Tribute to John Nwanze Nwabuwa (a.k.a) Nwanze Nwagbodi: an Anioma Traditional Musician of Great Repute

John Nwanze Nwabuwa (popularly called "Nwanze Nwagbodi" or simply "Agbodi") stood about four feet and six inches tall; dark complexioned and was a traditional musician of great repute. Born March 8, 1930 to Agbodi and Nwanneadiazi Nwabuwa of Umuozoma, Ogeowele Quarters in Ibusa, Delta state, Nigeria, he began to exhibit natural intelligence early in life.

In May, 1937, he was enrolled in the then Sacred Heart Elementary School, Ibusa, (Now Umejei Primary school) at the age of 7 but early death of his parents did not see him go far in his educational pursuit. Nonetheless, he began to exhibit musical talent in Anioma music though he did not immediately take up the career in music because as he was to tell disclose, there was no encouragement to enable him do so.

Early Life

Immediately after his primary school education, he was taken to live with one of his relations outside Ibusa to be catered for and brought up but he was to return to Ibusa, an act people have attributed to his inability to come to terms with the social kind of life that was totally different from what he was used to in Ibusa where he was born and had spent most of his lifetime. Again, he went to live in Jos where he started to work but would return to Ibusa, where he began to assist his uncle in the farm.

Life in Lagos

After farming for about one year, he, in accompany of other youths soon discovered that the bush they set on fire was not totally consumed perhaps due to improper and unskilled procedure, so he abandoned farming and fled and to Lagos where he took up a white collar job with the Federal Ministry of Defence. Nwabuwa was to later work in a secondary school in Lagos.

Journey to the music world

Unlike most Ibusa traditional musicians of his time, Nwanze did not begin his musical career early in life but rose to become one of the most prominent musicians to come out from Ibusa. He was best known as the lead vocalist of “Otu Ifechukwude Dancing Group of Ibusa", founded in the 1960s also known as “Egwu Ikate” among Ibusa music lovers because the group was first based in that area of Lagos. The "mother" of the group was Madam Cecilia Osadebe, constantly referred to in their songs as "Ada Nwa Osadebe" who commanded respect from the group members.

Discography/genre

The group recorded several of their albums in what was then known as “small plates” particularly with Norman Records. The last of Otu Ifechukwude's records was waxed in the 1980. A lot of Anioma traditional music lovers appreciated his kind of music because the rhythm was purely traditional and also produced with traditional musical instruments some of which were Ubome (big gong), Isaka (maracas), Agogo (small gong), Udu, Akapele (native flute) etc. The music genre was Agbalani but sometimes Uloko and Ekobe.

Strong Igbuzo influence woven in proverbs and other forms of sayings, strong diction, eloquence and perfect understanding of Ibusa dialect were lyrical advantages enjoyed by the band. Nwanze Nwagbodi is excellently gifted in the ability to compose songs, singing his own name and marching it with tender rhythm that halted and started up every now and then, a characteristic of Agbalani. Ibusa Pathfinder, the defunct Ibusa Newspaper once described him as the Singing Bird of Ibusa.

Life outside music
Nwanze Nwagbodi was a member of Ibusa Community Development Union (ICDU), Ogbeowele Family Union, Umundofue Family Union to which he was the Diokpa until his death. He suddenly took ill and died on May 6, 1996 in Ibusa and was interred in December same year. He was married to three wives, with six children.

Achievements
Nwanze Nwagbodi is often credited with being Igbuzo's musician to first put Igbuzo music in record with the song, "Igbuzo Nwen Ndidi" after the Nigerian Civil War in 1970. He was allegedly arrested and detained by the Gowon regime that misinterpreted the song to mock victorious One Nigeria Stand.

About the Author:
Emeka Esogbue hails from Ibusa, Delta State, Nigeria. He is is a History and International Relations graduate.

emekaesogbue@yahoo.com
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Tribute to John Nwanze Nwabuwa (a.k.a) Nwanze Nwagbodi: an Anioma Traditional Musician of Great Repute

Associations, Ibusa, African Music, Nigerian Music, Nwanze Nwagbodi, John Nwanze, Ibusa Music, Tradtional Music, Nigerian Traditional Music, African Traditional Music, Anioma Music, Anioma Culture, Anioma Traditional Music, Umuozoma, Ogbeowelle

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