Talking about the advice her father gave her, Oge disclosed: “The greatest advice my father gave me was to be original and consistent in whatever I do.”
Tony Ogaga
Like father, like daughter aptly describes Oge Kimono, daughter of the late reggae legend, Ras Kimono, who passed away a few weeks ago.
READ ALSO: Nigerian reggae star, Ras Kimono, dies at 60
Just like her late dad, Oge has taken up reggae music as a career and has dropped a couple of singles. Already, she is a regular face at reggae events across Nigeria.
Just back from her father’s funeral, which attracted the creme de la creme of Nigerian entertainment, Oge opened up on life with Kimono, her father, and also shared fond memories she had with him. “Dad was an amazing man in whatever way you looked at it. He had a large heart, was compassionate and was a very simple man whose humility knew no bounds. I would describe him as a true Rastaman whose first rule was love, regardless of status, race, creed or religion,” she revealed.
Premonition
Months before he passed on, Ras Kimono had done certain strange things that led some artistes, family members and close friends to believe that he knew death was around the corner. At least, that was the stand of his close pals, gospel reggae musician, Buchi and another reggae act, Righteousman. But then, what’s the opinion of Oge who was very close to the legend?
Legacy
A thoughtful look descends on her visage, as she responds: “I think my dad had a premonition that death was around the corner. The last time I spoke to him was a day before his trip. You see, for a couple of years, I’d been having some premonitions about him passing away.
“The last one I had was two years ago when I dreamt he had passed on. It was a dream that shook me to my marrows. I’d been having such dreams for a while but I wasn’t expecting it this soon; his death shook the living daylights out of me, and I’m yet to get used to the fact that he is gone. I will miss him; I mean everything about his person. I saw him in my dream a day after he died, and before I could say Ras Kimono, he had disappeared and I haven’t seen him since then.”
One incident Oge said she wouldn’t forget in a hurry was Kimono’s vote of thanks at his 60th birthday ceremony on May 9, 2018 where he thanked everybody for honouring him, adding that he would have loved to celebrate his birthday and 35th anniversary on stage, but said unfortunately, the next time he will celebrate would be at Atan cemetery.
READ ALSO: Ras Kimono’s final journey to ‘Zion’
“I think he was seeing ahead of us but we just couldn’t wrap our minds around his message,” Oge stressed.
However, what fond memories does Oge have of her dad? Her eyes lit up with a glow as she said: “Hmmm… I have so many fond memories of him. Sometimes when I remember them I laugh so hard, because I can picture the huge mischievous smile he has on right now, looking down on me from heaven.
“There was this particular day I punished my little sister. She later slept off and my dad went to my room to look for me only to find the little girl sleeping, so he came downstairs to meet Righteousman, his wife and myself and chided me for punishing the little girl. And guess what, he said ‘waka your mama’. I was so angry and wanted to get back at him so bad, so I said ‘waka to myself my papa’. It was so hilarious. We all busted out laughing. Indeed, that was a hilarious moment I will never forget.”
Legacy
Kimono has in no small measure contributed to the growth and sustenance of reggae music in Nigeria. He even had his own genre of reggae music, which he christened ‘rub-a-dub’. Is Oge ready to step into her dad’s shoes? Does she have what it takes to do so?
Her response: “One thing I have to set straight is this, there can only be one Ras Kimono! Good enough, he saw me pushing a career in reggae music, so as for the continuity of his musical legacy, it continues to live as long as I live, so help me Jah! Senator Florence Ita Giwa said it all when she said ‘Kimono has a successor’.”
READ ALSO: General Kito: My plan to revive reggae music
Advice
Talking about the advice her father gave her, Oge disclosed: “The greatest advice my father gave me was to be original and consistent in whatever I do. And above all, I must be humble in whatever I do.”
Current project
On the project she’s working on currently, the reggae singer stated that she actually wanted to surprise her dad with her debut album this year if not for the death that took him away. “I was working on my debut album to surprise my dad this year, but oh boy, he surprised me instead. Anyway, that plan is still on, as I am set to drop a single entitled, Good Ole Days, off the album before the year runs out. So, look out for it,” she boasted.