Nigeria loses highlife music icon

Nigerian saxophonist, Orlando Julius Ekemode was announced dead on Friday, April 15, by his wife Lady Latoya.

Bimbo Esho, confirmed this in her eulogized writing, “Bimbo Daddy has passed On…This was the message I stumbled on waking up at exactly 3am to peruse my WhatsApp page.. It was a message sent in to me by Orlando Julius beautiful and supportive wife Lady Latoya.

“We shall miss one of Nigeria’s fathers of Afro/Highlife Music , a gentleman and a fine Saxophonist. May daddy Orlando Julius soul journey well . To the entire Ekemode family may God give you the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.”

Julius who is a saxophonist, singer and bandleader, hails from Ijebu Ijesha. He started his musical career in the 60s when he joined Eddie Okonta’s band.

His first hit ‘Jagua Nana’ was released in 1965 after which he toured West Africa. Orlando formed the Ashiko movement to teach his genre of music to many.