From: OKEY SAMPSON, Aba
Biafra musicians, under the supervision of the Organisation of Biafra Music and Film Authority (OBMFA), have chosen the May 22, Biafra anniversary date of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra/Biafra Independent Movement (MASSOB/BIM) to honour their dead colleagues.
Speaking after visiting the headquarters of OBMFA at Amucha, Njaba –Orlu in Imo State, the director general of the organization, David Chinedu Eboson said the programme would also be used to commiserate with the families of fallen legendary Biafra musicians.
Sme of the musicians Eboson said will be honoured on the date include Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe, Christophegus Ezewiro Obinna (Sir Warrior), Chief Oliver Akanite (Oliver de Coque) and Teddy Obinna.
Others are Edu, the producer of Biafra songs; Chief Celestine Okwu, Rev Petty Obassy, Sam Loko, Pet Anne and Evangelists Obi Igwe, Chidi Ekpunobi, Okwara Ezema, Ndubuisi Kanu and Ifeanyi Ibeabuchi.
The OBMFA director general said the artists chosen for the honour were those whose works have impacted positively on the lives of Biafran youths and not those whose works have so moral questions and impacted negatively on the people.
“This honour is not for all late artists in Biafra land, it is for those whose works were genuine and impacted positively on the lives of the people and not the other way round.”
He urged all musicians in Biafra land to come out enmass from May 22 to May 30 for the celebration of Biafra independence which he said was started by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike and MASSOB, insisting that independence celebrations are not done indoors.
Eboson called on musicians in Biafra who had not registered to do so with OBMFA, promising to introduce a code that will ensure the songs produced in Biafra is in tandem with the people’s cultural value and morality.