WILL BE HOT, SMOKING AND UPLIFTING SAYS TONY OKOROJI ABOUT THE 2019 ‘COSON IN THE CHURCH’

THE 2019 ‘COSON IN THE CHURCH’ WILL BE HOT, SMOKING AND UPLIFTING - OKOROJI

Chief Tony Okoroji, one of the nation’s best-known organizers of jaw dropping events and Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), has declared that the forth coming ‘COSON in the Church’ billed for the first day of December 2019 will be hot, smoking and uplifting.

Okoroji, the man who created and produced the unassailable Nigerian Music Awards, the forerunner to nearly all the key entertainment events in the country, is insistent that every action is being taken to ensure that the 2019 COSON in the Church is an unforgettable experience.

Speaking at the magnificent COSON House in Ikeja during the week to some members of COSON who had come to pay him a solidarity visit, the COSON Chairman who leads thousands of musicians and music industry stakeholders across the country, said, “For most Christians, the 1st of December every year begins the Christmas season. I make bold to ask everyone who can make it to be at the beautiful auditorium of Revival Assembly in Ikeja on the 1st of December 2019 to receive blessings and begin this Christmas season in the presence of the Almighty. We are not leaving anything to chance. It will be awesome. Anyone who has been associated with COSON knows that when COSON does things, we do things very well. I am in touch daily with my colleagues on the COSON board such as KSB, Koffi Tha Guru and the great John Ewelukwa Udegbunam popularly known as Eweson who for many years has been National music Director of the Praise & Worship Ministry of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria.

“All hands are on deck. Nigeria’s greatest gospel singers will be there. The most amazing and anointed men of God will pray for the Nigerian nation and for the families of all those present at this time of great challenges in our country. This is an important contribution of Nigerian musicians to national unity. The red carpet will be hot with paparazzi everywhere and there will be stars and stars every direction you look.

Some of the Music Ministers for the day are: 

WORD TO GOD

IBITAYO JEJE

AYO VINCENT

And many more......

This is an event that brings thousands of Nigerian musicians and their fans together to worship the Almighty in an interdenominational manner on a day that there are no separations whatsoever between God’s children. It does not matter which denomination you belong to or if you are not even a Christian, come to “COSON in the Church” on the 1st of December and be blessed”.

Tell your friends not to miss this show of all shows.

Bring your family to start the Christmas season in the presence of the living God.

It will be a bomb!!!

Peter Asiegbu for TOPS

The Entertainment Headquarters 

TODAY'S MEAL- HOT AND FRESH FROM DERONI

FRESH NEW HOT GOSPEL ARTIST FROM Port-Harcourt

Destiny Ebiuwa Iyoha best known as Deroni is an incredible multi-talented inspirational and a gospel music artist who hails from the Great Benin city of Edo State in Nigeria. Born on the 14th of June 1981 but grew up in Port Harcourt where she lives and got married to her handsome and lovely husband Iyoha Emmanuel and she is blessed with 4 beautiful kids. She is a lover of God with a desire to affect lives positively via music, bringing many to the knowledge of God.

Deroni who is a graduate of the Enugu State University Of Science And Technology (ESUST), Enugu started her music career when she was 14 years of age form one of the well to do churches of this generation Christ Embassy as one of the choristers.
She have been on the low for several years but decided to come out of the shadows to use her creative and incredible spiritual gift to uplift, bless and encourage others in the year 2000.

Deroni took a very big advantage of her time in Ekpoma to set for quiet time with God when she got the move and leading of the Holy Spirit which opened her heavens musically. She have recorded 10 songs, done two videos and have one album with seven tracks on it just to share her brilliance and awesomeness with the world.

Songs on the album titled Emmanuel

• BLOOD
• EMMANUEL
• JESUS OPEN DOORS
• WE WORSHIP YOU
• LOADED
• GRATEFUL
• YOU BE OGA

Some of her spiritual mentors are pastor Chris Oyhakilome of Christ Embassy, Pastor Felix Ebuade, Pastor Freedom Eriya, Pastor Victor Akinsete of Winners chapel PH, Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith (Winners Chapel), Joyce Meyer and musical role models are Cece Winans, Sinach to mention but a few.

Lyrics of Emmanuel.

Emmanuel Emmanuel

With the power of at work we make it through

Emmanuel Emmanuel

With the power of God at work we make it through

Emmanuel oh oh

Come on help me sing.

Verse

You are God 

All by yourself 

you created the world.

With the rod

continue...

FOLLOW HER ON HER SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES

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TWITTER

DOWNLOAD SONG 

YOUTUBE CHANNEL 

INSTAGRAM

THE MAN TO DELIVER THE FIRST LECTURE

THIS IS THE MAN DELIVERING THE 1st RAS KIMONO MEMORIAL LECTURE, MONDAY, JUNE 10 AT THE MAGNIFICENT COSON HOUSE, IKEJA

Professor Duro Oni has been on the staff of the University of Lagos since 1976 and has held various positions including that of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services);Dean, Faculty of Arts; Professor and Head of the Department of Creative Arts: Pioneer Director, Confucius Institute: He was also the Director of the Centre for Cultural Studies. In a career spanning over forty years at the University of Lagos, Prof. Duro Oni initiated and developed degree programme in; Creative Arts(Theatre Arts, Music & Visual Arts) at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, M.Phil. and Ph.D. levels and the Bachelor's Degree in Chinese Studies.

He was also the Director General / CEO of the Federal Government Parastatal, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) and Special Assistant/Adviser to the Hon. Minister of Culture and Social Welfare/Youth and Sports from 1990-1992. He holds the BFA and MFA Degrees from the California Institute of the Arts in the United States and a Ph.D. from the University of Ibadan. An academic of repute, Duro Oni has a total of ten books and over sixty articles in reputable journals and chapters in books in the areas of Theatre Arts Design and Aesthetics, Dramatic Literature and Criticism, Management, Cultural Studies and the Nollywood/Nigerian Films.

An Academic, Culture /Theatre Administrator and Production Designer, Duro Oni has also travelled widely and has trained in and or visited the following countries, among others; U.S.A., Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Finland, Spain, Yugoslavia, Bermuda, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Ecuador, China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Hong Kong, Canada, Barbados, Trinidad, India, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Turkey and a host of African countries including Egypt, Republic du Benin, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, Senegal, Libya, Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire and Ethiopia.

Prof. Duro Oni is a Fellow, Nigerian Academy of Letters, Fellow of the Society of Nigerian Theatre Artistes (SONTA), Fellow and Advisory Board Member of National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners(NANTAP), Senior Overseas Fellow of the Ferguson Centre, Open University in the United Kingdom (2006-2007),Fellow, Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, (RSA),UK.

Prof. Duro Oni, who was born inMinna, Niger State on the 15th of December, 1952 is from Iwoye-Ijesa in Osun state. He is fluent in English, Yoruba and Hausa.

Please meet the man we are all coming to listen to on the 2019 Ras Kimono Memorial Day and delivering the first Ras Kimono Memorial Lecture on Revolutionary Music for Equality and Justice. Please meet the erudite Prof. Duro Oni.

ALL SHADES OF KASI

ALL SHADES OF KASI

KASI LIGHTS UP LAGOS ON HER BIRTHDAY JUNE 12! AS SHE HOSTS A MULTI-ARTISTIC EXHIBITION AT THE MAGNIFICENT COSON HOUSE, IKEJA.

The famous hot red carpet of the magnificent COSON House, home of Nigeria's most successful organization in the creative sector will be on display on June 12, 2019, the sacred day of Nigeria's democracy.

The red carpet will host stars of all colours coming from far and near to celebrate with Nigeria's much talked about multi -talented star, KASI whose birthday it is on June 12

.

KASI who rides the red power bike is a much admired singer, a talented painter and an unsurpassed designer of urban fashion.

On June 12, the show, “ALL SHADES OF KASI” will feature the many talents of this gifted Nigerian artiste. Kasi will be on stage with her friends, the TOPS ALL STARS dishing out brand new music never heard before.

Some truly beautiful models will show off her fashion line called REAL KASI (RK). There will also be a sumptuous exhibition of her unique art works at the COSON House. The exhibition will go on for 3 days.

The great “ALL SHADES OF KASI” is being powered by TOPS, the Entertainment Headquarters whose boss, Chief Tony Okoroji is inviting every lover of the arts to come and celebrate the creativity of the nation’s all round Queen of the Arts, KASI, THE JUNE 12 GIRL!

It will be recalled that in 2017 when Kasi celebrated her birthday at COSON House, it was crazy! The edifice was stormed by the nation’s who is who. It was at the event that the unstoppable Dele Momodu delivered a June 12 lecture that was much talked about for weeks. Among the many celebrities who attended the epoch making event were ace broadcaster, Bisi Olatilo; Niteshift Govnor, Ken Calebs Olumese:, multi-award winning star, 2face Idibia; publishers Mayor Akinpelu, Azuh Arinze, Kunle Bakare etc etc. Put simply, paparazzi went crazy at COSON House at the KASI show.

Chief Tony Okoroji promises that this year’s event will be double commotion.

FOR TOPS

PETER MAP WALKER

WHEN HE MET ME

It was all like a joke as I never wanted any man in my life and even if I do, not some one like him but the whole thing turned out differently, even much more than I ever thought.

I was on my own when he walked up to me and said, his dad is not a governor neither is he from a rich background but he'd love to help, he promise to give me money to sow seed in church (offering) every Sunday service. I looked at him with surprise because I never asked him anything and did not even know him or want anything from him.

He doesn't look like it, looking rough, not even my kind of man. He's dark, not tall. In fact he's just the opposite of all I want in a man.

I felt cold inside of me for the very first time but never understood what I have gotten myself into, so I said "huumm emm" well okay if its only what you've just said and not more than that. I realized what he meant weeks after.

As days went by the closeness grew. The more I tried to avoid him, the more I fall into him. I did all I could, instead I see myself running into him. So much happened then but he was always there even when I never knew or wanted him.

Every time I needed help, he was always there and the most surprising part of it all is that I never asked him for any help, never told him about any thing. How he gets to know even till this moment I still can't figure it. Its scares me every time I see him around me. He is just like an angel sent to me.

He shows up when I need him the most. I've never seen or been with a man like that, who knows and sees your pains and understands your cry even when you don't talk. Knows when to show up and that makes him appear to me like the perfect man.

I refuse to feel anything for him because I know all my walls and defences are broken even before he opens his mouth to ask which he never did because I never gave him the chance to. Always there with me and for me.

one day as he walked me home for church, I reminded him that he is doing too much and the he is just a friend. He got so upset with his response. I felt the pain in his tone. then I realized I have awaken something strong inside of him and now I can't control it, because I'm also awake and waiting for his first move.

Finally, it happened. I couldn't wait for him to finish what he was saying before I cut in but did not say yes because I became scared and worried about breaking the promises I made to myself and my commitment to other things. But he was just so persistent, bold, strong brave, intelligent, with lovely smile, above all, kind, caring, loving, patient and very understanding with lots of passion...…….

Woke up few days ago and realized that it is our 5 years anniversary……..to be continued

THE CONSEQUENCES OF FURTHER LIBELLOUS STATEMENTS AGAINST THE COSON CHAIRMAN

AFTER FILING A 600 MILLION NAIRA COMPREHENSIVE DEFAMATION SUIT AGAINST PRETTY OKAFOR, OKOROJI’S LAWYER WARNS PRETTY ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF FURTHER LIBELLOUS STATEMENTS AGAINST THE COSON CHAIRMAN

Mr. James Ononiwu of the big Lagos law firm of Whitedove Solicitors, lawyers to Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, has written to Mr. Pretty Okafor warning him of the consequences of the new wave of libellous statements made by Mr. Okafor against Chief Okoroji on several social media platforms.

In the letter dated September 14, 2018, Mr Ononiwu wrote, “Your claims and innuendoes on the said social media platforms that our client published or caused to be published fake and false public statements to the effect that the Federal High Court had on September 5, 2018 ordered the Nigerian Copyright Commission to suspend all actions, proceedings and processes relating to the purported suspension of the licence of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) and the freezing of COSON’s bank accounts, are outrageous and libellous of our client”

Said Mr Ononiwu. “As has recently been shown, every information contained in the said COSON publication is accurate. Chief Okoroji is a man of impeccable integrity and will never take part in the dissemination of any falsehood or any information that is deceitful”

Mr Ononiwu reminded Mr. Okafor that he has refused, failed or neglected to file any defence to the 600 Million Naira comprehensive defamation law suit filed by Chief Tony Okoroji against him at the High Court of Lagos State in Ikeja since May 22, 2018. He also told Pretty Okafor that after having since been served with the processes, Chief Okoroji is set to proceed to obtain judgment against him and enforce the judgement if he does not take appropriate action.

In the letter, Mr Ononiwu went on to inform Pretty Okafor that Chief Okoroji will not hesitate to bring fresh court action against him.

It will be recalled that in a 17- page Statement of Claim, supported by 8 witnesses and numerous documents, Chief Tony Okoroji has in Suit No ID/ADR/903/2018, detailed several destructive statements made on different occasions against him by Pretty Okafor on Facebook, WhatsApp, magazine interviews, press releases, etc, stating that the statements are ‘blatantly false, serially defamatory, obnoxious, reckless and sordid’.

Apart from asking the court for general damages in the sum of three hundred million Naira and aggravated damages in the sum of another three hundred million Naira, Chief Okoroji has also asked for conspicuous and unreserved apology from Pretty Okafor published on Facebook, WhatsApp, the Guardian Newspaper, the Sun Newspaper, the Punch and Vanguard Newspaper.

The celebrated former President of PMAN, CEO of TOPS and author of “Copyright & the New Millionaires” has also asked for a perpetual injunction restraining Mr. Okafor, Mr. Okafor’s servants, agents or privies by whatever name called, from further publishing or broadcasting, or causing to be published or broadcast, the said words or any words defamatory of Chief Okoroji.

Okoroji’s lawyer, Barrister James Ononiwu, has also said, “Chief Tony Okoroji knows the ‘guy men’ who are so desperate to hijack COSON, the most successful organization in the history of the creative industry in Nigeria, built with the exemplary and outstanding leadership of Okoroji. These ‘guy men’ desperately want to grab what Chief Okoroji has built for the good of generations of musicians in Nigeria. They want to milk COSON dry and trash it. These are the same people who destroyed PMAN and destroyed NARI, all built with the significant input of Chief Tony Okoroji. They want to destroy COSON too and Tony Okoroji says no!

“The ‘guy men’ know that they cannot take out Chief Okoroji through a democratic process. Chief Tony Okoroji, a tried, tested, incorruptible and deep intellectual who is not afraid to speak truth to power, enjoys the overwhelming trust and confidence of musicians across Nigeria. These ‘guy men’ who want to reap where they did not sow, have therefore resorted to the sick fabrication and deployment of falsehood and defamation of character which they mistakenly think will take out Chief Okoroji.

“Let them be informed that while our client is a man of peace and welcomes constructive criticism, Chief Okoroji will not stand idle over the coordinated wicked lies and unjust fabrications. He is fully committed to defending COSON and determined to keep COSON strong, vibrant, alive and productive for the good of generations of Nigerian musicians. Chief Tony Okoroji, a well-known advocate of the rule of law, has asked us to look out for the ‘guy men’ who are blackmailing COSON, serve them summons to come to court so that they can repeat what they have said on social media, in a court of law, and provide the evidence to back up their statements. Where they cannot defend what they have said, they will pay the price. The time for careless talk is over”

THE MIRIAM MAKEBA INTERNATIONAL PRIZE OF ARTISTIC CREATIVITY

The creation of this award for the promotion and the valorisations of African Art was announced on the side-lines of the forum of African creators on September 14,2017 by Mr Azzedine Mihoubi, Minister of Culture in recognition of the militant and artistic career of the interpreter.

Objectives of the Prize:

To allow Artists using African Art as a medium to voice their ideas and speak up their minds to be better heard and showcase their creations

To promote African Arts inn all its forms of expression

To encourage talent and creativity

To reward the best artistic creation

Conditions to participate:

Any African artist over 18 years old and living in Africa can take part in the competition. The participant must give proof of an ID and/or a residence permit when living in an African country other than his country of origin. Artists claiming refugee status due to exceptional situations (armed conflict, natural disasters, etc.) may take part in the competition

Transmission of applications:
Interested candidates must send a file including the supporting documents mentioned above (copy of the identity document, residence, etc.). A copy or a description of their artistic project/work.

Applications can be submitted either by post under a closed envelope to “Mr. The President of the Jury of the International Prize of Artistic Creativity Miriam Makeba” at the following address: Office National du Droit d’Auteur et des Droit Voisins (ONDA), 49 rue Aaderrezak HAMLA – 16000 Bologhine – Alger, Algerie Or By email to the following address: prix.myriam.makeba@onda.dz

The deadline for submitting applications is August 31, 2018.

For more information, visit: http://www.samro.org.za/news/articles/call-applications-miriam-makeba-award-artistic-creativity

A SLEEK RED-CARPET TRIBUTE NIGHT IN HONOUR OF THE RUB-A-DUB MASTER

COSON HOUSE PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS FOR RAS KIMONO AS PLANS ARE ROLLED OUT FOR A SLEEK RED-CARPET TRIBUTE NIGHT IN HONOUR OF THE RUB-A-DUB MASTER

The magnificent COSON House in Ikeja will on Wednesday, August 22 witness a super classy event in honour of the great reggae toaster, Ras kimono, who passed on in Lagos on June 10, 2018.

The sleek red-carpet event, a tribute night like no other, will... climax the week-long program of the funeral of the massively beloved music legend who will be laid to rest in his home town, Onicha Olona in Delta State, on Saturday, August 25, 2018.

Speaking on the upcoming event, COSON Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Chibueze Moses Okereke said “the event will be strictly by invitation. We know that people from all walks of life would wish to attend this big event especially as the sleek tribute night is being personally produced by the COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, Nigeria’s undisputed master of special events. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate everyone so if you get the IV, please honour the event because it means that you belong to a select group. Members of the Kimono family have met several times with our Chairman over the tribute night and I have no doubt that it will be talk of the town”

Also speaking about the forthcoming Red Carpet Tribute Night in honour of the great Ras Kimono, the COSON General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji, said, “Ras Kimono was not just a COSON member, he was a 100% committed COSON member, totally dedicated to the COSON cause. As a hyper creative person, he fought against anything that will destroy COSON as he saw the organization as a watershed development in our country and an important legacy for the Nigerian creative industry. No one should forget that until he passed on, Ras Kimono was a key member of the COSON Board and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with our Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji through every challenge. Chief Okoroji was one of the last persons Kimono spoke to on his sick bed, before he passed on.

“The COSON Board he left behind, has held a special meeting in his honour and has instructed that the magnificent COSON House that Kimono contributed to building must host a memorable event in his honour to celebrate this one of a kind Nigerian artiste as he sets out on his last journey out of Lagos. All hands are on deck at COSON , the organization he loved with all his heart, to ensure that Kimono is buried like the king that he was”

TONY OKOROJI BLOWS HOT WITH “ORIAKU (NEW SCHOOL)

TONY OKOROJI BLOWS HOT WITH “ORIAKU (NEW SCHOOL)” SET TO DOMINATE THE AIR WAVES

Music icon, Tony Okoroji’s new recording, ‘Oriaku (New School)’ is finally set for national and international release on radio, TV and across several digital media platforms.
For some time, a big buzz has been on at TOPS, the 360 Degrees entertainment company run by Chief Tony Okoroji, as finishing touches on the recording, video shoot and presentation of the new release of Oriaku are completed.
TOPS is authoritatively announcing that everything is set and the fans of the unique sound of the music maestro should be ready to be titillated by what is in every way a special sound.
The sweet song ‘Oriaku’ with the thumping bass guitar line, was a key song in Tony Okoroji’s iconic album, “Juliana”, which used to burn up the dance floor across the country.

According to the unassailable music icon, the celebrated former President of PMAN who is currently Chairman of the Board of the wave-making Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), “We have re-oxygenated Oriaku. It has a new groove. You need to listen to this beautiful song to appreciate what I am talking about. This is not a re-mix but a completely brand-new recording with new orchestration. Working with TOPS All Stars,

my young team of very talented creative artistes, we have kept the essential elements of the great song and brought in a fresh new feel to give what we call ‘Oriaku (New School)’ a new groove. I believe that lovers of good music, young and old, will rock to this new sound. The video is also very-very electrifying”.

The video shoot of Oriaku New School had the photography directed by the prince of video animation, Ademola Tajudeen popularly called ‘Awoko’. According to Awoko, “we have spared nothing in creating a music video that will stand the test of time wherever in the world it is seen. There is a lot of colours, exceedingly beautiful women and a lot of dance, both traditional and contemporary. If you know Chief Tony Okoroji, then you know that I have worked with a man who does not accept mediocrity. Tony Okoroji only goes for the very best”
The release of ‘Oriaku New School’ follows the release by TOPS in 2017 of Tony Okoroji’s ‘Happy Music’ which has become a major caller ring back tone favorite across many platforms.



Peter Map Walker for TOPS LTD