DID KMONO KNOW THAT IT WAS TIME TO GO?

DID KIMONO KNOW THAT IT WAS TIME TO GO?

Last night, at what used to be the home of my guy and colleague, the great Rub-A Dub Master, Ras Kimono, activities leading to his burial next Saturday, August 25, in his hometown, Onicha Olona in Delta State, began.

Anyone who resides around Bero Abiodun Street, Isheri Magodo Phase 1 in Lagos must have felt the vibrations as artistes of all colours stormed the otherwise uppity and quiet neighbourhood, sang, danced and let everyone know that a King has transited.

You may not know it but Nigeria still has a significant Rastafarian community. They even have a revered King. He was there with his staff of office, an axe and a retinue of chiefs and followers. They came out in their reggae colours, old men, young men and their babes. There was a lot of reggae music in the air. Also in the air, was 'agbalani', the great traditional music of the Anioma people of Delta State.

What was meant to be a wake keep became a carnival. Almost no one came to mourn Kimono. Everybody celebrated the life of a unique Nigerian who did not care about tribe or religion. Ras Kimono, a guy who had no angst against anyone, appeared to have touched everyone in a special way.

As the week goes by, there will be several events to honour the lion. If you are a lover of good music or a lover of good men, please find one event in honour of Ras Kimono to go to. Ras Kmono made good music. Ras Kimono was a good man.

Oh! we are preparing for the sleek red-carpet tribute night in honour of Kimono which holds at COSON House, Ikeja next Wednesday. Everybody seems to want an invitation to the event. Yes, because of space constraints, there is a part of the event that is strictly by invitation. But Kimono belonged to everyone, abi? Around COSON House on August 22, there will be music in all its colours so that anyone who cannot get into the arena can join and celebrate Kimono. That is the spirit.

On Thursday, the final journey to Delta State begins with the lying in state, first at COSON House and then at the Sports Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere. Please, don't bother going to the formerly advertised LTV Blue Roof.

As we celebrate this unforgettable Nigerian, I cannot but ask whether Ras Kimono Oseloke Augustine Onwubuya somehow knew that his time was up?

Weeks before that fateful day of June 10, 2018, Kimono appeared to be everywhere saying bye-bye to one and all. The self-effacing Kimono who did not celebrate birthdays made sure that his 60^th birthday was heavily celebrated. On May 9, he brought his friends from far and near to come make merry with him at Times Square event center in Ikeja. Present were the likes of Daddy Shokey, Dede Mabiaku, Ken Calebs Olumese, Bisi Olatilo, Sir Shina Peters, Edi Lawani, Orits Wiliki, Capt Emma Anyanwu, Biodun Eguakhide, KASI, Kenny Saint Best, Agatha Amata, Lekan Ogunbanwo and many others. We exchanged a lot of banter. Oh! We made merry.

Next day, June 10, at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja the entire COSON family joined Kimono in cutting a special birthday cake in. We sang, we danced and made merry.

At the Federal Palace Hotel on May 30 when Sir Shina Peters celebrated his birthday and rode a horse into the arena, Ras Kimono was everywhere hugging and waving to everyone with Efe, his heartthrob by his side. Did the Rub A Dub Master know that he was embarking on a great journey? Was he saying bye-bye to us? Do we have a way of knowing when the time is up?

Friday, the 8^th of June, Kimono and I spoke on the phone. We spoke for quite a while. He had planned to travel that evening to Atlanta. We spoke the way boys do. I teased him about Efe, his heartthrob of many years and mother of Dimma, his beautiful daughter. Kimono knows that I like Efe whose brain I admire. He chuckled and said that with the rainy season, it was getting quite cold in Lagos. He joked that I should take care of Efe and to make sure that she remained warm while he was away.

Following Day, Saturday, the 9^th of June, my phone rang and who was on the phone? Efe. Something had gone wrong. Kimono did not make the trip. He was in hospital. I rushed to Lagoon Hospital in Ikoyi. I was by my guy's bedside in the Intensive Care Unit. As soon as he saw me, he threw away the oxygen mask that was assisting him breath, shouted 'Presido!' That is what he always called me. We chopped knuckles and joked.

On Sunday, the 10^th of June I was at the Airport in Ikeja to board an Air Peace flight to Owerri. I was with Bernice, the COSON Head of Finance & Admin. After check-in, I called Efe and she kept muttering "we lost him … we lost him". We lost who? Nothing she said made sense. I had to abort my trip, called Shina Peters, KSB, Chinedu, the COSON GM and the rest of my colleagues on the COSON Board. We immediately headed for Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi. Meanwhile, my phone was ringing off the hook. The news had leaked out that something was wrong.

At Lagoon hospital, I saw my guy, my colleague, my brother and friend whom I was bantering with the night before. He did not shout 'Presido!' this time. We did not chop knuckles. Kimono did not speak to me. He was gone. Ras Kimono was gone not to Atlanta but to a place I do not know for a period I cannot tell. Fare thee well my guy.

See you next week.