Music Entrepreneur, Chief G.A.D Tabansi, Is Dead

THE Nigerian music industry has been depleted once more with the shocking news of the death of one of the nation’s foremost indigenous music recording company owners, Chief Godwin Aloefuna Davidson Tabansi. He died on April 3 in a hospital in Awka, Anambra State after a brief illness. The late music entrepreneur was a trail blazer who saw the music industry as a fertile ground and indeed invested heavily in it.

For several decades, Chief Tabansi dominated the industry and his name was synonymous with the growth of Nigerian music. From 1983 to 1988, he led the Nigerian Export Promotion Mission to North Africa and also participated in several music industry exhibitions in Europe and America.

Chief Tabansi was born on April 1, 1932 in Nri town in present day Anocha Local Government Area of Anambra State. He attended St. Mary’s School in Nri and St. Andrew’s School in Adazi between 1938 and 1944. He later attended Christ the King College (CKC) Onitsha from 1945 to 1949. And on obtaining his senior Cambridge school certificate in 1950, he proceeded to join the Customs & Excise Training School in 1951.

During his eventful life, he worked very hard at uniting the Nigerian Copyright community and seeking a brighter future for the practitioners in the Nigerian music industry. And until his death, he was lifetime member of PMRS, now COSON.

According to close associates, his burial ceremony has been slated to hold from August 26 to 30 at his home-town, Nri, Anambra State.

Reacting to the news of Tabansi’s death, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, expressed great sadness and described him as an “extra-ordinary man who, despite his unmatched achievements, remained very humble and was never out of touch.”

Okoroji added: “In the several years that I worked closely with Chief Tabansi, not for once did he do anything to remind anyone of his fame, wealth or incredible experience. He was always simple and also was a great source of inspiration. The music industry will surely miss his wisdom.”

It would also be recalled that Tabansi Record Company was noted for producing and promoting such music stars of old like Jide Obi and Majek Fashek, Felix Liberty, Chris Mba and several others. Already, a condolence register has been opened for him at COSON’s office in Ikeja, Lagos.