The stage is set for the maiden edition of Ikenga, a concert celebrating the palm wine guitar and there is not a better venue to do this than the Jazzhole, a leading culture outlet on Obafemi Awolowo Road in Ikoyi, Lagos.
For culture enthusiasts, this is an opportunity to celebrate the folk music of the creeks, shanties and backstreets of West Africa, as well as one of the hybrid fusions of indigenous African and western music.
The occasion calls for a deeper appreciation of the origin of the guitar, which was originally introduced to Africa by Portuguese and Spanish sailors. Upon arrival at the coastal towns on the continent, it was picked up and mastered by local musicians.
The guitar in its present form has played a key role in the evolution of modern African music. For this reason, Ikenga is designed to feature some old members of some of Nigeria’s greatest singers, musicians and bands of all time, such as Ed Keazor of the defunct Fugees, Bongos Ikwue, Tony Allen, Oscar Elimbi, E.C Arinze, Eddy Offey, Dele Sosimi and Onyeka Onwuneu, to name a few.
Also, the organisers of the concert intend to use the opportunity provided by the event to pay tribute to the likes of Justus Domingo, Okonkwo Adigwe, Ambrose Campbell, Kwaa Mensa, Julius Araba, Isreal Njemanze, Irewoolede Denge and Sally Young, among others, for their various contributions for the growth of music in Africa.
The concert is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 9, 2013.
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