Emeka Esogbue

 The Enduring Legacy of Ukwuani Highlife Music in Contemporary Anioma By Emeka Esogbue Ukwuani, a subgroup of the Anioma people, has made significant contributions to the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria. The region has produced an impressive array of talented musicians who have popularized the highlife genre, showcasing the unique sounds and rhythms of Ukwuani. This article celebrates the achievements of these musical icons and highlights the enduring impact of Ukwuani highlife music on the Nigerian music scene. Rogana Ottah, a legendary musician from the Ndokwa region who passed away about 18 years ago, is renowned for his captivating highlife performances. With a career spanning decades, Ottah has remained a beloved figure in Ukwuani music, earning a reputation as one of Nigeria's top musicians. He is not only by far, the popular choice of any Ukwuani highlife lover, Chief Mike Onwugbolu once told Nigerians that Ubulu admired the musician whom they believed to have the best sin...

IN MEMORY OF ROGANA OTTAH, THE LEGENDARY NDOKWA MUSICIAN At the early stage of his musicianship, they called him a rascal and a drunk for choosing music, but in the advanced stage of his musicianship, the wealthy, the educated, small and big, started to pursue him to perform for them. The beginning was difficult for him. Anyone may claim that it was so for most musicians of his period but his case was different. Reacting to Pen Master, his music enthusiast, Fada Enweji wrote: "Yeah! I remember Rogana (Ottah). It was not easy initially for him to gather instruments to fulfil his ambition. The Ndokwa people never believed in him until he came to Lagos almost in tattered cloths. He came straight to me in our office at off Allen Avenue and demanded seeing Emma Nwose alias Emma Galaxy or showcase. After spending three days in Lagos, Galaxy eventually raised N400,000.00 for him and Chief Jude Okonmah alias Omeogor gave him N150,000.00. I was able to make a small contribution for his tra...