By Emma Sunday
Port Harcourt came alive Sunday night as highlife music legends, rising artistes, enthusiasts and fans, religious leaders, captains of industry, security chiefs, cultural stakeholders and dignitaries across South East and South South regions gathered for the 2nd edition of the Highlife Legendary Concert and Awards, celebrating icons of the genre.
The concert, organised by World Icon Enter10ment, at the EUI Event Centre on August 9, 2026 also celebrated Nigeria’s rich musical roots while projecting Rivers State and Nigeria as a destination for cultural tourism.
The event, chaired by entrepreneur, philanthropist and CEO of Five Star Music Concept, Chief Emeka Okonkwo, popularly known as E-Money, was described by attendees as a night of pride, nostalgia and inspiration for the highlife genre.
Veteran highlife legends and icons; Lawrence Obusi, popularly known as ‘King Sewa Sewa’, the Oriental Brothers, Oliver De Coque and Dr. Victor Olaiya, whose contributions shaped Nigerian music for decades were honoured with legendary awards.
Special recognition awards were also presented to E-Money, highlife music artistes, Nwaeze Dcomradeking and Professor Onye Egwu, for their contributions and efforts in promoting and sustaining the genre.
The night featured cultural displays and electrifying performances by the Convener, Engr. Dr. Nwagbo Eberechukwu Barnabas MNSE, Kcee, Professor Onye-Egwu, Nwaeze Dcomradeking, Peter D Rock, Lawrence Obusi, Dansatch and the Oriental Brothers, while Ojiete TV, Akpan Okon and KO Baba added humour to the evening with rib-cracking comedy acts that kept the audience entertained throughout.
Speaking, President of World Icon Enter10ment and Convener, Engr. Dr. Nwagbo Eberechukwu Barnabas MNSE, popularly known as ‘Dr. Banny’, said the concert was conceived to celebrate highlife music legends, preserve their legacies and to inspire younger artistes reminding them that indigenous music remains relevant in a globalised industry.
Engr. Barnabas said, “The Highlife Legendary Concert & Awards is a premier celebration of Nigeria’s highlife heritage, honoring highlife music legends, pioneers, and icons whose timeless music over decades has shaped generations, and also inspire upcoming highlife artistes,” he stated.
He described the 2026 edition of the event and 2nd in the series, as “awesome and fulfilling,” noting that it was a night of history, honour, gratitude and cultural pride.
Engr. Barnabas, who is also the Chairman of Belburge Group of companies, MD/CEO of Belburge International Limited (Bonded Terminal/Warehouse), Roseluxe Hotel Limited, Irish Homes Limited, Ivoryshore De Bureau Limited, said beyond entertainment, the World Icon Enter10ment is positioned to drive economic growth and cultural diplomacy.
He revealed that in the past two years, the concert has indirectly boosted tourism in Rivers State and Nigeria by attracting guests from across African countries and other parts of the world.
“With Port Harcourt hosting veteran and rising Nigerian artistes, dignitaries and thousands of fans from different regions, across the country and the world, the event has positioned the city and Nigeria as a hub for cultural tourism, create jobs in hospitality, and generate revenue for the local economy,” he said.
Engr. Barnabas used the medium to call on the Federal, State and Local Governments to treat entertainment as a critical sector and to deliberately invest in music, and entertainment industry.
“Nigerians especially the government must begin to invest intentionally in entertainment and music industry. We must also inculcate the culture of appreciating and recognising the legends who made the nation proud.
“If we honour our own while they are alive and even in death, we will inspire a thousand more to pick up the guitar, the microphone, and tell our story to the world. Culture is our oil, and music is our refinery,” he said.
He noted that “World Icon Enter10ment is a fast-rising brand with a vision to impact not just highlife music icons, but the entire entertainment industry across Nigeria, Africa and the world.”
On his part, Chairman, World Icon Enter10ment, Chief Emeka Okonkwo also known as E-Money, joined the call for government investment, saying strategic support for entertainment will create jobs, reduce youth restiveness and grow Nigeria’s GDP.
“When government invests in music, concerts and cultural festivals, you are not just funding shows. You are creating jobs for sound engineers, dancers, designers, hoteliers and transporters. You are putting money in the pockets of young people and telling the world that Nigeria’s culture is valuable,” he said.
E-Money commended World Icon Enter10ment and Dr. Banny for what he described as “a great, wonderful and unprecedented job,” stressing that the organisers are setting a new standard.
“The sweetest part of the Highlife Legendary Concert and Award, 2026 is that as the Chairman of the event, I was also recognised for the little we are doing in the industry. I am very happy,” he said.
“I had to put off every engagement and fly down to Nigeria to be part of this event, and I didn’t regret it,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, veteran highlife maestro, Professor Onye Egwu, thanked the organisers and dedicated the honour to God, his family and fans.
He said the recognition means more than an award to him and other legends, describing it as validation of decades of sacrifice and a message of hope to rising artistes.
“This recognition tells us that our music was not in vain. It tells the young ones that if you stay true to your roots, the world will celebrate you. Highlife is our identity and we must keep it alive,” Professor Onye Egwu said.
Guests at the event described the concert as timely, saying it reminded Nigerians of the unifying power of music and the need to protect cultural identity.
With the success recorded, World Icon Enter10ment announced that plans are already in motion for the 3rd edition, which will feature wider national and international participation and stronger partnerships.
“At Highlife Legendary Concert and Awards 2.0, we took it a notch higher and honestly, we can only imagine what the 3rd edition will look like,” Amb. Barnabas concluded.
