Daniel Olukoya, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries’s general overseer, has described the late Femi Esho, a music promoter, as an illustrious musical icon and an outstanding Highlife evangelist.

Mr Olukoya, in a statement on Tuesday, said the deceased was like a father and friend to him.

Mr Esho died on Monday, June 17, 2024, after a brief illness at 77. He is to be buried on Friday, August 30.

Until his demise, Mr Esho was the chairman of the Evergreen Musical Company and the founder of the Evergreen Music Heritage Foundation.

“Pa Esho was a father and a friend to me. We shared music interest together. He was a devoted child of God and an amiable gentleman.

“I wish to state that an illustrious music icon, an outstanding Highlife evangelist and compatriot has gone. He will forever be remembered. May his soul continue to rest in the bosom of the Lord,” he said.

Mr Olukoya noted that Mr Esho lived a noble life dedicated to a worthy cause.

He said the deceased’s significant contributions to the music industry are internationally recognised, just as his achievements and impacts are undeniable and indelible.

He explained that one of the deceased’s notable achievements was that he was a foremost collector, patron, and preserver of music of yesteryears across the entire West Africa sub-region.

He said Mr Esho’s legacy could be defined by his tireless efforts to ensure the immortality of Nigerian Highlife, Juju, Sakara, Apala, Afrobeat, and other indigenous music genres.

According to him, Mr Esho launched the Evergreen Music Foundation, a comprehensive resource for research and documentation of over 10,000 Nigerian musicians, supporting researchers, anthropologists and sociologists globally.

He said Mr Esho was a mentor and an “encyclopedia” of music to many Highlife music enthusiasts.

(NAN)