Last Wednesday, January 28, the first professor of Music made by a Nigerian university, HRH Laz Ekwueme, clocked 79 years.
Prof. Ekwueme, younger brother to former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, is the monarch of Oko Kingdom in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
To mark the event, his chorale group, Laz Ekwueme Chorale and International Orchestra, is planning a party at his Lagos residence in Yaba, Lagos, on Monday, February 2.
According to his personal assistant, Uche Agbamegbue, the event would not be as elaborate as the 80th edition being planned for next year in Oko.
The chorale has been known to celebrate the renowned music icon almost every year since the group was founded four decades ago. At one occasion, the members, in conjunction with old members, gave the don a surprise birthday bash at Chorale House, Moore Road, Yaba.
Popular entertainers who have passed through the music icon include Dare Art-Alade (singer), Emeka Nwokedi (City Chorale and MUSON Choir music director/conductor), Ben Ogbeiwi (Project Fame music director), among others who have their own choral groups in Lagos and beyond.
Professor Ekwueme, a musicologist, composer, scholar and actor, and an alumnus of the Royal School of Music (RSM), London, retired from University of Lagos as Head of Department (HoD). He is an awardee of Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) and Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).
