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“At UI, a new club, the Sigma Club, founded in 1950, was named after the Greek alphabet Sigma which means sum total. This is because the foundation members of Sigma Club were from some of the existing clubs in the University at the time, and Havana Music Carnival was born, thereafter”. I have quoted from UI’s Sigma Club brochure. Among Sigma Club’s ideals are, apart from inspiring students in academic /social development, inculcating in them, values of discipline, courage, care and unity. Sigma Club’s “Havana Night” from the 1960s through the early 1990s was a carnival of the best musical bands across West Africa, on selected nights, on the UI campus. In the ‘60’s to the 70s, “Havana Night” used to feature an average of five great bands on each years carnival. Among great Nigerian / African bands that dominated Sigma Club’s shows were the former Koola Lobitos (later Africa ’70 and Egypt ’80) led by the late Fela Ransome – Kuti (later Anikulapo-Kuti) Uhuru Dance Band and Ramblers Dance Band both of Ghana, the late Yusuf Olatunji (Baba l’Egba) Sakara Band, Haruna Isola’s Apala Band, Tunde Nightingale, Victor Uwaifor’s Pickups (later the Melody Maestroes) Geraldo Pino’s Soul Band from Sierra Leone, Segun Bucknor’s Soul Assembly, Victor Olaiya’s International All Stars, OK Jazz of the Congo, I.K Dairo’s Blue Spot Band, Dele Ojo’s Star Brothers Band, Sunny Ade’s Greenspot Band (later African Beats and now the World Beats.) Ebenezer Obey’s International Brothers (later Inter-Reformers Band), Eddy Okonta’s Top Aces, Orlando Owoh’s Omimah Band, Orlando Julius Evelyn Dance Band, Dan Maraya Jos, Joni Haashup etc.
In later years, artistes such as the late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Onyeka Onwenu, the late Christie Essien – Igbokwe, Saheed Osupa, Obesere, Seun Kuti, Ras Kimono, Sir Shina Peters etc also featured at “Havana Night”. Those were the decades when Nigeria functioned on law and order, industry, academic glory, political savvy later military ethos and social vibration. Fun seekers came from all over Africa and beyond to savour “Havana Night”. To have missed out of Havana as students or adults then meant one was anti-social or trendy-blind. Havana regulars wore the best dresses and shoes and the males among them pull the prettiest and brightest girls in town. I was, and still is, too shy to talk to girls, even though I was an Havana regular. The descent of public and private values, insecurity, chop –I – chop student unionism, ASUU/NASU palaver, mechanized,. music/entertainment industry etc, of course, dried up “Havana Night” and other entertainment/ relaxation muscle of Nigeria. Before then though, fashionable, bright and modern men and women (alias Martini –A – Go – Go circle) worked hard for their money and enjoyed life to the hilt in return.
As a result of the foregoing, “Havana Night” suffered a lull. But, there is a current move to restore and upgrade “Havana Night” by old, new members and patrons of the club. I, again quote the Sigma Foundation Mission Statement. “The Sigma Foundation comprises old members of the Club. It was established to promote educational development in universities in Nigeria. It has taken giant strides in providing an enabling environment for youth development, protecting the values, custom and tradition of Sigma Club and more importantly creating a peaceful atmosphere and environment for Sigma Club activities within and outside the Campus”. “Sigma Foundation has over the years contributed to various charitable causes. Beneficiaries of these benevolent gestures include the Leper Settlement at Uzoakoli, Oluyole Cheshire Home, Ibadan and the Alaanu Fund of the University College Hospital, Ibadan among others. A remarkable philanthropic endeavour was the provision of full postgraduate scholarship by the club for the pursuit of a doctoral programme in the University of Ibadan in 1977”.
On Friday, 24th October, this year, Sigma Club, in conjunction with an event marketing company, organized what was termed “Havana Classic – an exclusive event for special people”. Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Engr. Adeniyi, head of FERMA and King Sunny Ade, whose band entertained guests at the event, were honoured by the club at the Pope John Paul II Hall, University of Ibadan. I chaired the highly fun-filled night where all the three distinguished awardees were present. Governor Ajimobi, in his acceptance speech said he accepted the Sigma Club (Havana Classic) award and came personally to receive it because Sigma Club’s new move was in tandem with his government’s policy of restoration, by which the lost/fading human and infrastructure glories of the pace-setter state, Oyo, are being revived and built upon by his government. The audience agreed with Governor Ajimobi and Sigma Club’s great move.
In my speech as chairman of the occasion, I praised the Executive and members of Sigma Club for the restoration move and prayed that the revival of the once popular “Havana Night” would suffer no “break in transmission” again when it takes of in January next year (2015). I also referred to my summary of Nigeria’s entertainment industry in 1974 Havana shows inclusive, as captured by me, as the entertainment page editor of the now defunct Sunday Sketch, in my column titled “1974, the grooviest year ever!” in the weekly on Sunday December 29, 1974. Please enjoy my recall below. “The year 1974 has been described in many circles as Nigeria’s grooviest year ever, socially that is . The number of records (LPs) released by Nigerian artistes this year are said to have outstripped that of any other years. “It has been an exceptional period of glory for the music conscious people of this country. A number of our artistes like Twins Seven Seven, Fela Ransome-Kuti, Victor Uwaifor and Joni Haastrup have bagged honours for the country abroad. “ So also has the year given birth to a lot of budding stars like Yomi Akins and Pick Peters. These two young musicians have contributed to the upliftment of the social scene
“ I interviewed a cross-section of people who have been following the scene with keen interest. Below are their independent opinions on who and who has contributed more to the social scene, the best singer /composer; the most popular band .etc. “The first person I talked to was Miss K. OYE who works in a departmental store in Ibadan. And this is her view:- “ In my own opinion, Twins Seven Seven should receive the greatest praise for the tremendous work he has carried out on projecting our culture abroad. He has contributed to cultural awareness in the country through his paintings and music called the “PAMBO’ SOUND. Although I admire other musicians, I have discovered that their sound is the same each time they announce there’s a change in their music. A member of the National Youth Service Corps serving in Ibadan has this to say :- I am a man who believe in progressive music. As such, I have for a long time now been an ardent fan of Sunny Ade’s African Beats. I love his sound and stage gimmicks which add more spice to his music. I think he is easily Nigeria’s best performer of the year.
“ Miss L. Iyasere, a confidential secretary with an oil company thinks Fela Ransome-Kuti is the best musician while Victor Uwaifo is the best arranger. She particularly likes Fela for his attempt to bring the blackman nearer to his kith and kin. “ Miss Evelyn Richards, and expatriate on holiday in Nigeria has this to say. “Well, regardless of the background, I think I like Nigerian music, especially the Afro-beat of Fela Ransome-Kuti. He seems to be a ‘sound machine’ that evolves throbbing sounds every time . So also, do I dig the guitars works of the African Beats. “Another expatriate lady who claims she is married to a Nigerian goes a long way by preferring the very local sound of Yusuf Olatunji, Haruna Ishola and Ayinla Omowura. “The local sound of Nigeria is perhaps the best original piece of music in Africa. The rhythm is good and lyrics very superb” she adds.
“Alhaja Bose Sadiq who is a trader says: Personally, both Haruna Ishola and Yusuf Olatunji have been the most hardworking musicians judging the rate at which they release LP albums. “ She regards Oladunni Decency, leader of the Unity Orchestra as Nigeria’s Aretha Franklin, who has successfully maintained a frontline position with her male colleagues in show business. “Malam Baba Alhaji Usman an undergraduate, feels Nigeria is a lucky country to have been blessed with such versatile artstes like the late Rex Lawson, I.K. Dairo, Fela and Segun Bucknor. Malam Usman is of the opinion that within a short time , Nigeria shall take the lead in international show business. “He regards Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican-born Raggae king who paid a short but stormy visit to this country as the best musician in the world for “his (Cliff) cool-headedness at the time of utter frustration.
“Below is the result of an independent public opinion survey on Nigerian artistes.
*The best musician of the year-Fela Ransome-Kuti *The best band-Inter Reformers. *The most hardworking artiste – Victor Uwaifo. *The largest crowd puller-Sunny Ade. *The most steady singer-Tunde Nightingale. *The best dressed musician-Sunny Ade *The best dressed band- Africa ’70 *The most dynamic performer- Joni Haastrup *The artiste with the largest number of LPs – Yusuf Olatunji *The best composer – Ebenezer Obey
“And so ladies and gentlemen, I hope that all our artistes will, in the New Year, put all they have got into show business and make the year another one of resounding success. I must not fail to warn those performers who take delight in abusive as well as insultive compositions to desist from the dirty game since it neither portays the artiste nor his/her music as being mature. To all hardworking artistes who have always endeavoured to raise the standard of music and entertainment generally, I wish you all the best of luck in the New Year”.
CONCLUSION
We look forward to the restoration of the popular “Havana Night” where the town meets the gown for clean fun, relaxation and exhibition of culture and fashion.
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