Emeka Esogbue

 15 Memorable Enuani Proverbs from Prominent Ibusa Musicians Compiled by Emeka Esogbue Proverbs and sayings occupy a central place in Enuani music and dance, serving both artistic and social purposes. In Ibusa musical tradition, no performance is considered complete without the use of proverbs. They are the vessels through which the Ibusa musician conveys wisdom, moral instruction, and cultural philosophy. These proverbs are not merely decorative; they are oral archives preserved in the memory of listeners and transmitted across generations. Each saying carries didactic depth, enriching the beauty of Egwu Igbuzo (Ibusa music) while provoking reflection and moral consciousness. Ibusa musicians often use proverbs to praise virtue, warn against folly, or criticize societal injustice. One of the few who boldly used proverbial expressions as social criticism is Ogbogu Okonji, whose music challenges hypocrisy among ndi uka (churchgoers) and other social ills in Ibusa society. Below are f...

 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 ...

 Music Development in Ibusa: A Personal Account - Part One By Emeka Esogbue "Egwu na sor nwa ogalanya, egwu na sor nwa ogbei" - Chief Ogbogu Okonji   The above quote which literarily translates to "The rich and poor enjoy music" illustrates the relevance of music to man's society irrespective of class, status or situation of the individual. Everyone enjoys music including the dead who the living rolls out drums to mourn.  Like the late Robert Nester Marley (Bob Marley) also said "Music is food to the soul." Gideon Chukwumaliobim Ikenwe in his book, "Akwukwu-Igbo Kingdom Culture: Ancient and Present Perspective" further illustrates this with the saying, "Every culture in this planet earth loves music and has it incorporated in its rituals both in time of sorrow and in time of joy."  He feels that "man's thought is inspired by music to reach out for solace, spiritual growth, and transformation." Music is the psychologica...

   Isioma Nwalama, Ace Anioma Musician is Dead <span;>- Emeka Esogbue   The Ibusa community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State was on Monday thrown into a mourning mood following the reported death of an ace Anioma highlife musician and the leader of Isioma Nwalama and His Music Paddles, Derek Isioma Nwalama. Developing rumours that viciously started with questionable accuracy, within minutes, spreading to different Anioma online platforms like wildfire, later turned out to be unfortunately true to friends and fans of the musician who then started to severely mourn his loss. The news had broken with many online users across the Enuani nation, finding it incredible to grasp. PEN MASTER reliably gathered that the late Nwalama, one of Ibusa's leading traditional musicians had been relatively sick for some time only to give up the ghost. He was among the Enuani traditional musicians billed to perform at the much-awaited Egwu Enuani Lagos Live Concert...

 IKWELE CELESTINE OKAFOR, ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF ANIOMA BROTHERS FANS CLUB - Emeka Esogbue In an aftermath of an election, the Ikwele of Ibusa, His Eminence, Chief Engr. Celestine Okeibunor Okafor, on Friday night, emerged as the Chairman of the Anioma Brothers Fans Club. The Ikwele, a revered Ibusa traditional Chief, received the highest number of votes cast in a 3-day election that was held on the Group's forum as coordinated by the Anioma Brothers Administrators.  Election flagged off on May 18, with Chief Engr. Celestine Okafor, Chief Daddy Okeleke, the Mgboko Isiga of Ibusa, Chief Austin Uwaonye Ndinwa, the Okemili of Ibusa, and Mr. Emmanuel 'Kwasa' Amatokwu, announced as the nominees of the newly formed Fans Club for voting by the Administrators.  In the total of 48 votes received, Chief Celestine Okafor polled 35 and was subsequently declared the Chairman-Elect by Mr. Chuks Patrick Chubby who announced the result on behalf of the Anioma Brothers Fans Club. The Ikwele ...

“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...