Legendary music promoter and Chairman/CEO of Evergreen Musical Company Limited, Femi Esho, has passed away at the age of 77.
Born on October 29, 1946, Esho died in Lagos on Monday after a brief illness.
The family announced his death in a press statement on Tuesday, signed by Mr. Bunmi Esho. The statement read, “We announce the passing unto glory of our Patriarch, Mr. Samuel Babafemi Esho, popularly known as ‘Baba Esho’ or ‘Baba Musician.’ Baba Esho departed to greater glory on Monday, June 17, 2024, at the age of 77 after a brief illness.
“Until his demise, Baba Esho was the Chairman of Evergreen Musical Company and the Founder of the Evergreen Music Heritage Foundation. He was a mentor and ‘encyclopedia’ to many Highlife music enthusiasts. He will be remembered for his dedication to preserving Nigerian Highlife, Juju, Sakara, Apala, Afrobeat, and other Indigenous music genres.”
The family added that burial arrangements would be announced later.
One of his friends, Tunde Fagbenle, a notable writer and columnist, mourned the music legend, saying, “He has gone to rest. He carved a niche for himself and made a significant impact on the national stage. He was a gentle, cheerful, and generous soul. God bless him. He was my buddy!”
In May, Esho launched a phenomenal project, the biggest music museum and gallery in Africa, the Evergreen Music Heritage Foundation, in collaboration with Dr. DK Olukoya.
The ambitious project, set to be completed by December, will feature a music museum, library, gallery showcasing busts of artists, over 1,000 pictures of Nigerian musicians from 1914, relics of their costumes and instruments, an event center for concerts, a cinema theater, and a recording studio.
