Ogbogu Okonji Biography, Age, State Of Origin, Networth, Wife, Children, Family, Wiki

Ogbogu Okonji (Musician) Wiki, Biography, Age, Wife, Net Worth, Family, Instagram, Twitter & More Facts

Ogbogu Okonji is a popular (Nigerian) Anioma traditional musician and the leader of the Band, Ogbogu Okonji and His Anioma Brothers. He is known in the Anioma music industry as OGB or simply The Message Man. His style of music is Ekobe.

 

Biography

Ogbogu Okonji was born in Ogboli Quarters in Ibusa, Oshimili-North Local Government Area, Delta State, South-south, Nigeria. He began his professional career in music in Ibusa in 1979 but would later move to Lagos where he gained prominence. He is a self-taught musician who joined a traditional music group as a secondary school student, on completing his secondary education, he joined Customs and Excise Department which then was the vogue for the youths of Ibusa but would soon retire from the department to fully pursue a career in traditional music. He further described music as something that gives him joy and fulfillment. “I am happy when I make people happy,” he also said.[1]

Ogbogu began his career by singing in a various musical groups called “Otu” in the local dialect of Ibusa in which he sang alongside notable musicians from Ibusa such as the famous Agility Okonji, and his first cousin, Etiti Okonji. Quite early in life, Ogbogu and Etiti lost their fathers (Egbuna and Amukaji Okonji)in a mystery circumstances after they were both alleged poisoned through food in 1967. After Ogbogu and Agility parted ways, he released some Albums with his cousin, Etiti as both musicians were united under one “Otu” (Dancing group) both would later part ways abandoning the “Otu” as they both pursued their individual careers in traditional music.

Ogbogu Okonji in a documentary televised by the African Independent Television (AIT) Tuesday, September 2, 2008 (10.00pm) stated that he began his musical career in 1978. Ogbogu has gained wider popularity among the various Anioma towns and in the southeast, and has particularly excelled in praise-singing for rich Anioma (Igbo) business tycoons. Almost every known business tycoon of Anioma extraction has been praised in his music.

He initially started with traditional Anioma or Ibusa style of music using traditional musical instruments such as Udu, Uboma, Agogo, Akpele, Isaka but in 1991 shifted to Ekobe-highlife fusion, which is now a style of his music. Ogbogu’s style of music has been quite informative as it exposes the ills and abominations in the Anioma society thus his nickname name, “The Message Man.” Ogbogu told a gathering that “he was tired of being a big fish in a small pond and that now was the time for him to swim in the mighty ocean, stressing that he had got all the experience , skill and agility to swim in the ocean without sinking[2] He would also tell Q Club, Lagos that “I am tired of being a local champion; though I’m known by people who have supported and keep supporting my musical career, I want to be known beyond my area , that is why I have come to you people whom God has given the power to make people popular ,”

Ogbogu described his greatest challenge as securing a viable label that will release, market and distribute his works, he admittedly said he was unlucky in this area thus a major reason he still remains unknown in the Nigerian music world.

 

Early Life/Musical Career

Okonji was born and raised in Ibusa, Delta State to Ibusa parents and started exhibiting musical ambition quite early in life at a period in time, music was condemnably regarded as a profession for the never-do-well set of persons in the Nigerian society. As a child, he was noticeably admired by adults who would gather to watch him converge other children and sing while others supply him with rhythm by clapping. Mention was also made of how such on-lookers would soon find themselves dancing.

He grew up within the Anioma environment which bestowed him with the understanding of Enuani dialect of Igbo, a known speaker of Ukwuani language, which becomes reflective in his songs. Once, he was described as a master of proverbs which are considered as his stronghold. His smattering knowledge of Ukuani language has become an advantage to him as his music has come to be generally accepted in Anioma land.

Ogbogu began his musical career in 1978 releasing series of albums with other groups of musicians in what the Ibusa people call “Out” (Music group) notably with Agility Okonji both however gained fame when in their album they pleaded with the then senior Diokpa of Ibusa to use his good-offices and electrify the town, like Majak Fashek who magically sang “Send Down the Rain” and the heavens opened, there was light in Ibusa in 1979. This great musician retired from Customs and Excise to pursue a professional musical career outstandingly pouring in successful albums upon into the market.

This gave the musicians fame and Ogbogu’s image automatically shot up. Agility Okonji would thereafter become the lead vocalist of Out Mbonsi Onyenwu Obulunjoa under the patronage of Senator Nosike Ikpo and Madam Queen Ebubedike releasing albums such as “Nkwuka Special” “Idaibo” “Olinzele Special” “Ogodinma” “Otukpokpolikpo” and the greatest hit of the group was “Nkwuka Special”

The early years of Ogbogu in music woulod also see him singing with his first cousin; Etiti Okonji as both would form a music group anjd released series of albums prominently charging Anioma traditional music lovers with a number of good hits using traditional musical instruments such as “Uboma,” “Isaka” (Maracas) “Akpele” (native flute) “Ushe” and others alike. This group would fold up after, both leaders of the group decided to finally go their separate ways. Shortly he would form the present band, “Ogbogu Okonji and His Anioma Brothers International Band”

 

Ogbogu Okonji
Ogbogu Okonji: History • Bio • Photo
Wiki Facts & About Data
Full Name:	Ogbogu Okonji
Stage Name:	Ogbogu Okonji
Born:	N/A
Place of Birth:	Ogboli Quarters in Ibusa, Delta State
State Of Origin:	Delta State
Nationality:	Nigerian
Height:	N/A
L.G.A:	Oshimili-North Local Government Area
Siblings:	N/A
Wife • Spouse:	Mrs. Okonji
Girlfriend • Partner:	N/A
Children:	N/A
Occupation:	Musician • Record Producer
Net Worth:	$300,000

Style Of Music

Ogbogu’s kind of music is far from being strange to the people but his ability to effectively shift to the use of modern musical instruments finely rendering his tunes in the traditional pattern of the people has attracted so much interest to his music causing it to become very lively and pleasant to the ears. He is known to sing praises of Business tycoons like other musicians of his caliber. The members of his Band cuts across the entire Anioma region, with his leadership in supplying the vocals with the rendition individual and group backups in what is known “Akpatanu” (Proverb recitations)

Ifechukwude Okocha and Joe Okocha were known to have played this role currently being played by Onochie. Joe Okafor, an indifene of Asaba in Delta State left the group to pursue solo performances and has recently released an album titled “Eje-Ana”. Ogbogu Okonji is nicknamed “OGB” or “The Message Man” because of the belief that his music conveys messages. OGB’s music reflects and to a large extent tends to correct ills and evils in the Anioma society ij what has been described as a societal radicalism.

Discography