Emeka Esogbue

By Emeka Esogbue It would seem that the life and times of Jonniewood Olimmah was entirely with music, yet he was unsung even in death. Born to Onowu Richard Ebonye Olimmah and Christiana Kanyisiyochukwundu Olimmah in Ibusa, an Anioma community of Delta State. Jonniewood Olimmah in his lifetime was the best known Ibusa instrumentalist; one of the most popular instrumentalists of Nigerian extraction also adjudged one of the best three African organists of his time. He was also one of the best travelled African instrumentalists around the world. Like many of his contemporaries, Olimmah was denied of early years of schooling by the demise of his father. Having started his primary schooling at the then famous Sacred Heart Elementary School, Ibusa, his custody then passed to three of his uncles who nurtured him, Onowu Bernard Olimmah, Onowu Thamos Ilomechina and finally, Lawrence Ashikodi (the Ibusa Historian). It was from this Historian that his cultural foundation was ...

The much talked about Anioma National Convention, themed ‘Preserving Anioma Heritage through Education” has come and gone but the euphoric atmosphere it created will remain for a long time to come. Perhaps, what is now news is that Anioma Association USA Inc, Georgia Chapter, organizers of the event is gradually emerging as the most vocal assembly of Anioma people in Diaspora. Where some Anioma groups have been troubled with disunity, this particular organization has stood firmly and by gathering Anioma people at home and abroad and bringing them under the Anioma canopy of love and unity, the organization, not only demonstrated the possibility of easily uniting a people but challenged other Anioma organizations to create public facilities to meet for public discussions for the good of our people. Any assembly of Anioma people in Diaspora capable of inviting Anioma monarchs and other important figures within the Anioma nation as we just witnessed in Anioma Association USA Inc, Georg...