It was a kaleidoscope of colours on Tuesday, August 25, at the front garden of the Opebi, Ikeja Lagos office of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON). Among the several top music stars present were Ras Kimono, KSB, Mr. Raw Nwanne, Patrick Doyle, D’Lyte, Baba Dee Fasassi, Queen Ure, Azeezat Allen, Princess Anne Inyang, Nollywood beauty, Jennifer Eliogu, Ghanaian actress, Ella Mensah and several others. Virtually every major media establishment in Nigeria was represented with cameras flashing left, right and center and cutely dressed damsels serving finger foods, barbecue and cocktails.
Everyone had come with great expectations. For weeks, the buzz had been on that from November 1 to 7, Lagos will be on ‘fire’ as the COSON Week 2015 explodes with seven mega entertainment events in seven different enchanting venues in the city, with each of the seven events having its own unique theme, style and presentation. With the buzz, the questions have kept coming: “November 1 to 7, what exactly will happen in Lagos, where, when and how?”
Some of those questions were finally answered with a dazzling display of pyrotechnics as the formal unveiling took place. From the details provided at the unveiling, the COSON Week will take off on Sunday, November 1, at the magnificent KICC Prayer Dome, in Maryland, Lagos. The beautiful dome with unparalleled state of the art installations will host ‘COSON in the Church’, an unsurpassed red carpet show featuring Nigeria’s best known and most talented gospel singers. The nightingales and the entertainment industry’s glitterati will rub shoulders with the nation’s most renowned ministers of the gospel at a national day of music and prayer which will be broadcast live across the world.
The COSON Week will climax on Saturday, November 7, with ‘COSON Storms the Beach’, a spectacular open air beach concert featuring a roll call of Nigeria’s A-list stars with unbelievable fireworks. The stars will storm the beach with thousands of their fans in funky beach wears for an unmissable music explosion. All roads in Lagos on that Saturday will lead to the tantalizing Atikan Beach Resort, off Abraham Adesanya Estate, in the Ajah area of Lekki, venue of the never before witnessed massive beach party.
In between COSON in the Church and COSON at the Beach, there will be five other enchanting events to titillate residents of Lagos and those from other lands who wish to join them to enjoy the week of fun. The COSON Lecture will hold on Monday, November 2, at Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja as Nigeria’s best brains come together for an Intellectual Property Feast;
COSON in the Streets will happen across the streets of Lagos on Tuesday, November 3, when a rainbow of Nigerian stars give meaning to the dignity of labour, cleaning the streets and thrilling the citizens with a dazzling roadshow on the move. On Wednesday, November 4, the nation’s crème de la crème, dressed to kill, will walk the green carpet and enjoy the finest entertainment and the choicest dinner money can buy at the MUSON Centre, Lagos, as they honour the musicians of Nigeria at the five star COSON Green Ball.
The COSON All Stars Table Tennis Blow Out will explode on Thursday, November 5 as Nigeria’s top stars serve, smash, cut, spin and do battle on the board at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere. On Friday, November 6, the Expo Hall of Eko Hotel & Suites will host the COSON Song Awards, an award event like no other. The only way to describe it is wow!
Chief Tony Okoroji, the Chairman of COSON and key driver of the COSON Week, during the unveiling, reassured everyone that no one will attend a COSON Week event and not remember it for the rest of his life.
According to him, “In everything we do, we make every effort to be creative and original. While we study what others are doing, we do not recycle what is out there. We set the trend”. Speaking further, Okoroji said, “The planning and logistics of the COSON Week are mind boggling. I therefore call on all those partnering with us: sponsors, advertisers, artistes, broadcasters, designers, technicians, etc to get on board immediately as there is no time to waste any more. This is the time to jointly make history”.
COSON has as members and affiliates practically all the foremost music stars across the country with millions of fans across all age brackets. The membership includes 2Face Idibia, D’ Banj, Oritse Femi, Lilkesh, Iyanya, Olamide, Dr. Sid, Banky W, Wiz Kid, Olu Maintain, 9ice, Sunny Neji, Durella, General Pype, Burna Boy, MayD, Naeto C, D’ Prince, MC Galaxy, Wande Coal, Flavour, Chidinma, Rugged Man, Midnite Crew, Faze, Black Face, Eldee De Don, Sean Tizzle, Buchi, M.I. Abaga, Patoranking, Azeezat, Dammy Krane, Jazzman Olofin, Ice Prince, Jesse Jagz, KC Presh, X Project, Asha, Konga, African China, Owen Gee, Dekunle Fuji, Lord of Ajasa, Zoolezoo, Ekwe Original Stereoman, Danfo Drivers, Capital F.E.M.I., S.K. Sensation, Malaika, Rhymzo, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Koffi, Jedee, Muma Gee, AY. Com, Mr. Raw Nwanne, Illbliss, ID Cabassa, Klever J, Zidon Poperella, Eva, Terry G, Nomoreloss, Weird MC, Mode 9, Timaya, Suspect, Sound Sultan, Waje, Mo’Cheddah, Essence, Eddy Remedy, Kenny Saint Brown, J. Martins, Slam, Djinee, Solid Star, Omawumi, TWO, W4, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Yinka Ayefele, DJ Stramborella, Ebenezer Obey, Victor Uwaifo, Onyeka Onwenu, Tony Okoroji, Stella Monye, Floxxy Bee, Funmi Adams, Majek Fashek, Daniel Wilson, Alex Zitto, Sir Shina Peters, Ras Kimono, Wale Thompson, Kollington Ayinla, Ann Inyang, Adewale Ayuba, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, Chris Ajilo, Emmanuel Ntia, Orlando Julius, Mr. Kool, 2 Shotz, Baba Dee, Azzadus, Bouqui, Rooftop MCs, John Ewelukwa Udegbunam, Maureen Ejezie, Stella D’Lyte, OJB Jezreel, Danny Young, Waconzy, Dipp, LKT, Emma Nyra, Frank D’ Nero, Ojo, Tim Godfrey and thousands of others.