Friends, Artistes, Others Bid Goodnight To Aibtonia

• Concert Will Kick-Start Aib’s Burial As Stars Pledge Their Willingness

A star-studded musical concert is planned as part of the activities to commemorate the burial of Architect Aibangbee Harris Igiehon, also known as Aibtonia, who died in faraway America recently. The concerts will take place at The Freedom Park in Lagos on February 2, 2025, and in Benin City from February 6 to 9, 2025, when he will be laid to rest at his residence in the Edo State capital.

Aibtonia in his days brought life to outdoor music concerts in Nigeria. His forays into the Nigerian entertainment industry began in 1982 when he brought several Jamaican superstars such as Marcia Griffiths, Mukta Baruka, Steel Pulse, Mighty Sparrow etc on a mini tour of Nigeria which kicked off at the main bowl of the then Ogbe stadium (now Samuel Ogbenudia stadium)

Aib, as he was affectionately known, was the founder of the annual Nigerian food and culture festival, which was typically held at either the TBS or the Trade Fair Centre in Ojo, both in Lagos. During this week-long festival, several top and upcoming musicians and cultural groups performed, while each state had one or two representatives to showcase their unique culture in their booth.

During these festivals, artists such as Evangelist Sonny Okosuns, Alhaji Kolington Ayinla, Queen Salawa Abeni, Onyeka Onwenu, Daniel Wilson, Amos McRoy, Comfort Omoge, Pupa Orits Williki, Ras Kimono, Majek Fashek, The mandators, Mike Okri, Uche Ibeto, and others perform live.

Aib was also the mastermind behind the General IBB-led Federal military government-sponsored MAMSER (Mass Mobilisation for Social Awareness) nationwide musical tour from February to April of 1989. This tour featured artists such as:
Evangelist Sonny Okosuns, Majek Fashek, Christy Essien Igbokwe, Dan Maraya Jos, The Mandators, and several locally-based artists.

Aib also organised several nationwide or regional musical tours in collaboration with several multinational companies, such as: The Nigerian Breweries Plc, Golden Guinea Breweries, Sona Breweries, Cadbury, PZ, Lever Brothers, and a host of others.

Aside from that, Aib was like a father figure to everyone in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Evangelist Sonny Okosuns, Alhaji Kolington Ayinla, Queen Salawa Abeni, Onyeka Onwenu, Daniel Wilson, The Ja’stix, Amos McRoy, Majek Fashek, Black O’Rice, George Orwell’s, The Mandators, Orits Williki, Ras Kimono, Christy Essien Igbokwe, Mike Okri, Sound on Sound (S.O.S band), and many more

Aib rescued the internationally renowned “Reggae SunSplah Organisation” by bringing several international music stars on tour in Nigeria, West Africa, and Gabon.
They came with concert equipment from the United States of America, which uses 110 wattage electricity while Nigetia uses 220 wattage, so none of their massive equipment could work in Nigeria. They were in a serious dilemma until somebody introduced them to Aib, who had just shipped in his customised JBL live concert equipment, which was eventually used for the Reggae Sunsplash tour 1988 and had artists such as: Burning Spear, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Judy Mowatt.

Amos McRoy Osifo is currently organising tribute concerts to honour and immortalise Aib Igiehon’s name and legacy.