The oldies of Nigerian music

By Douglas Ogbankwa Esq

Waking up in the morning and listening to Bendel Broadcasting Service (BBS), you would be inundated and perhaps serenaded by beautiful music from the oldies. Bongos Ikwue was an extraordinary artiste. 

The Benue-born artiste released many hits that captured your soul. From “Cock Crow at Dawn” to “Searching for True Love”, Bongos Ikwue  was the King of Nigerian Soul Music. Music is indeed food for the soul.

There was a myth of him fighting for a powerful woman with one of Nigeria’s most powerful men, but same was not confirmed. It was alleged that, that fight inspired a popular song .

I grew up listening to songs that touched. From songs by Oriental Brothers to Ebenezer Obey. From Ayinde Barrister, Fela Anikpulakpo Kuti, to Osayamore Joseph, Pasuma Wonder to King Sunny Ade – the first Nigerian to be nominated for the Grammies. These songs had deep messages in their lyrics.

In the land of Oriental Vibes, Oriental Brothers were very successful with their soul-searching songs performed in Igbo language. Their songs ruled the streets of the east. Enter the Nigerian iconic hip hop artiste called Jide Obi, who was a legend of sort, churning out one piece of serenading love ballads to another. Jide Obi is now a lawyer in Enugu where he plies his trade.

Jide Obi, however, released several love songs that have evidence in many successful marriages and beautiful children. His songs were the songs used to woo our mothers and aunties of yore. Then you also had to be a good writer of love letters, which were replete with deep messages of love, lust, or infatuation.

Chris Mba released the hit “Baby Don’t Cry”. It was a game-changer for urban and urbane music in Nigeria. It was the song of every birthday party, and it changed the mode of partying in Nigeria. Around that same period, Tony Okoroji – the current Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) released his hit song also.

But beyond recording music, Chief Tony Okoroji will be remembered for setting up the template for the administration of music copyright matters in Nigeria. He remains perhaps the most vibrant President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) till date. He helped put together the Copyright Act and was a pioneer Board member of the Nigerian Copyright Commission.

He founded the first Copyright Royalty Collecting Organisation in West Africa, if not Africa, the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON). All these paved the way for the current thriving regime of Nigerian music, where you can actually track the billions in the value chain of Nigerian music. Before COSON, it was “let the music play”, when they came to the scene, it became “Let the Music Pay.”

Chief Tony Okoroji’s vision has led others to set up theirs. Instead of leveraging on his strength and leadership, they are fighting him. That is why you should be careful how you show people light with your candle in Nigeria, else they will put off your candle.

Then enter Chris Okotie with his danceable Naija hip hop genre that was a precursor to the current Naija hip hop frenzy that has captured the world and has sold the Nigerian brand worldwide, as one that is vibrant and that has a charismatic spirit. Chris Okotie, though a failed politician, is however a successful clergy running a big church in a sprawling facility in Ikeja, Lagos.

His music and tunes will remain in our hearts forever. Felix Liberty was the King of Pop in the eighties and nineties in Nigeria, using one Igbo female name to another, to make mega hits, until he ran out of stock of Igbo females names and took to gospel ministry work, setting up Felix Liberty Ministries.

He was the one who introduced posh lifestyle into music in Nigeria; the poise and the class made him truly Nigeria’s first musical super star with his flashy fast-moving cars, immensely beautiful women, and flamboyant dress sense. He was in a class of his own. He is Nigeria ‘s first music super star in class and in style. 

It was from “Chichi, O Chichi” to “Ngozi, one, two three” to “Ifeoma, Ifeoma, Ifeoma, I want to marry you, give me your love” and again to “Amaka, you are turning my brains, Amaka, I am going crazy”. He was hugely successful as a recording artiste.

He, however, ran out of the names of beautiful Igbo women and he fizzled out. The interesting thing was that he is a Benin man. He is a quintessential example of the cosmopolitan and accommodating nature of the Benin Nation.

Then you had the reggae frenzy. This was a period of military rule and our people were suffering. The messages of the reggae era was deep and touching. From Ras Kimono, to the Mandators -Victor Essiet and his then wife. Evi Edna Ogholi-Oghosi and former Secretary General of PMAN – Tony Ogosi. There was the late Isaac Black – the Omozozo master, the Prophet – Peterside Otong. Oritsejemi Wilkie – Orits Wiliki etc. I must use this opportunity to celebrate the greatest reggae show presenter in this country – the man that has ran one of the longest running  programmes on radio on Edo Broadcasting Service(EBS) – Senior Kings Ogbebor(SKO). The programme is called Reggae Extravaganza. 

Special mention must be made of the Rain Maker, the intensely inspiring and spiritually simulating Majekodunmi Fasheke – Majek Fashek. Majek Fashek was like a magician, because whenever he sings “Send Down the Rain”, it rains cats and dogs. He was perhaps a mystic. 

There was a set of musicians who created their genre. The likes of Oliver De Coque, Bright Chimezie, Mike Okri, Dr. Alban, Chris ID, Alex “O”, Alex Zitto, Christy Essien Igbokwe etc. 

Special mention must be made of the late Onyeka Onwenu who was very deep in her lyrics and profound in her beats. She was an advocate for good and an inspiration to many. She and King Sunny Ade recorded a duet called “Wait for Me’, which was a campaign by the UN to have some birth control in Nigeria.  

It was former Miss America  that sang the International item termed ‘Save the Best for Last.” Indeed we have saved the best for last as we talk about perhaps the most iconic Nigerian musician of the last century – the Abami Eda – Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Fela was a prophet who used his music as instrument to fight injustice.

The lyrics of his songs today seem so real and involiable. Fela was a man ahead of his time. He was a rebel with a cause. He wilĺ be sorely missed. 

There was also the juju music frenzy rejuvenated by the evergreen Shina Peters – father of musical video czar-Clarence Peters. There are other fuji music maestros like Obesere, Ayinde Barrister. 

Special mention must be made of the producers and production companies that changed everything especially Lexi Mojo Eyes, Tabansi Records, Sony Records, EMI Records etc. 

It was indeed a golden era. The message was clear and music soothing. But not the  cacophony of cataclysmic noise, covered by the facade of sexually provocative dressed girls tweaking reality away. 

We need those good  old days back. 

About the Author:

Douglas Ogbankwa Esq @douglasogbankwa.com is a lawyer, writer and policy analyst.