By Dayo Farore
The executive Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) on Friday, August 2, 2011 approved the use of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos for the memorial match for late Christy Essien-Igbokwe tagged, ‘Football Match of the Stars‘, slated for Saturday, September 3, 2011. The match according to Christy Essien Igbokwe Memorial committee is part of the week-long series of events programmed to commemorate the life and death of the ‘Lady of Songs’ which would usher them to the final burial ceremony on September 9.
In the press release made available to Nigerian Entertainment Today (NET), the chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Tony Okoroji who is in-charge of all activities expressed his gratitude, ‘Governor Fashola has once again shown that he is a man blessed with great vision and wisdom. Short sighted people may not understand but by closely identifying with the robustly growing Nigerian entertainment industry, he is clearly cementing Lagos as the entertainment capital of Africa and that has significant economic and social consequences. I salute his vision’.
However, this is not really the first time the Governor would be playing an important role since the sad exit of the late ‘Seun Rere’ classical hitmaker, he also reportedly paid for guests entertainment during condolence visits to her last home on 43, Talabi Street off Adeniyi Jones Avenue in Ikeja, where according to earlier reports would be her final resting place.
Also buzzing right now are talks about female artistes expressing their desire to be one of ‘the five divas’ scheduled for lighting up the Red Carpet Tribute Night on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at the Nightshift Coliseum on Salvation Road, Opebi . The ‘divas’ according to earlier reports will star in a Medley of ‘The Best of the Lady of Songs’, to be backed by the Goldtrain Orchestra.
Just as we are keeping our fingers crossed, a few names run invisibly on our writing pads. Great female vocalists who can blend in, though may not be perfectly, but could give a little feel of her many all time classics. Picture Omawumi on the Seun Rere classic or a Waje on the timeless Moloro Yiso and the beautiful list of wonderful female Nigerian musicians who could make up the five divas go on.
