Emeka Esogbue

 Music Development in Ibusa - Concluding Part - Emeka Esogbue "Obodo Amaligor Na Anyi Bu Ndi Egwu" - Egwu Osodi The biggest musical actor of modern-day Ibusa is Chief Ogbogu Anthony Okonji. A Journalist from neighbouring Okpanam community, Sylvester Asoya, once described him with the following words: "Ogbogu Okonji is unarguably the biggest music ambassador in the Anioma area of Delta State. The traditional music exponent who had a stint with the Nigerian Customs Service has done remarkably well with his career. Apart from his admonitory lyrics which constantly place a check on society, Ogbogu's music is appealing and a major source of unity among people. But the musician has also been regularly criticized for praising only the rich and powerful." In general, Ogbogu is the most consistent Anioma traditional musician and also the one with the highest number of albums to his credit. He was born to the Okonji family of Ogboli in Ibusa. He also stands, not only as o...

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,...

“Music Changed My Life” -        Anioma Musician, Ogbogu Okonji Ogbogu Okonji is unarguably the biggest music ambassador in Anioma area of Delta State. The traditional music exponent who had a stint with the Nigeria Customs Service has done remarkably well with his career. Apart from his admonitory lyrics which constantly place a check on society, Ogbogu’s music is appealing and a major source of unity among Anioma people. But the musician has also been severally criticized for praising only the rich and powerful. In this interview with Godfrey Osakwe, Sylvester Asoya, Emeka Esogbue and Austin Afam Ugah, Ogbogu talks about his life and career. Q: Let us begin like this: how does it feel like to be regarded as the biggest traditional musician in the entire Aniomaland? A: Well, I really can’t say, I just found myself playing music when I was in school and as a child I sang a lot when I was playing with my mates. Some people did not underst...

EGWU OHUHU: THE FAMOUS DANCE OF THE ANIOMA PEOPLE ·          Exactly how the Enuani of Anioma do it By Emeka Esogbue Alexander Pope once said ‘those who move easiest who have learn’d to dance’. This aphorism, in point of fact, applies to Anioma descents. The Anioma ethnic nationality is blessed with numerous dances that include Uloko, Agbalani, Ekobe, Olimgba, Aguba, Okanga, Egwu-Ajah and many more. The people have one of the most admirable forms of dance. This distinctive kind of dance is unique to the people thus no other group anywhere dances precisely in Anioma people’s style. Egwu ohuhu, by far, remains the best dance, by which the Anioma people are known and identified. For a very long time, this Anioma dance was admired from within and outside because of the inimitableness involved in performing it. Take awa y Egwu ohuhu, the dance art of the people will become incomplete. This dance is particularly common among the ...