Building on the impetus provided by his father’s undeniable success, he provided glorious entertainment for a worshipful Lagos audience, which atimes reached delirium at the Caban Bamboo, a shrine before Fela’s Shrine.
He dominated the nightlife for several years, but the tide soon turned. Tony Benson inexplicably changed residency to Benin, relatively a social backwater, which could not provide the propulsion for a Tony Benson revival.
He made his way back to Lagos but it was probably too late in the day. I was personally dismayed at this time when I ran into him at the Ikoyi club, earning his bread as a one man band. Things had changed.
Years ago, he commanded frenzied attention. Now, in a Lagos evening, he plied his trade anonymously and to no great applause. But even if the cheers have died down, those who know, will still acknowledge the acuteness of his contributions and return the verdict that Tony Benson belongs to the stars. May his soul rest in peace.
Dele olowu sent in this tribute from Abuja
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
