Family Announces Ras Kimono’s Burial Date

• COSON Plans Sleek Red Carpet Tribute Night
The family of the late reggae icon, Augustine Ukeleke Onwubuya popularly known as Ras Kimono, the rub-a-dub-master has announced date and activities for his burial.

At a media parley held at O’jez Restaurant, Surulere, Lagos on Monday, Mr. Theophilus Ehizibue on behalf of the family of the deceased and in the presence of some members of Kimono’s family, reeled out activities for the funeral arrangements.

Activities for the burial will commence from August 20 and run through to August 26. The social wake-keep will hold at his Magodo, Lagos residence on Friday, August 17 from 8pm. Premier Music tribute would hold at the Freedom Park, Lagos, on Monday August 20, while reggae dancehall party holds at his Magodo residence also on the day.

According released dates, Association of Music Band Organisation of Nigeria (AMBON) tribute nite will place at the Freedom Park on Tuesday August 21, while the reggae dancehall continues at his residence in Magodo. On Wednesday, August 22, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) will pay tribute to the Rumba Style at its magnificent house in Ikeja, Lagos.

His remains will be laid-in-state on Thursday, August 24 at the Blue Roof Arena of Lagos Television, Agidingbi, Ikeja from 9am to 12noon. Thereafter, body leaves for Asaba, Delta State capital.

The Rasta communities, also on the day hold a procession in Asaba from 9am to 12noon. This will be followed by a brief lying-in-state between 1pm and 3pm, while the traditional wake-keep holds at his family compound in Onicha Olona, Aniocha North LGA, Delta State.

On Saturday August 25, his remain will lay-in-state in his family compound. This would be followed by interment and reception at the same venue, while Sunday August 26 would be the thanksgiving/outing service.

Meanwhile COSON have concluded plan a super classy tribute night in honour of the great reggae toaster, who passed on in Lagos on June 10, 2018.

Speaking on the upcoming event, COSON Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Chibueze Moses Okereke said the sleek red-carpet event like no other, will climax the week-long funeral program of the massively loved music legend.

He said: “The event will be strictly by invitation. We know that people from all walks of life would wish to attend this big event especially as the sleek tribute night is being personally produced by the COSON chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji.”

“Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate everyone, so if you get the invitation, please honour the event because it means that you belong to a select group. Members of the Kimono family have met several times with our chairman over the tribute night and I have no doubt that it will be talk of the town,” he added.

Also speaking about the COSON tribute night, COSON General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji, said that the late Kimono was not just a COSON member, he was a 100 per cent committed member of the society, and totally dedicated to the COSON cause.

He said, “As a hyper creative person, he fought against anything that will destroy COSO, as he saw the organization 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 Tony Okoroji through every challenge.