Evergreen Music Boss, Bimbo Esho, Celebrates 78th Posthumous Birthday Of Late Dad, Femi Esho

When the history of popular West African music, especially with regard to the Highlife music genre, is to be truly and authoritatively written, one name that will continually resound and have global

acclaims and respect will be the late Samuel Babafemi Esho. He was the indefatigable patron and promoter of Evergreen music, both at home and abroad.

Femi Esho remains the biggest purveyor of Nigerian and Ghanaian music of yester-years who has made it his life's mission to preserve the posterity and longevity of an era threatened with oblivion. Being a key player in the industry himself, Femi has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of evergreen music masterpieces that enshrine the best of African culture and tradition.

As the iconic founder of the Evergreen Musical Company, Femi held an esteemed position of trust and stewardship with the vintage music community causing him to be appointed as sole custodian and distributor of the complete works of many African music legends, for whom he campaigned tirelessly in a bid to immortalize their achievements as a symbol of cultural continuity through sound. 

His company Evergreen Musical Company owns the copy right to the complete works of different African musicians like Fela Kuti, Dr Victor Olaiya, Rex Lawson, Roy Chicago, Adeolu Akinsanya, Tunde Nightingale, Ayinde Bakare, J. O. Araba, I. K. Dairo, Eddy Okonta, King Kenny Tone, Agidigbo, Crosdale Juba, E. T. Mensah, Ramblers Dance Band, Black Beats, Uhuru Dance Band, Stargazers, C. K. Man, etc.

Born precisely on 29th October, 1946 in Ilesa, Osun State of Nigeria, before Nigeria's independence and at a period when highlife music was the signature tune for the growing West African entertainment scene, Femi Esho metamorphosed into Africa's foremost indigenous music revivalist, especially the highlife music genre.

But today, this late music aficionado is no more. He breathed his last and marched on to glory on June 17, 2024. His demise remains one that has left a huge vacuum in the music business, there can be no one who understands the business of preserving our most valuable music creation like Baba Femi Esho. No one, except of course, his music loving, gorgeous looking daughter, Bimbo Esho. She has been running the Evergreen Musical company alongside her dad for many decades. She is the true daughter of her father, one in whom he was well p-leased. He taught her everything he knew. Baba Esho took her through every significant aspect of the business that she needed to understand. And today, she is doing exceedingly well as the CEO of the Evergreen Musical Company.       

It's been close to five months that Babe Esho took his bow and joined the Saints. He would have been 78 years old today if he were still here with us. His daughter, Bimbo Esho, pays tribute her late father, a man whose place of pride in the annals of Nigerian music has been established long before his passing. 

Bimbo Esho writes: 

"Daddy, today, you clocked 78 years.

Of course by now you are blasting your favorite Highlife songs with other Heavenly Sages, such as Bobby Benson’s Taxi Driver, Gentleman Bobby, to Adeolu Akinsanya’s Inawo Eko, Environmental Sanitation, Mo Fe Se Ori Re, etc. Also Victor Olaiya’s So Ra Fun Ese, Soro Jeje Fun Arugbo, Ayesoro ,etc. Victor Uwaifo Joromi, Guitar Boy, Rex Lawsons Ibinabo, Luv Me Adure, Jolly Papa, etc. Roy Chicago’s Bosede, Iba Fun Obi, Crosdale Juba’s Anamokoren, Agbe Ni Mase, etc. Eddy Okonta’s Oriwo, Bisi, Sweet Banana, Adura , ET Mensah’s Abele, Essie Nana, CK Manns Medowo, Ramblers Knock on wood, Uhuru’s Skin Pain just to mention a few.

Your love for music no doubt was contagious. Your charisma, Omoluabi traits and gentle mien attracted  many lovers of good indigenous sound to you . Just like a doctor you gave everyone the drug to quench their musical thirst.

Having started collection of music at the age of 12, we can authoritatively tell you today that your music archives are not just filled with old Vinyls, old pictures and tapes of Evergreen musicians, rather they have become the leading memory of people’s past and permanent legacies of our future.

May you continue to rest in peace and in the memory of your loved ones" .