Muson Centre, Lagos will come alive on Friday, November 11, as music maestro, Pupa Orits Williki, celebrates his remarkable 40 years on stage. It will be a day of pomp, pageantry and ceremony as music stars in their numbers will be on hand to support one of their own.
Business leaders, political juggernauts, fashionistas and society bigwigs will equally grace the occasion. The high point of the celebration will be a double album launch of the reggae icon’s greatest hits and new songs.
On the new songs, Williki says: “Each time l look at my archive l is stunned. I feel like we haven’t released half of what Jah has deposited inside of me, trust me. You know I’m a multi-instrumentalist and sound engineer, so, I often produce others and myself with regard to music. I have a large number of unreleased materials that I would be happy to push out as Jah permits. It’s some of my best works yet.”
The master artiste will also be bestowing what he terms, legendary awards on 12 notable musicians in Nigeria. They include Bongos Ikwue, King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Alhaji Kollington, Onyeka Onwenu, Bright Chimezie, Sir Shina Peters, Alhaja Salawa Abeni, Dr. Tee Mac lseli, Emma Ogosi and Eleru Stella Monye. A posthumous award will also be dedicated to Osayomore Joseph.
According to Orits Williki, the artistes were selected based on their sterling performance over the years and lasting impact on the music industry. “Let’s celebrate them now that they are alive because this is the foundation of our cultural heritage of the future in terms of songs,” he added. “Let’s celebrate them now that they are still alive. These people devoted their lives to bringing smiles and laughter to people through their creativity.”
Pupa Orits Williki, fondly called Koleman Revolutionaire burst into the music scene in Nigeria in the 1980s in the wake of the reggae rave. His first band, The Revolutionaire, was formed in Paris. Interestingly, his first album, Tribulation, was fully sponsored by a French company, Alanche’ de’ Lamour. In Nigeria, Polygram Records handled the release and marketing. It was a hit. ‘’Many Nigerians never believed a Nigerian could present reggae in that format,’’ he said of the reception of the music. “Many thought it was a Jamaican artiste.”
His follow-up, Conqueror, caught like wildfire with an infusion of toast, rap and roots. The fourth album, One Drop, released on his own label, Cowrie Music, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, under then Federal Minister of Health, Prof. Olikoye Ransome Kuti, is a social crusade basically done to propagate public awareness on the AIDS scourge. ‘’It is only in Nigeria that musicians are taken as praise singers. Musicians should be the eyes of the public. Music remains the greatest weapon anywhere.’’
It is this art of commitment that Pupa Orits Williki is celebrating as he marks his 40th year on stage.
