Remains of late reggae legend, Mr Augustine Onwubuya popularly known as Ras Kimono, were laid to rest on Saturday at his hometown, Onicha-Olona in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State amidst tears, wailings and eulogies.
According to Vanguard, the body of the popular artiste which was contained in a Rastafarian coloured casket, was lowered at exactly 3.20pm by Ven. Josiah Ogom of the Asaba Diocese of the Anglican Communion with prayers committing his soul to the Lord.
Chairman of the Copyright Society of Nigeria, COSON, Mr Tony Okoroji who also attended the ceremony gave the graveside oration.
Okoroji said: “Kimono was unbeatable, unpiratable and wonderful. He was a Nigerian like no other. We don’t mourn him, we celebrate him. Kimono never drank, never smoked and never ate meat yet he was great in his chosen field.
“As we say goodbye to this lion, let us remember that he had no father, no mother, no brother and no sister but see the way the world has honoured him. We should unite to support the daughters he left behind.”
Some of the artistes who attended the ceremony were Orits Wiliki, Daddy Showky, Buchi, Yellow Man, Righteous Man, Candy Sea and Bright Chimezie among others.
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was represented by his Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr Karo Ilolo.
Also present were Mrs. Ameachi Mrakpor of the House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Nwaobi of the State House of Assembly, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Bazim Chinye, Veteran Nollywood Producer, Opa Williams and members of the Rastas Fraternity including the national grand patron for Nigeria, Ras Edu Dickson.
A torrential outpouring of tributes and emotions occured on Friday as his remains arrived Asaba, the Delta State capital, for burial on Saturday.
As reported by Punch, the body of the late musician, who died on June 10, was received by a multitude of friends, colleagues, relatives and fans in the state capital, prior to its interment in his Onicha-Olona hometown in Aniocha North local government area of the state.
Okoroji, in his tribute, had described the late reggae artiste as a true Nigerian who used his talent to preach peace in Nigeria and the African continent.
Okoroji said Kimono was a proud member of COSON; and one of the noticeable voices who worked for the growth of the nation’s music industry.
He said: “Ras Kimono was not just a member of COSON but an activist who joined us in the struggle. Our prayer is that the incredible spirit he left behind will continue to bind us together. There will never be another Kimono. But I know that Kimono lives.
“As we drove from Lagos on Thursday, people at every stop were singing Kimono’s songs and dancing to his beats.”
He, however, called on politicians in the country to be selfless and deliver good governance to the people they campaigned to protect during their electioneering. He said this would help to avoid songs such as ‘Under Pressure’ which the deceased became famous for.
Also speaking, the national grand patron for Rastafarian Movement and Africa’s representative, Ras Edu Dickson, noted that Kimono was a gift to the world. He said the late singer should be immortalised.
Kimono’s daughter, Oge said her father was selfless, compassionate, loving and patient, while describing him as her best friend.
Asaba, the Delta State capital, stood still as thousands of fans, friends and relations thronged the city to welcome the remains of late reggae legend, Ras Kimono, on Friday.
The week-long burial activities for the 60-year-old musician started in Lagos, where he spent most of his active years.
Thousands of reggae lovers who arrived the state capital participated in a series of street processions, even before the remains of the famous music artiste arrived.
Members of the Rastas fraternity and the Copyright Society of Nigeria participated in the Friday processions which peaked at Cenotaph, where the deceased was briefly laid in state amid tributes from everyone present.
And as reported by Premium Times, the final burial rites of the late Reggae legend, Ras Kimono, commenced on Wednesday with a tribute night held at the COSON house, Ikeja Lagos.
A sleek red carpet was on display at the tribute night, which turned out to be a concert of some sorts.
There were the likes of Dede Mabiaku, Clarion Chukwuka, Faze, Essence, Alariwo of Africa, Kenny Saint Best, Sen. Florence Ita- Giwa and a host of other personalities at the occasion.
Ras Kimono’s daughter, Oge Kimono, who is also a reggae artiste took the audience down memory lane when she performance ‘Under pressure’ a song her late dad recorded in 1989.
Veteran Reggae maestros, Majek Fashek and Oritz Williki, also performed some of Kimono’s greatest hits to the delight of the audience.
As each artiste took turn to pay tributes to the late reggae icon, tears flowed endlessly especially when they recollected their last encounters with Kimono.
The Rasta community in Lagos was also on hand to pay tribute to one of theirs and they also took turns to pray for him during the lying in state.
During his tribute, Kimono’s manager, Daddy Faizer, also dispelled certain speculations that Kimono might have been battling a serious ailment resulting in his demise. He said that the singer underwent a medical test about three weeks prior and that his doctors had said he was in good shape.
He said: “His death remains a big shock to all of us. He will be surely missed.”
While fielding questions from the media at the venue, the General Manager of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chinedu Chukwuji, said: “Ras Kimono was not just a COSON member, he was a 100 per cent committed member, totally dedicated to the cause.As a hyper creative person, he fought against anything that will destroy COSON as he saw the organisation as a watershed development in our country and an important legacy for the Nigerian creative industry.
“No one should forget that until he passed on, Ras Kimono was a key member of the COSON Board and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with our chairman. Chief Okoroji was one of the last persons Kimono spoke to on his sick bed, before he passed on.”
The late musician’s body left the TOS Funeral Home, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday morning where it had been preserved since his June 10 death on Thursday morning.
It made its way to the late musician’s Magodo Estate residence in Lagos where another convoy comprising his friends and associates began the journey to his Onicha Olona ancestral home in the Aniocha North, Delta State.
The dreadlocked musician had reportedly slumped at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while waiting to board a flight to the United States, on the night of June 9.
According to sources, Kimono was immediately rushed to a hospital in Ikeja, Lagos, and then taken to another hospital on Lagos Island, where he later died on Sunday morning.
He was aged 60.
Born on May 9, 1958, Ras Kimono rose to fame in 1989 with his album, ‘Under pressure,’ which launched him to stardom.
According to All Music, it set the tone as he released more songs and started touring Africa, Europe and the U.S. He also won several awards, including the Nigerian Music Awards and Fame Music Awards.
The reggae star, who was known for hit songs like ‘We No Want’ and ‘“Rum-Bar Stylée” had reportedly concluded plans to travel to the United States before he passed on.
Born in Delta State, he celebrated his 60th birthday amidst fanfare in Lagos in May.
Kimono served a long apprenticeship on the Nigerian music circuit, experimenting with a number of styles, before making his late 80s breakthrough as a reggae singer.
Together with his Massive Dread Reggae Band, he released his debut album, Under Pressure, in 1989. Accompanied by the popular single, ‘Rum-Bar Stylee’, this revealed both a Jamaican and native African influence (the latter particularly evident in his ‘patois’ delivery, as frequently employed by afro music legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti to communicate with the urban underclass).
His strongly polemical lyrics produced album sales of over 100, 000 copies, and a fervent following for his advocacy of social change.
What’s Gwan proved even more successful, with the topics selected including legalisation of marijuana, and the need for Africans to intellectually repel colonialism and its arbitrary boundaries between tribes.
Most controversially, he was not averse to naming directly those in power he saw as synonymous with backdoor imperialism. He dropped a new single after many years of hiatus from the music scene.
According to Wikipedia, Ras Kimono (9 May 1958 – 10 June 2018) was a Nigerian reggae artist whose debut album Under Pressure, led by the single “Rum-Bar Stylée”, was a big hit in the Nigerian music scene in 1989.
Before he released his solo album, he was in a group called The Jastix along with Amos McRoy and Majek Fashek.
Oseloke Augustine Onwubuya, popularly known as Ras Kimono was born in Ekeleke Elumelu, Delta State, Nigeria.
He started out his career as a student of Gbenoba Secondary School Agbor and later as a member of the Jastix Reggae Ital, alongside Majek Fashek, Amos McRoy Jegg and Black Rice Osagie.
His music was greatly influenced by the poverty, inequality and hardship he witnessed in his early life. He released his solo debut album Under Pressure on the Premier Music label in 1989, which propelled him to instant continental stardom. The album had hits such as “Under Pressure”, “Natty Get Jail” and the massive hit “Rhumba Style”.
He later released a string of hit albums, touring all over Africa, Europe and the United States, promoting his brand of reggae music. He won several awards including the Nigeria Music Awards, Fame Music Awards and many more. In 2010, he was still performing to a loyal fan-base of all ages and his music is still played on radio, throughout West Africa.
Vanguard/Punch/Premium Times/All Music/Wikipedia
