Osadebe, high-life music maestro, is dead




Posted to the Web: Tuesday, May 15, 2007



DISTINGUISHED highlife musician Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe, (OON) is dead at 71.
He passed on last Friday, according to his family in a statement.

It said a coordinated funeral arrangement is being planned in some cities in the USA on a yet to be announced date.The undisputed master of Ibo Guitar Highlife, Chief Stephen Osadebe’s music remains one of the premier sounds of Nigeria.

Born in 1936, he trained with legends such as Stephen Amechi, nearing stardom before the Biafran war wiped out opportunities for Ibo artists in Nigeria. After the war, Osadebe began rebuilding his career and in 1984 reached his zenith with the multimillion selling Osondi Owendi.

Today, Osadebe’s reign in Highlife remains supreme. Blending elements of traditional highlife with funk, jazz, reggae, and even hints of 60’s psychedelia, which is fueled by irrepressible wah-wah guitar, this powerful dance music explodes when matched with Osadebe’s rich baritone voice and powerful lyrics addressing the social and cultural challenges of the era.

Remastered from 70’s and 80’s releases on Polygram Nigeria, Sound Time displays the breadth and depth of Osadebe’s prolific talents.
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe hailed from Umuekeke in Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.

He once said that he started music as a chorister in the Church. I was also a member of the school’s boys’ band. From there, I started developing interest in music. I was then very actively involved in the traditional African music genres: Amakekwu, Kokoma, Agidigbo and other local forms of music.

We entertained people during ceremonies like burial, marriage and other occasions that required music. My parents were involved fully as local musicians too. They played more of the musical instruments and danced well too. But I was into all they were doing and was equally singing.

When one great musician visited Onitsha in 1955, I went to watch the concert and enjoyed the vocalist’s performance. I felt I could do something better than I was doing and even better than what the vocalist did. I started finding a way to join a band until I approached them and requested to be allowed to play one classical number.

They obliged and I played both the instrument and the vocal, which impressed the band members and the audience. But it was in 1956 that I started playing what I am known for today. I started it as a Marakas player under Empire Rhythm Skies led by Akunwata Stephen Amaechi Nnanyelugo.

After some months with the band, I was asked to sing some of my numbers during a performance. After the performance, the Central Dance Band, Lagos, engaged me as a band vocalist. To me, this was a very big promotion, because the vocalist of a band is the life-wire of the band. When I moved in there, I started composing and recording my songs. I started the recording first with Zenonia and later moved to other studios.

All these musical activities brought me to limelight. I started organising and rehearsing musicians from different bands, then they performed and got recorded. Different recording outfits invited me and I recorded my music with them. But I finally pitched my tent with Phillips West African Records, which later changed its name to Phonogram and then to Polygram.

The instinct has been in me. I should say that I inherited music from my parents because my late father was a very good dancer and drummer. When I was growing up, I was very much interested in classical music. The man who mainly inspired me into singing was the late Natkin Cole, an American. He sang in English, Spanish and other languages. I loved his music.

The Amakekwu music was the reigning thing then in the 50s. Even today, they still play it. I used to sing the music alongside Kokoma, which was the Ghanaian kind of Highlife. I was playing the entire instrument, especially the Konga. Later Kusimilaya came. A kind of music that was also called Agidigbo. It was the late Adeolu Akinsanya who came to teach us that in Onitsha and from there, I started developing interest in it.

Generally, I am aware that people talk much about my prophecy. They also speak about how meaningful my music is and how they play it when they have one problem or the other. They say that after listening to it, they always feel relieved. All the records I did in America bear the inscription, Doctor of Hypertension. These are what I hear or see. To be frank, I do not know what I do to the listeners with my music. But I believe that my music is educative.

The name of my band is Osita Osadebe Nigeria Sound Makers International.
I play the kind of music that suits the African man. That is dwelling on my culture to reach the rest of Africa. People call it Highlife, which I call in Igbo Oyolima; it is all about when you are relaxed and in the mood for enjoyment.

They are many. What I will do is to name a few. I have Onyemaechi, which many people do not know. No money, No woman, Akaraka, Enyi Mba Enyi, Late Patrice Lumumba, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Mbadiwe Jikotanu, October the first rainy day, One Pound, No Balance, Ononuju Aku, Onuigubo, Onu Kwuru njo g’ekwu mma, Agbala aka n’azo ana, Osondi Owendi and Makojo.

I was initiated into the club in October 15, 1965 when it was still Okaa Society. Along the line, the late Major General Aguiyi Ironsi banned the Okaa Society for reasons I did not know. So, it was after the war the People’s Club was formed. Most of us were financial members, not honorary members. So, I am a full-fledged member.

Faith without work is dead.

@Seun: thank you jara, some people don't k,now that we are practicing democracy now and not military rule.

@ ssgi4in1 : What will you do about it? I only post what yara dua said and how he speaks,maybe that why George Bush refuse him visiting the WHITE HOUSE and remember freedom of speech

@AFAM: Your my guy jara, don't mind those people who can see the fraud on france election. Even George Bush stole his second term elections, he did not won anything,yet they are the first people to talk about Nigerias elections been rigged.

Imagine 250 cars burnts down, is that not even reason to declear a state of emergency?

YAR ADUAS MESSAGE TO NIGERIANS!!!

Sank you, sank you, my pellow Naijurians por ze goodwill messages. I want to sank you por not boting por me as fresident of ze Pederal Refublic of Naijuria. But I received ze most imfortant botes prom Fresident Obasanjo and INEC. Zis is why I have now been declared ze winner of ze elections and ze fresident-elect of ze Pederal Refublic of Naijuria. Nagode to Obasanjo and nagode to INEC, for zia beri beri imfortant suffort.

What are your comments?

Yara dua don't have to make BUSH his friend unless he want Ben laden to attack Naija. For the person talking about french election, don't you have ears or don't you listen to news, more than 250 cars were burnt down in france after their election was rigged and stollen in favour of Sarkozy

@uchetobi: So you have to buy me one pink ok. the other topic we fight , here we have to be friends.

Even if she slept with you that same day and bless you by opening her heavenly gate for you to enter,whats the problem? Even at that she is not cheap, rather you are the cheap one,go back to the bible and see the work of this daughters of EVE, GOD creat them especially to test and see how cheap men are that we can't resist them.

As for me she may give you her number,kiss you, and give you the hotest sex of your life,all she need do when your digging her is just to say "Father forgive him,for he know not what he is doing" a lady may do all this with a man at first meeting because she is very compassionate and sorry for the way you look,girl knows when a man is finding it difficult to have a mate and sometimes compassion pushes them to give in the frist day, and your here talking nonsense.You don't even know that your the one who is cheap by going to ask her her number in the first place, since you can't control your power house.

Remember that is what makes Samson lose his life to delila.

@SEUN: Where is Echidime? I always enjoy his posts he is an out spoken guy,I hope you have not ban him he is my source of JOY on nairaland.Thats why I want to tell you.

@uchetobi:You are frustrated,am I the one responsible for your being single? OTANAKA-NNE.when your tired of using your dirty body to earn a living then and only then will I think of what to tell you.Ashawooooo

Why is it not on CNN or BBC news? or better still on the nigerian journals? Thanks anyway for appreciating nigeria resorts.

@seun: i see your online now, seems is only me and you now that are online, I want to ask you a very serious question now,Why do you cut off my source of Joy? when you reply I will tell you what i mean.

@jaybaby: No my sister I won't kill you,just want to tell that local champion some Truth.

I wonder why the poster have to post this,are yuou not tired of Islamic attack in the world?? their going to paradise is very simple, they just have to attack and die in the process and their paradise is assured for them , while you need to perform all kinds of austerities and charity to purify your life, and yet at that your heaven is not guarranteed.

Why can't they give her the CASH at hand since she is not going to do anything with staying in a 5 star hotel for 4 night? 419 people don come oooooooooooooooooooooo make I beging dey run,may RIBADU catch you

@MAMAJAMA: What does his been Hausa got to do with his english?

EFCC will end on 29th may, and all the Governors will laugh.

@kaesey: Your really funny so simply because orji and tinubu fight yara dua in their states thats why they must be hang? I tell you Orji is the only HIt man in OBJ's regime

@uchetobi :If your angry at my post tell seun to ban me after all he is your secret lover, nonsense.

@uchetobi: Am not suprise at your post,for some reasons best known to me.but nothing can make seun to invite you to Ogun state for a wekend,so stop chasing him indirectly.as I said earlier, I have nothing personal against seun,i just want him to know that his actions sometimes are bad,at least he can write a member offlist and ask him if he can assist him add something on his name to be sure who is writting, everyone will understand him,but everyone will get upset when he acts like BEN LADEN, of course at that time George Bush won't forgive him.

@naijagal: nice to hear that some peoples reply makes your day, thats why we are all here to put a smile on the face of every Nigerian,encourage them,and support them,so none will feel the wickedness of our leaders,when you know that someone somewhere will make you smile at least your sorrow will go down a bit. Your welcome .


@IBB please forgive seun, but i wonder why you have to go to the extent of begging him to change your name?

Hello Naija guys and babies, I will be visiting home, in nigeria next month and I will really appreciate it if I can get to see some nairaland members face to face. both men and female.

If you can give your phone number or email I will contact you or you send me email offlist if you want it secret.,just to say hello. Of course our moderator Seun will be the first to meet. because of him I will visit Ogun State.

Love you all.

Cheers

So sad to know that millions of Nigerians are still in ignorance,thinking that everything that comes from the white men is the best, while their own cultures is the root of the white men. So sad indeed.

Just look at how his late senior brother tried all he could to rule naija but fail,even to be a governor of his state he could not get,but junior yara dua, became governor and now president elect, I believe one thing in life and that is WE ARE ALL BORN WITH OUR DESTINIES,no one or group of people can change your God giving destiny,it will come to you either by cheating or in a clean way. SO my brohters and sisters, all we can do now is pray as they said that Yara dua is the first EDUCATED Nigerian head of state,which I douth cos Nnamdi Azikiwe was educated the world knows that,maybe with his degress,he will reason as an educated person and things can change.