For lovers of Igbo music in the 80s and 90s, the likes of late Chief Osita Osadebe, late Chief Oliver De Coque, and Oriental Brothers were the ready options even as they ruled the airwaves.
Unfortunately, life happened and the Oriental Brothers which consisted of Warrior as lead vocalist, Kabaaka on guitar, Aquila on drums, Dansach on vocals, Ichita on guitar went down and stopped churning out great music.
However, in a bid to give Igbo music lovers a feel of the band, Kabaaka the guitarist returned to music with the release of Abialam launched in Owerri last weekend.
Call it a reunion or an unwinding session, and you will not be wrong, it was an evening of reminiscences on Igbo music especially the impact of Oriental Brothers.
Leader of the new band, and highlife music maestro, Goddy Opara, popularly known as “Kabaaka” announced his return to the music industry with the launch of a new album titled “Abialam“.
Song after song, invitees danced to old tunes even with nostalgia, this time without reprimand from their parents for abandonment of chores.
Kabaaka, now an Octogenarian, of the defunct Oriental Brothers band, said he was inspired to return to the stage following the encouragement he received from younger persons who cared about his music and its impact on society.
Kabaaka, who hails from Emeabiam in Ngor-Okpala council area of Imo, was full of appreciation to Mr Matthew Amadi, the Chief Executive Officer of Derda Promotions, an entertainment promotion company, for willingly sponsoring the launch of “Abialam”.
In what can be termed a tete-a-tete with newsmen, Kabaaka appealed to other well meaning young Nigerians to commit to the revival of African culture through cultural and highlife music.
He said “ I am part of the defunct Oriental brothers but I left in 1976 and formed my own band, Kabaaka, where I produced the very popular album, ‘Mangala’. But it’s been decades since I left the scene and I am grateful to Matthew Amadi and his Derda promotions crew for their support which has enabled this epoch return with the launch of ‘Abialam’ which means in English, ‘I am back’ “, Kabaaka said.
Supported by younger men, Kabaaka and his team churned out different tunes from the Abialam album to the admiration of guests.
Imo state governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu thanked Kabaaka for returning to his trade, noting that the breakup of Oriental Brothers affected Igbo music.
Anyanwu appealed to everyone to be their brothers keeper and support the sustenance of Igbo music, culture, and language.
Labour Party governorship candidate for Imo state, Senator Athan Achonu commended the music and appealed to people to produce quality work to stand the test of time.
Matthew Amadi, the Chief Executive Officer of Derda Promotions, the entertainment promotion company behind the return of Kabaaka to music, said he enjoyed the highlife from the oriental brothers while growing up and felt it was necessary to preserve their legacies and genre of music.
He bemoaned the abandonment of music and other icons and appealed to Nigerians to cultivate the culture of legacy preservation as a means of supporting those who give of their time to keep the society alive in their own ways.
Amadi said “Oriental brothers healed souls with their music and this is why Kabaaka must not die in penury. We shall lift, not just his voice, but his entire being “, he promised.
On her part, the Chief Organising Officer of Derda Promotions, Miss Amarachi Anyanwu, disclosed that “Abialam”, made up of six tracks was already being streamed and could be played or downloaded on all major digital music platforms in the country.
Others who graced the event include Hon Ugonna Ozuruigbo, representing Njaba/Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele federal constituency at the House of Representatives; and Hon Bede Ekeh, a former member of the House of Representatives, as well as the traditional ruler of Umuokpo, Emeabiam, in Ngor-Okpala council area of Imo, Eze Eunan Ekeh.
Also in attendance were younger highlife crooners like Bruno, Shammar Melody, and several others.