Ferdinand Ekechukwu
Sigma Club, University of Ibadan, the oldest surviving student organization in sub-Saharan Africa, has, as part of its 70th anniversary celebration, honoured four distinguished Nigerian musicians who had made groundbreaking impact in the world of music and had also made indelible contributions to the club’s flagship programme – the Havana Carnival – the first Musical Carnival in Nigeria/West African, which was first hosted in 1955. Worthy of note is the fact that these recognised musician also performed at the Sigma Havanah Festival years ago.
Among the legendary musicians honoured – King Sunny Ade, Commander Ebenezer Obey, Fela Ramsome Kuti, and Sir Victor Uwaifo – were awarded with lifetime achievers and post-humous awards respectively. The award ceremony which marked the opening of the Club’s 70th anniversary with a dinner and suit luncheon took place on Saturday, November 13th, 2021, at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre. At the event, friends and family of the award recipients mingle in an atmosphere of conviviality, fun and classic music reminiscent of the good old days.
Guests were also regaled with speeches from prodigious Sigmites like John Nnia Nwodo and Professor Kofi Duncan, the oldest surviving founding member of the club, which took them down memory lane, evoking of their youthful days which is steeped in the tradition of discipline and integrity. Sigma Club, University of Ibadan has evolved dynamically over the past seven decades as a unique and enviable socio-philanthropic organization of gentlemen that has instill in her tradition, the virtue of purity in its manifold expression of good character, integrity and discipline.
The peak of the anniversary celebration would be the induction of his Royal Highness, the Obi of Onitsha, as the next honoring member of the club at the epoch making event, which will take place on Saturday December 4, 2021 at the Alumni Hall of the University of Ibadan. The Havana Music Carnival equally features Miss Havana (the Queen of Nigerian Campus) beauty contest.
The carnival has been in existence since 1952 and it is the oldest event of such pedigree in the history of any Nigerian institution, aimed at inspiring the youth positively and giving back to the society. The carnival has brought the best of Nigerian musical artistes to the University of Ibadan, notable among them are Onyeka Onwenu, Kwam 1, King Sunny Ade, Alhaji Ayinde.
Other musician who has graced the prestigious Havana carnival include Barrister, Chief Ebenezer Obey, Lagbaja, Obesere, Mike Okri, Ras Kimono, Majek Fashek, Sir Shina Peters, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Dr. Olaiya, Orlando Julius, Orlando Owoh, Dan Maraya Jos, Christy Essien Igbokwe, Sunny Okosun, Geraldo Pino, Elvy King, Seun Kuti, just to mention a few. By the way, Seun was at the award-dinner ceremony and received his father’s plaque on behalf of the Kuti family. Interestingly of note, the late Bobby Benson, late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Sir Shina Peters, are graduands of the Havana Hall of Fame.
