If there is any oncoming event that is being anxiously awaited, it’s none other than the much-talked-about landmark entertainment event from the stables of the prestigious and foremost entertainment outfit, Evergreen Music Company, Ariya Eko.
In an interview session with Justnews’ Wole Adepoju, the beautiful, creative, and dynamic managing director of Evergreen Music Company, Bimbo Esho, provided explanations to some questions that border around ARIYA EKO, a program scheduled to be held on the 5th of October at Muson Center, Onikan, Lagos.
Parts of what the intelligent lady spoke about include the essence and the objective of Ariya Eko, the involvement of the Lagos State government, and the expected high points of the event, to mention a few.
Excerpts:
For the benefit of those who may be hearing about Ariya Eko for the first time, could you tell us what Ariya Eko is and what it is all about?
Ariya Eko is a yearly event put together for the preservation of one of our most defining cultural landmark ( MUSIC) here in Lagos ..We don’t want to lose the aesthetics of our indigenous music as it the embodiment of our general way of life ie dance, food, language , festivals, etc. ARIYA EKO showcases the diverse, and evergreen musical traditions of Lagos people.
Evergreen Music, the company that is the brain behind Ariya Eko, is a collector of all kinds of music, and that one makes one wonder why this noble project wears a tag that suggests it’s restricted to Lagos (Eko). What’s your reaction?
Ariya is unlimited and not restricted to only Lagos as such. Lagos is one State that is very tolerant and over the years we have witnessed that all comers from different states of the federation made a whole impact in Lagos and continue to do so. Not only in the area of music but even corporate business.
It’s understood that late musicians will be recognized by Ariya Eko, while the living ones who have slipped into oblivion will be reviewed. How exactly do you intend to sustain the revival?
The revival process is sustainable because many people underestimate the numbers of creative geniuses that have passed through the soil of our nation. One thing we owe them is to continue to immortalize their names so it doesn’t go into oblivion. Honestly if you ask me a lot of people have done so much that people dont even take cognizance.
What criteria are used to select musicians who have been shortlisted to be beneficiaries of this beautiful initiative?
Well one of the most important criteria is sustainability of their craft and their impact in the society. The honest truth is that there are still many people that we ought to celebrate but we shall do so overtime.
The Lagos State government is known to be a major partner in this noble project. Could you shed more light on the involvement of the Lagos State government in it?
Lagos State Government has been supporting Ariya Eko since 2019 when we had the first edition. I remember very well after meeting the Governor at an event our company organized around TBS he asked us to design a template where we can celebrate our music and heritage hence Ariya Eko was birthed. The Covid 19 slowed other editions down but now the program is fully back and bigger.
The event is slated for October. Could you tell us what to expect, and if it is not against your process of execution, who are the musicians among the living that are expected to feature in the program?
The event will be coming up in October because we looked at 65 years of Nigerias Independence we then decided to choose not only musicians but others that have made Evergreen Impact in the society with their craft. Like I said the list seems inexhaustible but then the Ariya must go on with the few chosen. ie Baba Commander Ebenezer Obey is one of the awardees, Kebe N Kwara( Ayinla Kollington), GHARIOKWU’ Lemi, Pa Tunde Kelani, Emma Ogosi, Stella Monye, Salawa, Caleb Ken Olumese, Pa Benson Idonije, etc.
What has the experience of putting together this project been like from the level of conceiving it to where it is at the moment?
The experience has been wonderful because we have good team members who all have different experiences and background. Also most of the people that we have been meeting on this event have been very cooperative.
How does Evergreen Music intend to sustain this laudable initiative, or is it meant to be a one-off?
Most laudable projects like these usually survive through sponsorship so we should give it to the Lagos State Governor Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu for seeing through this project and sponsoring it and also the patron of our foundation Dr DK Olukoya for his encouragement and commitment to indigenous music preservation.
