The Death of Uche Nwalama Stopped Me but Now, I am Back and Strong - Heritage Anioma Band Leader, Eluemunor Okafor

The Death of Uche Nwalama Stopped Me but Now, I am Back and Strong

-       Heritage Anioma Band Leader, Eluemunor Okafor

He is musically a household name in Anioma, one of the earliest Ibusa traditional musicians that entrenched the music in records and also one of people’s longest playing traditional musicians of today. Music Composer, Eluemunor Isichei Okafor, the well-traveled musician also grounded in the people’s culture relieves worthy memory on how recorded music started in Ibusa. The veteran musician speaks to PEN MASTER on a number of issues that helps to fill the musicality gap of the Ibusa people in Delta State. Excerpts:

Pen Master: Onyeoma Diyoyo is a household name but for those that are far-off, can our readers meet you?

Okafor: Okay, thank you very much, Pen Master. Well, my name is Isichei Eluemunor Okafor. I am the third child but second male child of my parents. I was born to Odigwe Obi Okafor from Umuwor, Ogbeowele in Ibusa, as you know already. He had some elements of musicianship in him having

also played for a traditional band known then as Amakeokwu Nti Adianu. Also in this traditional group was another illustrious son of Ibusa in the person of Nduka Oza who hailed from the Ogboli Quarter. Diokpa Enwelim Ajukwu popularly called “Ota-Alu” from Ogbeowele was also a member of that Dancing Group. Some of these people including my dear father contributed in laying the foundation for the entrenchment of Egwu Igbuzo for the enjoyment of our Ibusa listeners. You know the Ibusa people are known for music and even the Zik of Africa, an admirer of the Ibusa community noted and appreciated this in our people. Until recently, it would seem that music was Ibusa and Ibusa was music. On the other hand, my mother is Omebe Mabel Mozea. The Mozea family in Ogbeowele is well-known in our Ibusa. I attended Ezemese Primary School, Ibusa later Oboshi Grammar in the same community. Having left secondary school, I passed through the Lagos Aviation and Maritime Business Academy where I acquired my HND in Management Science. Well, I would say I am just a normal human being with my own ways and styles of doing things to see that people around me are happy always. Anyway, Pen Master, from my background, you will see that everything about me is heavily Ibusa. Yes, I am a proud Ibusa man.

Pen Master: …(Laughs) but in this musical journey, you are popularly known as "Onyeoma Diyoyo" so, I haven’t made any mistake. Have I?

Okafor: (interrupts) …No you are not mistaken. In fact, I was told that Amaka Halim, my Aunty from Umuodafe gave me that name when I was three days old. At the time, she came visiting my mum and saw me very handsome and big and she nicknamed me “Diyoyo”, the name by which I am known today. Not many people know it is my not an actual name but stage name as it is.

Pen Master: Well, this Aunty Amaka Halim must be proud how far you have taken this nickname from door to door. Okay, we have listened to your contemporary, Ogbogu Okonji tell us that his career started at a tender age. We have also listened to Etiti Okonji tell us he started under a tree. How did you start?

Okafor: I will say it was from birth because my ancestral links are all music. Whether mother’s side, the Mozeas, father’s side, the Okafors or the paternal grandfather’s side, the Umunnas in Umuisor, music has always been in me. When I started my music Ogbogu Okonji with his group then in Lagos was the best known Ibusa band. There was also the late Agility Okonji’s Otu Mbosionyenwu Obulunjoa Dancing Group of Ibusa which was already making wave in Ibusa and beyond. By this time too, we had established the Otu onye Fu Eziokwu with the late Dr. Anaza as our patron and I was playing the role of an instrumentalist and also backup vocalist. Perhaps, I am better known for my singing prowess with Akalusiabana, the traditional band of young boys but I was also a member of Otu Ifeonye Wepu Anya. It has been music and music for me.

Pen Master: From your response anyone can see that music didn’t start for you today but I will like to ask: What is your genre?

Okafor: Ekobe is my music but I can easily switch over to highlife when the need arises. I do this mostly in marriages. Sometimes, when I play for our people in their marriages, they go frenzy and request me to tune to highlife and I immediately gratify the urge in them since music is always about satisfying the listeners. Moreover, prowess in music comes with adaptability.

Pen Master: But you are an ordained Evangelist. How do you combine your ministry with traditional music?

Okafor: I serve the Almighty God and he has not commanded his children to forbid their traditional music.

Pen Master: Your musical career has really lasted long and one can safely say you have contributed to the sociocultural development of your Ibusa people. Have your people appreciated you enough?

Okafor: If you ask me, appreciation divinely comes from God. Moreover, my music lovers appreciate me. In 2016, the Igbuzo Singles Meet, an organization of youths in my community honoured me with an award in recognition of my cultural contributions to my people. That this award came alongside that of Prof Austin Uwandulu who was also honoured for his own contributions towards the youth development of the community by the same group is something to cheer about. It goes to tell that my efforts did not go down in vain. When a recognized group of that magnitude from your community come out to honour you for making impacts in their community, you know your contributions are greatly prized. There are certain people I cannot forget today due to their significance in my life. I cannot go ahead to start naming individuals in this interview but I know they know themselves and know too that I know and appreciate them in return.

Pen Master: So tell us: What happened to Akalusiabana, that band of boys and rave of the moment?

Okafor: It is a long story though. After Ogbogu Okonji left Otu Ife Onye Lolu Nwanmadu and went solo which I believe both of them, Ogbogu Okonji and Etiti have spoken about separately in their interviews with you, they, the Otu Ife Onye Lolu Nwanmadu Group sent for me to join forces with them for the sustainability of the group. Don’t forget that in this Group were the likes of the late Austin Okoisor from Ogboli, Patrick Otegwu, Ofuokwu, Igbosua, Ngozi Okonma, Ikedinma, the one we know in Ibusa as “Ochiakanabor”. Well, I heeded the call and became an instrumentalist and back-up vocalist of the group. At the time that I was with Etiti Okonji in Festac Town, we went ahead to successfully produce the hit songs of “Uwagadinma” and “Wasi”. With time, I informed him that I had to reschedule my own Band which I had started in Ibusa before relocating to Lagos. He acceded to my plea and I established my Band which is the Heritage Music Makers Band of Anioma currently my Band. I would not really say that Akalusiabana died. It happened that the members naturally lost interest in it.

Pen Master: Sir, your explanation here is awesome but in spite of this, some may wonder why some of our people prefer to patronize other groups musically…

Okafor: I can say our music remains our own and one of the best only that a prophet is never honoured in his own town. Any true Anioma-born that knows music cannot do without the Anioma music.

Pen Master: (smiling) What more can you tell us about this Akalusiabana? You know the band was groundbreaking …

Okafor: (Laughing aloud) I was not the owner of the band but just the lead vocalist. We first started it in Ogbeowele at the residence of Okoboshi Ajukwu now late beside
the Okonkwo Moses Diamond house by Ogwugwu Uja in Umuezebo, Ogbeowele.  The group was founded by Izuka Mozea, my cousin and with the quality of boys we had, we went very far.

Pen Master: …And you did a song for the late Obi Bobby Ijeh?

Okafor: (Smiling) Oh, yes! That was Chief Ite-Ego Atata. That was our first album which we titled “Ndidi Bu Ije Uwa”.

Pen Master: Any plan to bring back your old songs on CDs?

Okafor: I am personally seeing to that. I have that plan.

Pen Mater: Now, I must ask you the usual question: Have you raised a couple of people to take after you?

Okafor: In my family, three of my boys are into music. My first son is doing hip pop, the second is a singer and drummer while the third is a keyboardist and bass guitarist. He is also a lead singer in gospel music. I also have the likes of Ifeanyi Nwaebili from nearby Akwukwu-Igbo Alias Enyi Nmili. He was a member of band member but now the leader of his own band. I have been doing my best in this regard.

Pen Master: The Anioma music lovers complain that the making of albums for Anioma figures especially those truly worthy of them has fallen in low ebb over the time. Do you still make albums for deserving individuals?

Okafor: Yes, I do make albums for people but it is on demand and at will. My latest album titled “Isu Bu Ani Eze” has a particular track dedicated to Chief Frank
Obodoechine, an illustrious son of Ibusa with laudable achievements for the community in faraway Canada. Another blast which will hit the airwaves in a grand style will be here soon.

Pen Master: Why are the Anioma youths of today avoiding taking up traditional music but go for R & B instead and even performing it in languages other than their own?

Okafor: I think the first challenge lies with the parents that do not speak our Enuani dialect to their children. To know and speak your dialect is a very big criterion for understanding traditional music. Secondly, there is no fast money in this our music but patience and most children of these days cannot be patient enough to wait.

Pen Master: But even the homegrown also …

Okafor: …We cannot readily conclude it as such. The first set of my group members in Ibusa were illustrious Ibusa boys well-grounded in love and patriotism for the community. Sir Shady Shay (Anthony Onyeisi Ajukwu) was my second lead vocalist and also middle gong player. He is today an aide to the Delta State Governor. Nwabu Tony Uwaechue was my patron after the era of legendary highlife player, St. Michael Obanya who was our mentor and first patron. It will interest you to know that Ifeanyi Mozea, Amaechi Odina, Okey Onwuemeli, Esso Nwajei, Ayude Dumebi Nwajei, Andrew Okolie, Kanayo Anaza and lots more are my group members. These are masters of the Ibusa culture and dialect.

Pen Master: Share with us what this experience has been like

Okafor: Okay, my first memorable outing was in 2015 in Agege, Lagos when I was invited by Fanta (Awele Obiechie) to play at the funeral ceremony of late Tony Nwaezeigwe. After my performance, I was so happy that I delivered as an Ibusa traditional musician and a band leader. Studio wise, my first studio experience was with DECCA West Africa Studio in Yaba, Lagos. In that year of 1993, I had the first experience of studio production. Many thanks to Chief Daddy Okeleke, the Mgboko of Ibusa who played a fatherly and advisory role from the first day of the practice to the day we waxed Uwadilinma also sponsored by Sunny Kuti (Chief Sunday Okocha). As this album was released and I heard the song everywhere I went, my joy knew no bound. But when in 1999, my bosom friend, Uche Nwalama died, I became afraid and dropped music. I only had to make a return in 2015 and now waxing very strong. But while this lasted, my father Ogbogu Okonji will always say to me anywhere he met me, “you left music, you left your destiny for another thing. If you like yourself, go back to your music” and I appreciate him immensely. Music is food to the soul so we must continue to eat it. It gives joy that the Anioma people appreciate my kind of music.

Pen Master: What more can you tell us about Onyeoma Diyoyo?

Okafor: Personally, I can joke for Africa and hardly see reasons for anger. I am not a malicious person. I detest gossips. I don’t fear people but I respect them. My definition of music is that it is the spirit that sustains life. It is also the joy of the soul. Good music is hope and advice to the hopeless. Sir, with all due respect, nearly everyone that I know today, I know as a result of my music. If they are 100%, I knew 85% from this my music. When they make description of me, they say “Imahor Diyoyo nke na eti egwu?” (Don’t you know Diyoyo, the one that play music?) With this music, I have traveled to different parts of Nigeria to play for people. I don’t drink or smoke before getting on stage. I serve my God faithfully and he makes a way for me in musical life.  

Pen Master: (Laughing) Any other message you want to pass to your fans?

Okafor: (Laughing) Well, our Anioma people should come out and stand by me; they should stand by us, the Anioma traditional musicians. They should take examples from our Yoruba brothers who show utmost concern for their traditional musicians. A Yoruba traditional musician may look like nothing but you but to their people, they treasure and adore them. I am readily available to render musical services to our Anioma celebrants and beyond. If you are celebrating, remember that Onyeoma Diyoyo can supply you, that unforgettable traditional music to sauce your occasion.  

Pen Master: It's been nice speaking with you.

Okafor: God bless you Pen Master. We shall go
far by his grace.