By David-Chyddy Eleke
In what looked like lamentation, Fela Anikulapo Kuti once sang in one of his tracks – “I don sing about everything, nothing dey for me to sing again”.
In same way, I have written everything I know about Oliver De Coque, my love for his music and anyone who sings or performs it, the need to immortalize him or the need for Anambra people or government to personalize and celebrate their own. I have also written about my meeting with him in Aba, my proposed interview in Lagos on his invitation before his death was announced in 2008 and many more.
Before the advent of terrorism as championed by those who wanted to give us Biafra, I used to travel from Awka to Ezinifite Nnewi in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State every year as a sort of homage. Nothing much, just visit his compound, find out what changes had occurred, what advocacy needed to be made, how his family is fairing and all. I followed up, including condemning the casualization of his grave and making it a dump site for used clothes. On another visit, I met and interviewed one of Oliver’s brothers, Gaius, on another I advocated that a music school needed to be established in Ezinifite or any where in Anambra to immortalize him and give young folks the opportunity to learn from the master and export talents to the rest of the world. Imagine Anambra having five Davidos or Burna Boys who do highlife and earn hard currency. In one of them I wondered why the only thing I could find in Ezinifite was a narrow path with a signpost reading Oliver De Coque Drive. On yet another visit, I was welcome to Ezinifite by an imposing architectural sculpting of Oliver De Coque, identifying him as an ambassador or the community. It gladdened my heart well enough to see this.
In subsequent years, Nnewi South Local Government Area, including Oliver De Coque’s community, Ezinifite became a no-go-area, serving as camps for unknown gunmen as we knew them, masquerading as freedom fighters. Then, I decided to prioritize my own life and stopped visiting. I just hope the tomb of the revered Highlife King has now been decorated in a manner beffiting of a King’s. During one of my visits, his Brother, Gaius Akanite regaled me with stories of how some Chinese guys came to Nigeria to document the life and time of Oliver De Coque and after a very lengthy interview, they requested to visit his tomb to pay homage, but they were aghast to find his tomb a mere earth with used clothes dumped there. To them, the tomb of the King should have been a place where people seeking favour from the god of music or making researches about cultural music would have come to worship to seek power.
I remember Gaius saying to me while beckoning at the grave in tears; “this is where our legend is laying,” he said and broke down in tears.
After all these attempts, I have resolved I won’t advise Ndigbo again about immortalizing Oliver De Coque. It now seems it is an Anambra thing, and Anambra doesn’t seem to reckon with their music legends. Oliver De Coque, Stephen Osita Osadebe, Morocco Maduka have all been abandoned by Anambra people.
The last time I was in Owerri, I strayed out of my hotel at night against warnings just to visit Ibari Ogwa. I don’t know for now – especially since after the death of the owner of the spot, but it used to be a premium spot to enjoy the music of Oriental Brothers, Sir Warrior, Kabala and other splinter members of the wider band. But assuming that I ari Ogwa doesn’t serve such music any longer, there are a thousand and one spots in Owerri and even in every town of the state where fun seekers go to enjoy these music. Even in local spots, one can find a guitar boy playing such music to entertain guests for small stipends. Today, you can’t find an Imo indigene who is of age who doesn’t reckon with the music of Oriental Brothers International or Dr Sir Warrior and his band, or Kabala, all of who used to be of same band before their split. Which one does Anambra represent?
Again, go to Enugu State, they have so personalized their ogene music to the point that they now export them to other states. Pamy Udu Bunch is a contemporary band, but not even that has stopped them from reckoning with their beat, because it represents the genre of music they are known with right from time. Various Ogene groups in Enugu State are far more reckoned with by an average Enugu man than an Anambra man can reckon with those music made by their own. I once drove to Enugu just to have the Toscana Ogene experience. Sat, drank, listened to their beats, watch fun seekers hit the floor in excitement and I drove back fulfilled.
But come to Anambra, you won’t find any such spot that promotes local music. Once in Aba, I sat in a fun spot and enjoyed a group play music by Okonkwo Asaa, who is an Anambra man, but here in Anambra, we never find such.
On some weekends when I feel like u unwinding with good highlife music, I make posts asking social Media friends for referrals for spots where one can visit to enjoy good highlife music, but it usually prove difficult. If you find a place, it is a DJ playing an already made music to the audience – no live performances.
To the fun seeking community in Anambra I ask – can’t we have a spot like Ibari Ogwa where those who desire to come watch performances of great highlife legends can visit? Is it the fear that such music may not attract patrons to a joint, or the fear that younger folks may not reckon with it? Whatever it is, I believe a serious joint can carve a niche for itself and attract persons of age bracket that appreciate such genre of music. Then once it starts gaining reckoning, the spot can consolidate and it will start influencing the younger generation and draw them to music with time tested messages delivered through adages and proverbs. The ball is in Anambra’s court. Ignore your highlife kings while others celebrate their or sit up and begin to celebrate your own.
Last night, I spent time at Awka City Square Mall watching Eco De Coque; a musician whose music is modeled after that of Oliver De Coque. Beautiful voice, great delivery in dance steps, an uncommon dexterity on the guitar and many more, I believe that Eco De Coque is the next big thing in the highlife music industry.
I have known him for years and enjoy his performance a lot, but for some years now, he relocated to Abuja. His performances are usually in Abuja, sometimes in Lagos, Port Harcourt and other cities, but never in Anambra where he hails and the place where his brand of music should be appreciated more.
I once asked why he is so scarce in Anambra and he said to me that Anambra people don’t seem to appreciate his kind of music or not ready to stake money to bring him to town. It pained me that the owners of the music didn’t feel there was need to preserve and enjoy it.
During Eco De Coque’s performance last night, I was disappointed that people in attendance didn’t seem to appreciate the genre of music being presented, instead they were enthusiastic at contemporary music and this is a clear sign that these heritage music was almost fizzling out even among those who owned it.
I make a solemn appeal again to Ndi Anambra – preserve what you have. Don’t let what you have be commonized at home, yet cherished abroad. You will lose your heritage if this is not checked.
Let me use this opportunity to say that after several attempts, I later met Chinedu Akanite alias Nedu de Coque, the very biological son of King of Highlife King, Chief Dr Sunday Oliver Akanite. A warm guy and carbon copy of his dad, even though he appears much taller and athletic in build. I hope to finally get the opportunity to watch him someday.
