The magnificent COSON House, the headquarters of Nigeria’s biggest copyright Collective management organization, was in hyperactive mood this past Thursday, 8th April 2021 as family, friends and colleagues of the great Chris Ajilo, the star musician and oldest member of COSON, who passed on recently at age 91 came together to pay tribute to the iconic Nigerian.
Flags fly at half mast for Ajilo at COSON
The solemn but classy event broadcast to millions around the world on several platforms, started on the ground floor of the magnificent building as the famous COSON red carpet was laid in front of the building in honor of the great saxophonist and producer who created the famous song, “Eko Gbagbere” which year after year has become the anthem of Lagos. Many walked the red carpet and joined to take photographs to remember the historic day. The event thereafter shifted to the cozy “COSON Arena” at the top of the building. The arena was lit to capture the mood as the guests sat down to the exquisite live violin music of young Nigerian violinist, Emmaolin. Anybody who attended the event would tell you that master compere, comedian and musician, Kofi Da Guru, coordinated and intricately threaded a never-to-be-forgotten two hours of a night of endearing music, visuals and tributes. It was Kofi who introduced the celebrated former President of PMAN and Chairman of COSON, Chief Tony Okoroji, to formally welcome the guests and deliver his tribute to Chris Ajilo. Chief Okoroji who spoke extempore described Chris Ajilo as a musician’s musician who dedicated his entire life to the uplifting of the profession. He said that without the sacrifice and work done by Ajilo, a former General Manager of the defunct Performing & Mechanical Rights Society (PMRS), there would be no COSON. Chief Okoroji was emphatic that COSON is the legacy of the great Chris Ajilo which everybody who loves the profession must protect.Okoroji confessed that he would miss the telephone calls of Chris Ajilo whom he said always reached out to him in difficult times, prayed for him and encouraged him to stay the course. Chief Okoroji elicited a lot of laughter when he recounted a certain visit to Aso Rock to meet with then President Olusegun Obasanjo. He said that he was allowed into the Villa and so were other members of the delegation such as Sir Victor Uwaifo and Evangelist Ebenezer Obey but not Chris Ajilo who was stopped at the gate by security men. According to Chief Okoroji, when President Obasanjo heard that Ajilo was held up at the gate, he insisted that the meeting would not start until Chris Ajilo joined. In the words of the COSON Chairman, “when eventually, Ajilo joined the meeting, it appeared that the President forgot the rest of the delegation and for a long while was engaged in a one-on-one banter with Chris Ajilo as they reminisced on their time in Ibadan when Ajilo was the dominant entertainer in the city and the main attraction of all the beauties”. Okoroji described it as a classic case of the rejected stone becoming the corner stone of the temple.Very glowing tributes came from the two biological children of Chis Ajilo, Yemisi Alebiosu and Korode Ajilo. They both told intimate stories of the times they shared with their father, their frustration at a time with their father’s total dedication to the development of the music industry and zero interest in personal wealth. They said that eventually, they understood what their father stood for, his humility and dedication to his profession and that in many places they received acknowledgments for being children of Chris Ajilo. Veteran musician, Steve Black, talked about the international recognition that Chris Ajilo had and how recently BBC contacted him and sent a team to Nigeria specifically to interview Chris Ajilo at his home town, Ijebu Ijesha in Osun State.There was an incisive documentary on the COSON House mega screen on the life and times of Chris Ajilo. There was also a battle of saxophonists between two old students of Chris Ajilo, Yemi Sax and Sax Wumy.Among the many people in the audience was Baba Ani, leader of Fela’s African 70 and Egypt 80 bands, Mike Odiong of Premier Music; Seyi Allen of Network Tentacles; Razaq Izebe, CEO of Medid Trove and several members of the COSON Board like famed drummer, Richard Cole, Gospel Minister, Evangelist Olusegun Omoyayi and producer and national Chairman of MUPMAN, Engr Sharon Esco Wilson. Also present were the cream of the COSON management like Deputy General Manager, Mr. Vincent Adawaisi; General Counsel, Barr Simi Wash Pam; Head of Membership and Datatech, Mr. Isa Aruna; Head, Administration, Mr. Anthony Imuse, Head, Public Affairs & Media, Mr. Tolu Balogun; Head of Licensing Ms. Ann Okomi; Operations Executive, Mr. Yemi Oyerinde, etc. When the COSON General Manager, Ms. Bernice Eriemeghe delivered the vote of thanks, you would think that the night was over but the audience refused to leave and hung around for more music and entertai
