the various genres of music he promoted through the various initiatives he ran with his beloved wife and partner, Tonia, the artists include Pupa Oris Williki, Amos McRoy, Gboyega Adelaja, Black O’Rice, Sir Shina Peters, Charlimo, Zubi Enebeli, Gloria Ibru, Yinka Davies, Lt. Shotgun, Righteous Man, Buchi, Emma Grey, Alex O, Felix Duke, among others.
Over the months since his passing, the artists, have been deliberating under the group “Friends and Associates of Aib Igiehon”, to cook the details of the tribute concerts, and are now ready to give the legend his befitting flowers.
In a press statement released in August last year, McRoy explained why Aib Igiehon deserves the celebration, he writes:
“Architect Aibangbee Harris Igiehon otherwise known as Aibtonia who brought life to live outdoor music concerts in Nigeria has bowed out
“His forays into the Nigerian entertainment industry began in 1982 when he brought several Jamaican superstars such as Marcia Griffiths, Mutabaruka, Steel Pulse, Mighty etc on a mini tour of Nigeria which kicked off at the main bowl of the then Ogbe stadium (now Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium)
“Aib as he was fondly called, was the originator of the annual Nigerian Food and Culture Festival which usually held at either the Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS or the International Trade Fair Complex. The week-long festival usually featured several top and upcoming musicians and cultural groups performing while every state had one or two representatives to showcase the peculiar culture of the states in their booth.
“During these festivals, artists 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) nationwide musical tour from February to April in 1989. On this tour were such artists as, Evangelist Sonny Okosuns, Majek Fashek, Christy Essien Igbokwe, Dan Maraya Jos, The Mandators, alongside several locally based artists
“Aib also organised 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 including 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 internationally-renowned “Reggae SunSplah Organisation” 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 Band etc
“There are ongoing efforts by a committee of friends and associates of the late Aib, led by Amos McRoy Osifo to celebrate Aib’s life and times, celebrate his legacy, and honour his memory through a major, befitting tribute series of concerts. Consisting of musicians, entertainers, the media, and related fields, whose lives were greatly touched in one way or the other by Aib Igiehon’s Midas Touch, the objective is to immortalise his name and legacy.”
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