America as Nigerian musicians’ ‘graveyard’

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By Charles Okogene

Alex Zitto, Alex O, Amas Gbugbemi, Adewale Ayuba, Orlando Julius, Olu Fajmilokun (Olomori), Mandators, Mike Okri, Edmund Spice, Evi-Edna Ogholi-Ogosi etc. The list is endless; these are the ones that readily come to the mind of this writer. Why? Because they were already ‘big’ before embarking on their journey of  ‘ no return’ to Uncle Sam’s country, which they thought will place them on the same stage with the late Wacko Jacko or in the right pedestral to win the Grammy.

And as soon as they made some name or won the then very popular PMAN Awards, which was then dubbed Africa’s Grammy, they hopped into the next avaliable flight off to America full of ‘dreams’ of how they will become the next Micheal Jackson. 

But right in America,  the acclaimed show business bastion, their dream or ambition of becoming a world beater in music evaporated; the dream died first as soon as their plane touched down at JFK  Int’l Airport; they failed to find their bearings in America, a land full of incredibly talented musicians: and those who managed to start making headway, were introduced to stuffs that they told them can ‘make them feel high and touch the sky’. But instead of touching the sky, the stuffs first made them useless musically before setting them on the road to the six feet below.
That is the story of most Nigerian stars, who were carried away by the average popularity they had earned locally and relocated to America.
Perhaps, if they had listened to some home truth to consolidate their popularity here in Nigeia, maybe they would not have ended up in six feet below so soon like  some of them (Majek Fashek), did while those that are still alive have become worthless musically.
Below is the long  list of those consumed  in the US of A.
          Alex Zitto
Before he relocated to America in the early 1990s, his songs from his two albums, “Tickle Me and Walakolombo” were already a national anthem of some sort. The Ghanaian born musician who had before then played behind Chief Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, release the two albums with its heavy bass line on Premier Music. The albums made Zitto an instant star/celebrity and fetching him awards upon awards.
Carried away by the new found status, he decided to hop into the next flight to America with the belief that it will be easier for him to conqure the world musically from America than Nigeria but on getting there, the real home truth dawned on him. He ended up as a ‘studio rat’ producing songs “that were never released in America” mostly for fellow Nigeria acts. By that singular decision to relocate to America, Zitto killed his lovers rock reggae musical career. And it is doubtful if he has ever been to Nigeria again!
                 Alex O
Alexander Okoroigwe better known then as Alex O was a ‘graduate’ of the 1980s Steve Rhodes Voices. Like his namesake, Alex Zitto, he found his way to Premier Music where he released a couple of real pop songs/album that ruled the air waves, made him a sought after act by concert promoters, fetched him several awards including PMAN Awards.
However, like some of his colleagues, the little success got into his head and he decided to swim in an ocean (America) instead of a pond (Nigeria).
And the result? He got drown and eaten up by the shark infested ocean of America’s musical talents. Today, he is said to be somewhere in South Africa eking out a living in another profession, no longer into music. Another one bites the dust musically, you might say.
                 Amas Gbugbemi
The Itskiri born singer came in the days of Pastor Kris Okotie of the I Need Someone fame. That was also the era that gave music love lovers Jide Obi.
Like Okotie, Gbugbemi was ushered into the musical scene in Nigeria by Haruna Ishola’s Phonedisc. He had a beautiful album with timeless songs that ruled the airwaves and party scene.
But rather than consolidate his popularity here then,  Gbugbemi, like his mates then jetted off the shore of Nigeria. However, unlike others, sources say he is doing well in the UK but no longer into Music.
               Adewale Ayuba (Mr Johnson)
              It will not be out of place to say that he was one of those that revolutionalised Fuji Music. After years of releasing unsong albums on equally unsonge label, Ayuba berthed on Chief (Mrs) Keji Okunowo’s Sony Music with his  Mr. Johnson song and his Bonsue brand of Fuji. With a fantastic dance-steps, Ayuba wasted no time in taking a larger share of fuji music. He became the sought after fuji musician after the Late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister (Alhaji Agba) and Kollington Ayinla in that other.
More popular then than King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM1), who was still living under the shadow of his musical master, Alhaji Agba where he horned his skill as a musical instrument packer.
So was the status of Ayuba in music before he got a brain wave and relocated to America claiming to go in search of the proverbial golden fleech – thus affording KWAM1, the opportunity to occupy the lacuna and blossomed and by the time he came back from his wild goose chase to America, KWAM1 has taken over the scene effectively as the Oluaye of Fuji music while it is not certain if he is still into singing and dancing.
       Orlando Julius
Another good musician from Nigeria that America ‘killed’ is Orlando Julius.
A good saxophonist that still claims he and not the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti created the Afrobeat genre of music joined the America bandwagon in tge early 1970s. Though while there he had a good outing with some group over there resulting in the ‘Coming Back to my Root’ song. Aside that and the black American lady he returned to Nigeria with, OJ as he us fondly called did  not it as big as he had envisaged. He left the space for Fela to roam and cultivate a cult-like followership even in death.
         Olu Fajemirokun      (Olomori)
He would have given the duo of King Sunny Ade and Chief Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi that are still ruling the scene over three decades after.
He suntered into tge juju music scene in the 1990s with his Olomori (e get cover) song and sized the scene. The album ferched him PMAN Award.
And like others before him, he felt that with the award, Nigeria is too small for him to operate as a musician. To him, America here I come. Andvhe went and his musical glory extinguished. He uscreportedly back to basis.
        Mandators
Fresh from secondary school, Timothy College, Onike Yaba, they dropped a cover of the popular Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colours song among others  songs in their debut Rat Race album. And it instantly shot to the top of Nigeria’s musical chart.
The group was made up of Tony Essiet and Peggy with their ‘little’ boy drummer, Manners. They followed Rat Race up with albums dropped on the then Polygrams Record now Premier Music. Essient later married T
Peggy had children with her but one thing led to another, they parted ways. Tony relocated to America with the rest members of the band and they got swallow by Uncle Sam’s country.
     Mike Okiri
Though, before he left the country, had musical flame had started burning out so much that this writer once saw him performing at a beer joint at Fagba, Iju Road.
Thdt notwithstanding, Okiri who was then referred to as Omoge man as a result ofvtge popularity of one his songs then, was one of the musicians did incredible songs. He started off with Chief (Mrs) Keji Okunowo’s Sony Music with Laolu Akins, the same man that behind Sir Shina Peters ever green Ace album and Adewale Ayuba’s Mr. Johnson song as his producer. Went on a playing tour of Holland with his  stoutly built manager, Pedro Okogie. Right now in America, but it is not certain if he is still into music. One thing, however, Okiri has a good voice.
               Edmund Spice
     Another good talent that Premier music gave to music lovers in Nigeria in the days of Dean Disi as its A&R manager. He did a fantastic cover of one of Tracy Champman’s songs and got the nightclub dancing halls, especially NightShift Coliseum burning. He was feature regularly there but his desire to travel ‘abroad’ did not afford him the opportunity of a somorephore album . He first relocated to Italy from where he moved over to Manchester England with his family. Of course, no longer in music.
      Evi-Edna Ogoli-Ogosi.
I Wish You Happy Birthday and Every Kilometre is a Different Language, were some of tge songs she used to worm herself into the heart of Nigeria music lovers. The sing and her brand of reggae music made possible by Emma Ogosi her producer who was then the secretary of Performing Musicans Employers’ Association (PMAN), who later married her, earned her the sobriquet of Isoko Reggae Queen. Evi as she is fondly called by members of the entertainment press later travel to France where she is currently based but had not dropped an album ever since.

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