Ras Kimono Goes Home In Delta

The remains of Nigerian reggae legend, Ras Kimono on Friday makes a stop to Asaba, Delta State capital with a street procession by members of the rastas fraternity and the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) in his honour.

From Asaba, it would proceed to his ancestral home of Onicha-Olona in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State where he would be committed to mother earth tomorrow (Saturday).

The burial activities had started in Lagos earlier in the week, Friday’s home coming took Asaba by storm as lovers of his genre of music defied intermittent rains, and marched along with the Rastafarians and COSON members across major roads into the Cenotaph where the deceased was briefly laid in state.

Speaking in an emotion-laden voice, Chief Executive Officer of COSON, Tony Okoroji described Kimono as an incredibly talented and detribalised Nigerian who stood for peace in his entire lifetime.

Okoroji said Kimono was not just a member of COSON but an activist of the society who “struggled with us. Our prayer is that the incredible spirit he left behind will continue to bind us together. There will never be another Kimono.

“But I know that Kimono lives. As we drove from Lagos yesterday (Thursday), ordinary people at every stop, were singing Kimono’s songs and dancing to his beats.”

Okoroji seized the opportunity to appeal to Nigerian politicians to deliver good governance to every citizen “so that we will no longer be singing a song like ‘Under Pressure’ he said.

National grand patron for Rastas, Nigeria and African representative, Ras Edu Dickson who led the procession also gave a brief tribute.

Kimono’s daughter, Oge said her father was selfless, compassionate, loving, patient, describing him as her best friend.

She said her father “came, saw and conquered,” adding that through him, the world experienced the meaning of true love.

Recalls that the iconic reggae artiste breathed his last on June 10, 2018.