Nigeria’s biggest copyright collective management organization, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) is mourning the loss of those that the Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, has described as “three great warriors of the music industry”
Chief Tony Okoroji in his “No Music Day” address read from the magnificent COSON House in Ikeja, Lagos on Wednesday September 1, 2021, said; “As we mark “No Music Day” today, we do so with deep sadness in our hearts. In the last two months, the music industry family has lost three persons who have been significant in the “No Music Day” campaign across the country and who played major roles in our consistent struggle for the respect of the rights of creative people everywhere in Nigeria.”
“It is no longer news that on August 28, just a few days ago, we lost the great composer and lyricist, melody maker, multi-instrumentalist, sculptor, designer, performer per excellence and intellectual giant, Prof. Victor Uwaifo, a legend of the Benin Kingdom, an icon of the Nigerian nation and an unforgettable African superstar.“
“Prof Uwaifo, the immutable “Guitar Boy”, the only ever recipient of the Grand Copyright Medal of Honour was once a strong member of the COSON Board and remained a staunch, very active and indefatigable member of COSON until death took him away from us.”
Continued Chief Okoroji; “Exactly one month before the death of Sir Victor Uwaifo, death had snatched from us another great guitarist and never-say-die member of COSON, Felix Odey, better known as Feladey.“
“On June 30, Feladay had mounted the stage at the COSON House Arena, struck his guitar and began the first stanza of ‘Hey Joe’, the iconic song made famous by the terrific Jimi Hendrix. There was sudden stupendous electricity in the Arena. The performance mesmerized everyone and we all flowed with the music in awe of a maestro at home with his instrument and his art.“
“And then the master of the guitar struck the opening chords of “Fuel for Love”, the evergreen song by Wrinkars Experience and the audience went wild and there was absolute commotion on the dance floor. From “Fuel for Love” to “Love Adure” and the many old favourites of Rex Jim Lawson, the audience sang along and danced to the virtuoso performance of Feladay. Little dd we know that most of us were seeing him for the last time. Sadly, four weeks later, without warning, death visited and took Feladay from us”.
With great sadness in his voice, the COSON Chairman and celebrated former President of PMAN said; “On July 3, 2021, the COSON family was thrown into deep mourning following the sudden death of the most loved frontline COSON Director and rock of the COSON Board, Honourable John Ewelukwa Udegbunam.
“The vastly respected Udegbunam was the immediate past National President of the powerful Music Label Owners & Recording Industries Association of Nigeria (MORAN), Nigeria’s biggest association of owners of copyright in sound recordings.”
“The no-nonsense activist was a trained musicologist, composer, music teacher, producer and label owner and National Music Director of the Praise & Worship Ministry of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria (CCRN). He was a great guitarist and guitar teacher”.
Added Chief Okoroji; “As we mourn the passing of these three great warriors of our industry and pray that the Almighty reposes their souls and comforts the families they left behind, we must appreciate that we are involved in a relay race and that the baton has been passed to us. We should therefore honour them by seizing the responsibility with both hands and continuing the race with even more vigor and zest”.
Chief Okoroji called on Nigerian musicians to come together to express the gratitude of the music industry to each of the fallen soldiers by giving each of them a burial worth their mettle.