The Lagos International Jazz Festival (LIJF) has announced a landmark celebration in honour of legendary broadcaster, music critic, and culture icon, Pa Benson Idonije, with a special tribute event, tagged “Jams & Vibes Session – Prelude to 90,” ahead of his 90th birthday on June 13.
 
Scheduled to hold on Saturday, May 2, at Bature Brewery, Victoria Island, Lagos, the special tribute event will recognise a man whose lifelong dedication to music and the arts has profoundly shaped Nigeria’s cultural and musical landscape for more than seven decades.
 
Widely regarded as Nigeria’s foremost music historian, Pa Idonije holds a permanent place in Nigeria and global music history. He served as the pioneering manager of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, playing a critical role in the early development of the genre during the historic Koola Lobitos era.
 
His influence continues to resonate across generations. As the maternal grandfather of global music superstar and Grammy award winner, Burna Boy, Idonije represents a powerful bridge between the roots of Afrobeat and the modern Afrobeats movement currently commanding global attention.
 
Beyond artiste management, Pa Idonije built an enduring legacy in broadcasting. During his career at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), he introduced listener to the richness of Jazz and Highlife, helping to educate and inspire generations of music enthusiasts.
 
He is also the author of the acclaimed biography, Dis Fela Sef: The Legend(s) Untold, widely regarded as one of the most authoritative insider accounts of Fela Kuti’s life, philosophy, and musical journey.
 
Speaking about the event, founder and director of the Lagos International Jazz Festival, Ayoola Sadare, popularly known as Shaddie Bobo, described the tribute as both personal and historic. He noted that Pa Idonije remains a guiding figure in Nigeria’s music ecosystem and a respected patriarch of the festival community.
  
“Celebrating the veteran broadcaster at 90 is a meaningful way to honour continuity, legacy, and the enduring spirit of Nigerian music. Benson Idonije is more than a legend; he is a mentor and the patriarch of the Lagos International Jazz Festival,” he said.
  
“Having celebrated his 80th birthday with him, it is a profound honour to do so again at 90. This event celebrates continuity. From Fela to Burna Boy, Idonije has been the steady heartbeat behind the scenes. We are honouring a man whose vision helped define the sound of a nation,” Shadare added
  
According to him, the ‘Prelude to 90’ will feature a curated lineup of live performances spanning jazz, highlife, and Afrobeats. The evening will blend music with storytelling sessions reflecting on the evolution of Nigeria’s soundscape.
 
“Event highlights include: Live Sets — performances from veteran jazz musicians to contemporary Afro-fusion artistes. Literary Spotlight: A public reintroduction and reading of Dis Fela Sef. and Legacy Tribute: Insights into Idonije’s mentorship and his role in Burna Boy’s global ascent.
 
The event is backed by a coalition of leading creative and cultural organisations, including Naijazz & Showbiz Africa, the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), the Lagos Book & Art Festival (LABAF), Culture Advocates Caucus & Culture Dispatch, and WATZUP TV.
 
The Lagos International Jazz Festival, produced by creative enterprise Inspiro Productions, remains dedicated to celebrating excellence, preserving heritage, and connecting generations through the universal language of sound.