Ladder of Local Music Patronage: The Other Side of Nosike Ikpo Nobody Talks About
- Emeka Esogbue
Tributes have overwhelmingly poured in for the late Obi Senator Nosike Ikpo but rarely did these eulogies recall the local musical patronage of the departed Nigerian Elder Statesman and Father of the Anioma nation.
Understandably, the contributions of the first Senator from the region of Anioma is not belittling but elevating. Music is food to the soul and also passes some messages to the mind and the Ibusa-born politician from Umuodafe, one of the pioneering founders of today's Delta State realised this a means of endearing himself to his constituents.
Till date, Obi Senator Nosike Ikpo remains the only Anioma senator that utilized the Anioma local music to complementarily support his political mandate especially the pursuit of the creation of Anioma State unlike many in later years that would have lavished funds on the instruments of the personal media.
With the Ibusa traditional music, Obi Senator Nosike Ikpo planted the idea and 'unanimity' of acceptance of the creation of Anioma State in minds of the Anioma people and reaped the rewards. How did this happen?
In 1983, the Anioma people woke up to the realization of the voice of Otu Mbosionyewu Obulunjoa Dancing Group of Ibusa with the hit song, "Nkwuka Special" led by Dana "Agility" Okonji but it turned out that Obi Senator Nosike was the "Nna Egwu" (Father) of the Band. The Group had gathered some of the best musical gifts of Ibusa and beyond from other parts of Anioma including Mada from Umueze, Ugwonor, Nwanneka Oraegbu, Ikedinma Ojine, Ananaba, Sunday Okolie, P. C. Oraegbu, Halim, Nwaka, Anthony Okonji, Dada Okonji, Ikemefuna Okonji, Onianwa, David, Emeka Agidi from Ogboli, Obi Nwa Onye Akwukwu, Otangwulu, Sunday Nwaokocha, Ofuogwu, Ego Nwagifodu and other bunch of talents. It was like a luxury belonging to this Group that was the rave of the moment.
Madam Queen Ebedike was the "Mother" of the Group often saluted with "Eziafa Ka Ego". The Group was known to respect both Queen Ebedike and Nosike Ikpo as reflectively and repeatedly sounded in their works.
Nkwuka Special was silently divided into three tracks with dedications to the "creation of Anioma State", "Queen Ebedike" and "Nosike Ikpo" and all of the dedicated tracks made rythmnic sense to music lovers. The Anioma track campaigned for the creation of Anioma, calling on Anioma people to pray fervently towards the creation of the state for them. The second dedication, "Onye Esogbuezie Nwa Ikpo" was taken from the name, "Nwanosike". It reminded listeners of their freedom to go wherever they deemed fit without troubling Nosike Ikpo. Perhaps, it was a way of dousing the usual tall demands and endless expectations from a politicsl representative of Ikpo figure. The Group might have found a way to ward-off these usual disturbances, to give Ikpo, their Patron some rest.
It advises them to place their heads on any part of the pillow considered comfortable by them or go for some fetching of water but not trouble Nosike Ikpo. The last track saluted and praised the efforts of Queen Ebedike in holding the Group together. Indeed, born to Umuafene parents in Isieke part of Ibusa, Queen Ebedike was a successful woman that not only accommodated the Group but gave them up all she had for their progress. Everytime the Group was making album with Eze Obata of Elfrida Records, their label, she was in the studio with them in Lagos.
Eventually, Ikpo putting his senatorial capacity to maximum efforts pushed for, and secured the approval of the nation's National Assembly to approve the Anioma people's demand but for the sad 1984 coup that aborted the bid with suddenness.
Nevertheless, in the end, the local contributions of Otu Mbosionyewu Obulunjoa Dancing Group of Ibusa had inspired their Patron, Obi Senator Ikpo to deliver on the people's mandate, sagely and supremely passing the motion for the creation of the proposed Anioma State, the biggest demand of the people of the time as well as the farthest any Anioma advocate had gone till date.
Perhaps, it is more memorable to think that even as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Obi Senator Nosike Ikpo never abandoned the local group and the 'local' people as he was always with them till the end. He was close to the downtrodden the same way he was close to the high and mighty. He never forgot the point from which he ascended the ladder. It was not therefore surprising that after his senatorial ambition was aborted. He joined the same people, choosing to serve them in another capacity, this time, as an Obi.
*This historical piece is specially dedicated to Dr. Henry Obi Ajumeze and Anthony Onyeisi Ajukwu for their unrepentant love for Igbuzo music
Comments
Post a Comment