Ariya Eko 2025: Evergreen’s Bimbo Esho Honours Music, Cultural Legends

The city of Lagos is preparing for a grand cultural celebration as the Ariya Eko Independence Music Festival makes its long-awaited return on October 5, 2025, at the Muson Centre, Marina.

Organized by Evergreen Musical Company under the leadership of its Managing Director, Mrs. Bimbo Esho, the festival is set to bring together history, music, and artistry in a way that reconnects Nigerians with their roots.

Speaking to PMNews Nigeria, Mrs. Esho explained that Ariya Eko is not just another music concert but a cultural journey that revisits the musical history of Lagos and Nigeria, from the pre-independence period to the present day.

According to her, the festival was originally created to revive indigenous music and highlight its deep role in shaping society.

This year, it aims to do even more by recognizing and celebrating those whose creativity has left lasting marks on the nation’s cultural heritage.

She recalled that the last edition of Ariya Eko, held in 2019, honored only one icon, Chief Ebenezer Obey, who is widely respected for recording more than 600 albums during his remarkable career.

In contrast, the 2025 edition will shine the spotlight on 65 men and women who have made significant contributions to music, culture, and the arts.

The number 65, she explained, was deliberately chosen to correspond with Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, making the recognition even more symbolic.Speaking on the transformation of the music industry over the years, Mrs. Esho noted the differences between the old and the new, particularly in the use of musical instruments, technology, and platforms.She pointed out that while streaming services and social media have changed the way music is produced, shared, and consumed, the essence of music has not changed.In her words, music remains a global language, a tool for expression, and a means of ministering to the human spirit.Mrs. Esho also revealed that future editions of Ariya Eko would extend recognition to artists who defined the Nigerian music scene in the 1990s, such as Plantashun Boiz, Remedies, Blackky, and others.These acts, she said, played the unique role of bridging the gap between the older legends and the younger generation of artists who are now taking Nigerian music to global stages.With the promise of nostalgia, celebration, and recognition, the 2025 Ariya Eko Independence Music Festival is expected to be more than an evening of performances.It will be a cultural statement that reinforces Lagos as the heartbeat of African music and honours those who have helped make Nigerian music a powerful voice across the world.