Veteran pianist, composer, arranger, and former member of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s Egypt 80, Duro Ikujenyo, will celebrate his 70th birthday on Wednesday, September 2, with a series of concerts and cultural activities in Lagos. The program, titled “Duro @ 70: Monumental Concert Series of Global Peace,” is being organized by the New Age Organization (NAO), which Ikujenyo founded and leads.The celebration will also include the unveiling of a new cultural advocacy organization and a recording label connected to Ikujenyo’s flagship archival initiative, 100 Years of Nigerian Music. The project aims to document and preserve the evolution of Nigerian popular music from 1925 to 2027, highlighting the artists, sounds, movements, and cultural developments that have shaped the country’s musical history.Nigerian Culture MagazineA statement issued by NAO said the celebration would focus on Ikujenyo’s newly completed 12-track album, “Peace of Mind.” The project was produced through New Age Productions in collaboration with cultural organizations and advocacy groups.
According to the organizers, the album uses Afro-Jazz instrumentation to explore themes including peace, national development, political harmony, social stability, and resilience.As part of the birthday program, four songs from the album — “Perfection,” “Samba,” “Tribute to Fela,” and “Everybody Likes to Hear Good Music” — will receive promotional video releases. The videos are intended to support the album’s wider public presentation and draw attention to its musical and social messages.Ikujenyo said the project was conceived against a backdrop of growing global instability and economic hardship.
In that context, the album presents music as a means of encouraging reflection, promoting unity, and expressing hope for greater peace and progress.“Music remains the ultimate medium for restoring peace of mind and inspiring systemic solutions,” he said. He explained that the celebration had been conceived as something broader and more meaningful than a conventional birthday concert, combining music, cultural memory, public engagement, and social reflection.“Duro @ 70 is not just a personal milestone. It is a platform for unity, historic preservation, and national restoration,” he said.
The programme is intended to use the occasion to bring people together, honor Nigeria’s musical legacy, and encourage renewed attention to the role of culture in national development.A major feature of the programme will be the Peace of Mind live concerts, which will feature Ikujenyo and his Age of Aquarius ensemble alongside selected veteran artists. The performances are expected to showcase the enduring value of experienced musicians while creating opportunities for audiences to engage with music centered on reflection, harmony, and collective renewal.The organizers will also present a 100 Years of Nigerian Music Exhibition, featuring rare photographs, original musical recordings, and archival materials documenting the evolution of Nigerian music. The exhibition will trace the development of Highlife, Afrobeat, and contemporary Nigerian sounds, offering visitors a broader view of the artists, styles, and cultural movements that have shaped the country’s musical identity.Nigerian Culture MagazineOther activities will include wellness sessions, guided walks, lifestyle and fashion showcases, visual art exhibitions, listening parties, and screenings of the project’s music videos at selected cultural venues in Lagos. Together, these activities will extend the celebration beyond the concert stage and create a more immersive experience linking music with health, creativity, fashion, visual culture, and community participation.The archival component of the project is expected to preserve scores, photographs, and profiles of Nigerian musical pioneers.
By gathering and documenting these materials, the organizers aim to safeguard the country’s musical heritage and make important records available to future generations, researchers, performers, and members of the public.Through New Age Productions and his cultural advocacy work, he has continued to promote Afro-Jazz, music education, cultural preservation, and social development. His efforts reflect an ongoing commitment to using music and cultural programming to support learning, protect historical memory, and encourage broader social progress.NAO said further details about the Lagos concert, including the venues, program schedule, participating partners and arrangements for public access, would be released in the coming weeks. The announcement is expected to provide audiences with more information about where and when the performances will take place, as well as how they can attend and engage with the event.
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