THE MAN, POPE OGBU ( OGA NWA IBEWA).

By:
Ajukura, Fidelis O.
ajukurafidelisobi@gmail.com
07031523329
29/5/2021

Introduction:
Music is an integral part of culture. Through music, aspects of culture like; history, events, dance steps, language, characters etc are preserved. Beside preserving culture, music projects and popularizes culture. Many musicians can conveniently be described as 'ambassadors' of their culture. Through their music, others have become not only aware but endeared to their culture. For instance, Bob Marley and others through their music were able to popularize Jamaica; spread reggae and Rastafarianism. Many people became lovers of reggae music and adherents of Rastafarianism because of the music of Marley and other great reggae artistes. In the local scene, musicians like; Rex Lawson, Osita Osadebey, Ebenezer Obey, I. K. Dairo, Victor Uwaifo etc have equally attracted immense attention to their various ethnic nationality. It is in the light of this that we shall be looking at Sunday Matthew Pope Ogbu alias 'Oga NwaIbewa', a prominent Ogba traditional musician.

Pope Ogbu was born in 1937 into the family of Matthew Ogbu in Ibewa community of Ogba land in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of Rivers State.

Ogbu attended Central State School, Erema between 1950 and 1957 but couldn't complete it because of lack of interest and his parents reluctance to give him the needed support.

Ogbu had tremendous passion for music. He was a virtuoso in playing the local xylophone. His passion for music attracted him to the two Ikwerre musicians from neighbouring Umudioga in present day Emohua local government area of the State. The two Ikwerre musicians who were also brothers are; Amadi Nwonna and Akpelu Nwonna. These brothers exerted enormous influence on Ogbu to the extent that he began to sing like them. The influence was so strong that he started singing in their native language - Ikwerre.

As it was the case at that time, Ogbu, in 1961 joined the league of people searching for better life to travel to Panya. Panya was the nickname of Fernanda Po in Equatorial Guinea. Upon Ogbu's return from Panya, he met another famous Ikwerre musician known as Mr. Boro. Boro, an indigene of neighbouring Egbeda community captivated him with his adroitness in handling the 'tone piano' known as 'uboh' in Ogba language. After this encounter, Ogbu continued with his music but this time, towing the path of Boro by using the 'uboh' as his chief instrument.

Ogbu continued in this tradition and became a force to reckon with in Ogba traditional music. With his songs, he won the hearts and minds of people to the extent that occasions were considered incomplete without him performing. In fact, Oga NwaIbewa grew to become a household name not only in Ogbaland but in Ekpeyeland, Ikwerre land etc. Through his songs, he projected Ogba culture to an enviable height. Till date, Ogbu remains one of the biggest and most celebrated Ogba musician.

Shortly after the civil war, Monday Igilla, a prominent man from Obukegi community encouraged Ogbu to start using Ogba language in his songs instead of Ikwerre language. Ogbu embraced this advise and this marked a turning point in his music career. He released many songs in Ogba language. One major challenge he had was his inability to record the songs. The reason for this was obvious - lack of financial support. However, Ogbu never relented, he continued soliciting partnership/help from prominent Ogba sons. Rather than get the type of assistance he needed, he was given employment in Rivers State Council for Arts and Culture in 1976. Since half bread is better than none, he accepted the employment but his spirit remained intricately entwined around his first love - music, he could not afford to jettison it (it was his life). While working, he managed to release some albums. Some of his hit songs include; Jenny, Ogburumadube, Okprukpu 20, Ndomorogwu, Sabi kwu mu ugwo oru etc. Despite the fact that the songs were huge success, they never translated into financial liberation for him. This was so because the record deals were not constructed to his favour - it was a case of 'monkey dey work, baboon they chop'.

Ogbu continued with his work in Rivers State Council for Arts and Culture till 1998 when he retired. On the 23rd May, 2002 he passed on to the great beyond after a brief illness.

Ogbu had two wives, Evelyn and Comfort. Together they had twelve children.

Sunday Ogbu is dead but his songs remain eternally green in the heart of his admirers.