Duro Ikujenyo @70: Tribute concert for master pianist, composer, arranger
By Editor
AFROBEAT legend Duro Ikujenyo will be 70 on September 2, 2026. To commemorate the milestone, the New Age Organization (NAO), which the ex-Fela Kuti band member, founded and leads, has announced a “Monumental Concert Series of Global Peace”, which will also unveil his culture advocacy group and a recording label that is currently handling his prime project document 100 Years of Nigerian Music.
The statement from his organisation reads in part, “Veteran pianist, composer, musician and band leader age of Aquarius Duro Ikujenyo officially announces his 70th birthday celebration 2nd of September 2026 marked by a visionary multi-disciplinary festival and the launch of his landmark 12-track album project, Peace of Mind.
“Produced under ‘New Age Productions’, in collaboration with leading advocacy groups and Nigerian recording label cultural organizations, the ‘Duro @70’ project serves as a call for national economic growth, political harmony, and global peace. It also launches a historical archival initiative documenting 100 Years of Nigerian Popular Music (1925 – 2027), preserving scores, photographs, and profiles of veteran pioneers.
“The celebration centres around Ikujenyo’s newly completed 12-track studio album and a suite of four promotional video releases: ‘Perfection,’ ‘Samba,’ ‘Tribute to Fela’ and ‘Everybody Likes to Hear Good Music.’ Rooted in rich Afro-Jazz instrumentation, these tracks provide a sonic antidote to global unrest, political instability, and economic hardship — offering what Ikujenyo terms a “New Age blueprint for human resilience and mental rejuvenation.”
The Duro @70 celebration transcends a standard music concert, incorporating a holistic celebration of the mind, body, and soul. The ‘Peace of Mind’ Live Concerts: Performance residencies featuring the Age of Aquarius ensemble and guest veteran artistes.
‘100 Years of Nigerian Music Exhibition’ is an archival display of rare photos, original musical notation, and literature tracking the evolution of Highlife, Afrobeat, and modern sounds, ‘Mind, Body & Soul Sessions’ provide guided wellness walks, wellness activities, lifestyle fashion showcases, and visual art exhibitions and audio-visual screenings to exclusive listening parties and video premieres across major cultural hubs in Lagos.
“Today’s world faces unprecedented turmoil, but music remains the ultimate medium to restore peace of mind and inspire systemic solutions,” says Duro, the veteran music icon. “Duro @70 is not just a personal milestone. It is a platform for unity, historic preservation, and national restoration.”
Ikujenyo is a renowned Nigerian pianist, producer, and cultural theorist best known for his foundational work with Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s Egypt 80 and his hit production work with Highlife legend Fatai Rolling Dollar and Jazzhole Records. Through New Age Productions, he continues to push the boundaries of Afro-Jazz and social advocacy. The New Age Organization is appreciative of the Nigerian press for its passionate support of culture, music and art development in Nigeria.
Duro Ikujenyo
