Emeka Esogbue

 Voices of Ibusa : The Evolution of Traditional Musicians and Their Vocal Craft By Emeka Esogbue Ibusa, an Anioma community in Delta State , enjoys a rich reputation for producing numerous traditional musicians. What began as Otu (musical groups) eventually evolved into solo performances, defining musicality in the community. Ibusa’s fame in music was such that when Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe visited during his electoral campaign, he remarked, “Igbuzo bu Congo,” aptly comparing the people of Ibusa with Congo, a nation renowned for its musical excellence at the time. Among the most remarkable of these musicians are the legendary John Nwanze Nwabuwa , popularly known as Nwanze Nwagbodi, leader of the Otu Ifechukwude Dancing Group of Ibusa and believed to be the first man from the community to record an album in 1970 after the civil war; Dana “Agility” Okonji, leader of the famous Otu Mbonsi Onyenwu Obulunjoa Dancing Group ; Ogbogu Okonji , Etiti Okonji (his cousin), Onyeoma Diyoyo Okafor, ...

 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...

Music Development in Ibusa: A Personal Account - Part Two By Emeka Esogbue "Egwu ka anyi bia li, ndi bia li ogu wa naa ana." - Dana 'Agility' Okonji One day, my father returned from work with an album, and in his usual hurried move to his turntable, he opened the cover and at a fast pace, dropped the album on the music device. The song was slightly odd as it came with a strange account of the Nigerian Civil War. The artists were young Ibusa men from the Ogboli axis of the community. After the civil war of 1967 to 1970, a group of Ibusa young men under the auspices of Otu Ofu Ndu visited the studio to record an album. Disposed to warfare but mourning the losses and destructions that came with the war, they invoked the people's sympathy with the 'cry.' The group of singers was mostly members of an irregular armed force who defended the Ibusa community from invasion during the war and living through the afflictions of the war, they made the song to ...

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...