King Sunny Ade Sells Guitar For 52.1 Million Naira
The auction held at the Sunny On Sunday concert, commemorating the 70th birthday ceremony of Juju music icon, King Sunny Ade.
The event which held on Sunday, December 11, 2016, at the Temple Balmoral Marquee, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
A major highlight of the event was the auction of one of King Sunny Ade’s famous guitars masterfully painted by award-winning artist, Victor Ehikhamenor. The master-piece is a collector’s item and has been receiving anonymous bids.
However, the buyer of the guitar which was auctioned by Dr. Jogun Onabanjo, Certified Auctioneer and Chief Executive of Onabanjo & Onabanjo & Co, is yet to be revealed.
Dr. Onabanjo placed the guitar on toss from N9m (nine million Naira) and a very competitive bid followed and was closed at N52.1m. While the bid was in progress, the asking price for the guitar doubled to N17m under two minutes before exceeding the N50m benchmark in 15 minutes.
An ecstatic Ehikhamenor said, “When you are given the opportunity to add a line to the history of a legend, you’d better ask God to take your hand and guide your senses. I’ve loved King Sunny Ade’s music for the longest time and his rhythm is one of the best companion in my studio when working”.
Speaking earlier about the guitar, KSA said: “Talking about my guitar which will be auctioned on the night to make the grand finale of my show, that piece is a part of the art. For the guitar to go into the art is a very good place for it to be. It is a symbol of art for me. I didn’t make it but it was for me and having possessed it, it should be an art piece that will remain for live. My guitar is my baby”.
The event, created and executed by Temple Management Company, was hosted by the comic Jenifa’s Diary duo of Funke Akindele and Lolo Omotunde, both who performed their duties with Tee A as hosts for the night.
Performances on the night included a star-studded cast of Awilo Logomba, Onyeka Onwenu, Sir Shina Peters, Darey, Omawumi, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Iyanya, Jeff and Tyson Noir.
DJ Jimmy Jatt played an extended set at the night, before Sunny Ade took to the stage, amid a crescendo of noise and fireworks. He then proceeded to serenade guests with the best of his hits, in a career spanning 50 years.
Guests on the night included Don Jazzy, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Nigeria’s Federal Minister of Power, Works and Housing and former Lagos State Governor. Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and Femi Otedola the Nigerian businessman, entrepreneur philanthropist, and chairman of Forte Oil Plc, an importer of fuel products.
