Chris Mba was a talented, determined young man who had unquenchable lust for music. He started his musical apprenticeship career with my musical group “ACTION 13”, in the early 70’s. The Nigerian civil war had ended with no victor no vanquished and we became the entertainment group of 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, based in Ikot Ekpene, Aqua Ibom State. After purchasing our tear rubber musical instruments from Boby Benson’s music instrument store at Caban Bamboo House in Lagos, we decided to employ stage manager/hands and Engineer.
Veteran pop star, CHRIS MBA, is dead
We took in Essein Akpabio of blessed memory as our stage manager followed by Chris Mba and Edet (whom I taught to play the Bass guitar and later graduated to play the bass guitar for “Ofo the Black Company”, led by late Larry Ifedioranma).
Both Chris and Edet where in charge of setting and taking care of the musical instruments.
Chris had this special talent of humming guitar and keyboard solos, accurately to the extent that we nicknamed him ‘Ojionu’. He later was produced by late Jake Solo at Tabansi records studio in Onitsha, where he came up with a smash hit album.
As God will have it, he came with Stella Monye as my guests to Asaba about a month ago. I never realised that it was a farewell visit from one of my musical sons. Chris was a hard working young man who worked himself to the top in the highly competitive Nigerian music scene of the 80’s/ 90’s.
May God grant his gentle soul eternal rest with the heavenly Choir. Ojionum, no-du mma! Adieu Chriso!!
…Culled from Renny Nwosa’s metatimeline
