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, ...