Encomiums, reflections at Jimi King’s 70th birthday party
Turaka, the roof-top restaurant at the EbonyLife Place in Victoria Island, was suffused with music this Sunday as legendary Nigerian textile artist, Jimi King, celebrated his 70th birthday in style and grandeur.
Friends, family, staffers and other well-wishers converged on the birthday venue to celebrate and honour the owner of Jimi King Art Fashion, a man who has been described as proudly African, an ambassador and promoter of African art and culture on the international stage.
Draped in a white and yellow-toned two-piece Adire ensemble, King personally welcomed his guests, majority of whom also donned Adire and Aso-oke attires in solidarity with the celebrant and owner of the eponymous fashion label.
Interestingly, some of his guests came from as far as the USA where he is resident, to honour him.
There was palpable joy in the air. Music played, wine flowed and banters exchanged as guests were treated to a sumptuous three-course dinner buffet.
The colourful evening became more electrified when the highlife band began to serenade the celebrant with evergreen birthday tunes blaring from their trumpet, slide, trombone and other musical instruments.
It was party and cake-cutting time as everyone stood up in chorus to the rhythm of music for a joyful dance with the iconic celebrity.
As expected, it was also a time for tributes and reminiscences, as friends and schoolmates went down memory lane in toast to the celebrant.
Childhood friends recalled how young Jimi always stood out in his traditional African dress-sense back then, so, they were not too surprised that he followed his passion in promoting African Fashion and Arts, both home and abroad.
Gboyega Badejo recalled: “I’ve known Jimi King as a teenager. He was a friend to my older brothers and he has always been differently dressed in traditional wear right from his secondary school, whenever he comes visiting us in Ikeja GRA. I admire him for taking this African pride to the world stage.”
Popular model and fashion designer, Modela, also went back in time: “I used to model for Jimi King Fashion in the early 90s. I always loved the way he takes our local fabrics and makes them into unique pieces that stand out. I could remember those days at fashion shows. After each runway show, the crowd must always bombard us and every piece of fashion item must go. We pray for him to celebrate his 80s and 90s.”
Friends also highlighted other attributes of the fashion legend that many people do not know about, describing him as very generous and forthright.
Dr Mudiare Onobrakpeya, an Urhobo man who revealed how Jimi King accommodated him in his house in America for a whole year, also described him as “a detribalised Nigerian. Very generous, Jimi would give you his shirt from off the rack. My wife and I were his guests for a whole year in his Atlanta home. We even had our son there. He’s a very humane and kind person.”
Gushing with all the accolades, the celebrant profusely thanked everyone who came to honour him on his special day.
When asked how he felt at 70, Jimi King responded jovially, “for me it is not different from other ages that I’ve celebrated, although, if people know your age, it kind of grants you a little privilege.”
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