The Ultimate Dr. Sir Warrior, the Greatest of All Igbo Musicians
Nothing brought me much grief than the news of the death of that legendary Igbo musician, composer and guitarist, Christogonus Ezebuiro Obinna popularly known as the Ultimate Dr. Sir warrior, it caused me so much sorrow that I wondered if he could be brought back by cloning to continue to do his musical thing, it is very unfortunate that in this part of the world his likes are usually not given recognition, so he died bringing fame to the Nigerian music lovers. In fact, I want to pointedly tell you that if you do not understand Igbo language as to know the lyrics of Warrior, you are missing piece of actions. The music of Warrior reigned supreme above those of others, ranking first and second in the years of highlife music in Nigeria and Africa. You would permit to rather use the name the Ultimate Dr. Sir warrior, his stage name all through this article, for this is the name by which he was and still known globally.
I am not from Imo State but I consider this legendary musician the greatest of all Igbo musicians with soft spot for proverbs relevant to the Igbo society and indeed the outside world. If you think otherwise, then you are biased especially if you reason with me that this man as I am told was from Mbaise, yet he immensely and musically contributed to the advancement of the Owerri region in particular and Igbo world in general. Many of us erroneously assumed him to hail from Owerri because of his love for the people of Owerri which easily manifested in his music. The ever confident Highlife musician never sang in praise of any individual as musicians of his days did, instead he concentrated in his unique tunes seeking to better and correct his immediate Nigerian society.
Typically, his music condemned evils which in his belief were often invited by the people of the world. His music carries along with it rare gifts of sense and calms troubled souls. His music is also unique and guided with purpose, interest and direction with no dull moment, generally no highlife tune compares with that of this Igbo philosopher who should have been inside the classroom lecturing Igbo culture and proverbs but he allowed a combination of his voice and guitar to do it for him. Warrior mastered his kind of music which he worked so hard to achieve that no one else I doubt can successfully enter his shoes and carry us along in the journey to the soul of Igbo music. He was the starting point as well as the last Bus stop of Igbo music.
Many have concluded that highlife has lost its place in Nigeria, but when the music of Dr. Sir Warrior plays you begin to doubt the rationale behind this argument, even those who propound the argument would doubt their theory after listening to Warrior. As a musician with unaccountable number of fans nationwide, in the 1970s, individuals would quicken their trips to the United States and London to meet up with Warrior’s musical performances in these countries; such was how he pulled a lot of crowd.
once I was in Ghana and in the cab I boarded I was surprised that the music of my favourite musician, Warrior was playing, so surprisingly I inquired on the cab driver, a Ghanaian if he understood the language of the lyrics, the driver who never stopped moving his head for once in response to music said no but he was told that the man is advocating for peace and orderliness to return to the world. The man looked at me again and inquired from me on the availability of the Great Sir Warrior; my response as I danced to the music of warrior was that he had died long ago.
The Ghanaian looked at me with a grief and surprise and asked me when, as I drew closer to my point of destination, I began to imagine just how I could miss hearing the music of Warrior with which I had been thrilled, but I had no option than to set-down, so I did, leaving the rest of the passengers to continue to derive pleasure from warrior’s fine tune. I am not sure Oriental Brothers Band as his musical Group was then called was led by Dr. Sir Warrior but as the lead vocalist of the Band who brought so much popularity to the Group, he grew to become more famous than the Band.
The Oriental Brothers International Band chiefly comprised of the Ultimate Dr. Sir Warrior, Aquila, Ferdinand “Dansatch” Emeka Opara, Godwin “Kabaaka” Opara and Prince Ichita (jnr) with the group arguably the most popular highlife group from the Igbo region of Nigeria. The Group sang all their songs in Igbo language and Owerri dialect in particular, without reproduction or violation of any copyright, all of the tunes of the band was original, which gave the Group fame. It was once though or assumed by the society that all the Group members were siblings, which really is not so, but had to do with the unity which existed among the Group members.
Though the Group had to split at a time as we find only Warrior and Dansatch and Godwin “Kabaaka” Opara singing as a duet in the early 1980s releasing series of Albums that sent the entire nation dancing but surprisingly, the duet experienced a split too, which saw Warrior going solo and emerging as the sole super star of the once Oriental Brothers International Band. It could argued that Warrior’s love for Ferdinand “Dansatch” Emeka Opara was very obvious as he never for a moment ceased to lyrically mention the name of Danstch in the early days of his musical career. Dansatch too would lyrically answer to his name thus creating a lyrical dialogue which cooled the nerves of his numerous audience.
In ideal societies where legendary artistic professionals are appreciated, Warrior would have been immortalized but unfortunately this has not been so because the Nigerian society only recognizes and gives credit to politicians, and calibers of warrior do not matter except to the ordinary people yet we all dance to music from the poor among us.
Ogbogu Okonji an Igbo traditional musician Ibusa summarizes it thus:
“Egwu Naso Nwaogalanya, Egwu Nnaso Nwaogbei”
Performers Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) will have to look a little beyond its absolute dependence on organizations of the Nigerian Music Awards and seek means of celebrating and immortalizing musicians from this part of the world who have contributed towards the growth of the industry in the country, thereby bringing smiles to our faces. Musicians should not only be celebrated or buried with paltry sums from PMAN, yet abandoned in the time of need as we witnessed in the case of the Late Sunny Okosun, the Ozzidi King. The affairs of our sick and aged musicians who once happiness to us with their brands of music should be properly taken care of, and when they die immortalized.
The problem with our government is that we over concentrate on building the image of our Aso-Rock politicians with National Awards and Honours and naming and renaming of our streets after them as compensations for being god-fathers. Recently, Streets were renamed and politicians got 99.9% of shares in this venture, which ought not to be so because we are living in a society everyone equally contributes to advance. If you name a street after warrior, Sunny Okosun, Osita Osadebe, Oliver de Coque and KWAM1, I would be very delighted. It is not pleasant to the ears that no administration in this country has honoured the Late Fela Anikulakpo-Kuti with National Honours despite the fame he brought to Nigeria through his music, how then we expect the International honours and accolades to pour in.
It will certainly not come because your people are treated exactly the way you treat them. Treat them with respects and others will treat them with respects too. With more than 100 tracks and numerous Albums credited to this extra ordinary gifted musician, the Nigerian federation should ensure that the lyrics in music of Dr. Sir Warrior is studied in our tertiary institutions, and given a place because rare gems like him takes centuries to return to particular countries. I am not sure if Hall of Fame for musicians exists in Nigeria, if there is, Warrior should be ranking high in this Hall.
He died in June 2, 1999 after a brief illness. Dr. Sir Warrior may have died but his music lives on. He may not have been a prolific writer like Prof Chunua Achebe but he has brought glory to Igboland. Why not grab as many copies of his music as you can afford and enjoy the highlife king.
About the Author
Emeka Esogbue hails from Ibusa, Delta State, Nigeria. He is a Historian and International Relations graduate and Political/Public Analyst.
emekaesogbue@yahoo.com