Group honours 12 highlife legends, urges FG to invest in music industry

A night of amusement, emotions, and eulogy marked the maiden edition of the South East and South South Highlife Legendary Concert and Awards night, organised by the World ICON Enter10ment platform in Port Harcourt.

The event brought together highlife music icons, enthusiasts, and dignitaries to celebrate 12 legendary figures who have made significant contributions to the music industry and Nigeria’s cultural heritage.

The ceremony honoured both living and deceased music icons, with Jack West Omeodu, Chief Steven Osita Osadebe, Cardinal Rex Lawson, Victor Uwaifo, Gentle Mike Ejiagha, and Celestine Ukwu receiving posthumous highlife legendary awards.

Meanwhile, Chief Bright Chimezie, Elder Fubara Orutugu, Madam Theresa Onuora, Chief Barrister S. Smooth, and Chief Paulson Kalu were physically present to receive their awards, beaming with pride as they were celebrated for their contributions to highlife music.

The event featured a star-studded lineup of performers, including top comedians and highlife music artistes such as KO Baba, Akpan Okon, Induz, Wizard Chan, Umu Obiligbo, Chido Obidiegwu, Ojete (the Drunk), SoulPlusMusic Band, Big6 Band, Kings Band, and Dream Band.

The convener, Dr. Nwagbo Eberechukwu Barnabas, also thrilled the crowd with his performance. Notable dignitaries in attendance included legendary Nollywood actress Hilda Dokubo, Rivers State Commissioner of Police CP Olugbenga Adepoju, and Governor of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) in Rivers State, Moses Mabadeje.

In his address to newsmen after the event, Dr. Barnabas, founder and president of World ICON Enter10ment, expressed his passion for highlife music and the need for government investment in the industry.

He noted that despite their contributions to Nigerian music, many of these legends are not living well, highlighting the importance of support and recognition.

“The South East and South South Highlife legendary Concert and Awards was basically to honour and celebrate legends in the industry,” he said. “These legends, after making us proud, most of them are not actually living wonderful lives, so we decided to bring them to the limelight, support them, and also celebrate them.”

Dr. Barnabas emphasised the significance of highlife music in promoting Nigeria’s cultural heritage, stating that his love for the genre inspired him to organise the event.

He said the event aimed to promote Nigeria’s rich musical history and cultural identity, while also calling attention to the need for government support for the music industry.

“I must say that I feel fulfilled after the event because I am a lover of music. I grew up as a young man playing highlife music. I did rehearsals with Late Gentle Mike Ejiagha about 20 years ago in Enugu State, so the passion has been there.

“We love every genre — hip-hop, Afrobeat… they all have their place. But there’s something about highlife that speaks differently. It carries maturity, soothes the soul, brings nostalgia, and reminds us of the joy we saw in our parents as they danced, laughed, and celebrated when we were younger.

“At the event, we sang along, we laughed, we felt the culture and we went home refreshed and happy,” he said.

Barnabas used the medium to call on both the Federal and State governments to partner with the World ICON Enter10ment platform in encouraging highlife music legends, also urging them to invest in the music industry.

“I am appealing to the government to partner with us to ensure this brand is upheld because it’s for humanity. The programme is about remembering and celebrating our legends. This is the maiden edition, and we intend to make it an annual event. And by next year, government will be fully involved.

“So, we are calling on the government to come and support the World ICON Enter10ment in improving the lives of our music legends, and encourage those who want to join highlife music,” he said.

He, however, advised current and upcoming musicians not to forget their cultural heritage; rather, they should promote it, encouraging them to do more of highlife music.

The award recipients, Chief Bright Chimezie, Elder Fubara Orutugu, Chief Paulson Kalu, and Madam Theresa Onuora, as well as the families of the departed legends, in their separate speeches, thanked the organisers, led by Amb. Barnabas for honouring and celebrating them.

Bright Chimezie said, “I had to cancel every other engagement to make sure I am here today to receive this award in person, since I am still alive. It is unprecedented that legends are being honoured and celebrated this way in Nigeria, and this is coming from a young set of people.

“This award means the world to me, and I believe it’s the same to my colleagues. Because you remembered and honoured me and other highlife music legends, God and men shall remember, honour and celebrate you.”

High points of the event were the marking of a special birthday celebration of the convener of the event and founder/President of the World ICON Enter10ment, as well as the special performances by the legendary awardees; Chief Bright Chimezie, Elder Fubara Orutugu, Madam Theresa Onuora, Chief Paulson Kalu, among others.