OjuOponIfa

Perhaps, it was that short conversation last week between Biyi Bandele and myself in the thick of the First Lagos International Jazz Festival that has brought me to this conundrum. Otherwise, why would I all of a sudden be filled with the thought of the late Hubert Adedeji Ogunde, 18 years after his passage to higher service on April 4, 1990. Last Sunday after a soak in the classic jazz menu flowing from the guitar-riddled jazz ensemble led by Bright Gain, I had strolled over to the corner where Makin Soyinka, Lemmy ‘Radio’, Jide Bello and Biyi Bandele were reveling. I hadn’t noticed Biyi minutes earlier when I saw the group trooped to the venue of the Inspiro-organised jazz fiesta at Studio 868 on Aboyade Cole Street, VI, Lagos. It must have been the missing dreadlocks, of course. Okay, I had been hinted earlier on Mama Pako’s blogsite that Biyi had indeed jettisoned the locks for a skin-scraped look – in protestation against certain iniquities in world affairs… it must be the tibeti...

(As published in The Guardian, April 5, 2008) By Cletus Nwachukwu THE entertainment world and indeed arts writer’s constituency woke up to the rude shock of the news of the death of the grand master of entertainment, Essien Ibanga Akpabio. The late Akpabio who traversed the entertainment landscape like a true colossus, thoroughly impacted the music industry with his numerous roles as musician and bandleader, entertainment manager, promoter and patron of the industry. Described as a great son of the Akpabio clan by His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, Essien played immeasurable roles in the showbiz scene. And he helped to bring to the fore, the likes of Chris Okotie, Ras Kimono, Orits Wliki, Majek Fashek, Feladey, Victor Essiet of The Mandators fame, Onyeka Onwenu, Xty Essien, Alex O, Shina Peters and many others who ruled the waves in the 80s through the 90s. Akpabio was a handsome man whose elegant dress sense and taste for the good life rubbed off ...

Just got to read a tear-inducing obituary on page 61 of Punch today that Essien Akpabio, the stylish music and entertainment manager, promoter and patron of the late eighties through the nineties died on February 2, 2008. The announcement was made infact by the governor of Akwa Ibom himself, Godswill Akpabio- who described Essien as "a great son of the Akpabio clan". Essien Akpabio was a large, charascteristic and unmissable image in those very resourceful years of the entertainment scene when the like of Chris Okotie and his soulbrother, Obi, Peter k Falola, Berkely Jones, Emma Ogosi, Evi Edna Ogoli-Ogosi, Tony Okoroji, Funmi Adams, Lijadu sisters, Ras Kimomo, Oris Wiliki, Majek Fashek, Victor Essiet, Peterside Ottong, Onyeka Onwenu, Xty Essien, Uche Ibeto, Tina Afrika Oyibo Onwudiwe, Stela Monye, Bunmi Fajugbu, Mike Okri, Charley Boy, Alex O, Alex Xitto, Mustafa Amego, Chris Hanen, Feladeh, Pat Solo, Excempt E, Godwin Omabuwa, Gbubemi Amas, Frankie Lee, Andy Shurman, Victor...