Tribute: And the Music stops for Amadi Ogbonnaya

By Victor Akande

Yesterday was No Music Day, as ordered by the Nigerian Entertainment community. But the music had long stopped for Amadi Ogbonnaya, my good friend, colleague and brother’ whose sun set on Wednesday, August 29, 2012.

‘So sad, the music assumed a crescendo of arrhythmic cacophony, and then slowly, it turns sinister, and stopped for Amadi; with his dancing shoes still laced. He could not hear the beats, let alone comprehend the lyrics. The same music he danced to, for 49-years…’ its tunes and platforms are now strange. Even as he becomes an unseen stranger in the land he had treasured and where his blood remains.

Hmnnn. The driver of the vehicle on his earthly journey pulled over; and Amadi Ogbonnaya alighted, though with regrets, but total submission to the will of nature. There was no warning for him that his bus stop was near. We were in the same bus, and as the vehicle sped off, and all I could do is to look back at my brother, and colleague who can no longer continue with us… only hoping that in the vicious circle of the journey of life, we shall meet to part no more.

Perhaps you have just arrived in the theatre. The curtain has closed on Amadi. The drama has ended, leaving you with memories of his last performances. And the act you saw may not just be the same that I witnessed of this legendary actor. Or didn’t they say that life is a stage?

Amadi Ogbonnaya, the encyclopaedia of the Nigerian Music industry-perhaps the only one whose relevance in the music industry cuts across the times of old, and the present generation of hip hop craze. He was more than a journalist who reported the industry, he was a stakeholder.

The late Amadi Ogbonnaya was the Group Entertainment Editor of Vanguard Newspaper. He died after a severe battle with Asthma. What a way to die! Amadi died doing what he loves to do best-A pen in hand and keypad clicking away at the weekend’s stories. He had just finished work on that fateful day (or so it seemed), when he started complaining of a funny feeling. A cup of tea couldn’t do the magic. An asthma attack (which he had been managing for years) followed. An emergency situation became imminent. It was obvious his usual remedy was overpowered. Everything happened in quick session. A cab was arranged and off they went. The company’s clinic was just five minutes’ drive from its KiriKiri location. No thanks to the usual traffic at Mile 2, my friend arrived at the hospital dead. He would have been 50 by December 5, 2012. Looking back, I think about the tall dreams we shared.

His three boys and beautiful wife were the intricate part of his dreams. He never planned to leave them now. I think about another human resource that Vanguard, and indeed the young generation of entertainment writers have lost. I am pained for the new generation of reporters, because I doubt if some of them tapped into his brain for some of the experiences he had acquired over the years.

Name the musician whose story (private and official) that Amadi Ogbonnaya couldn’t tell without faltering. Is it Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade, Onyeka Owenu, the late Christy Essien, the late Orlando Owoh, the late Ayinde Barrister, the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti….He was not just a reporter, he shared memorable times with them. His relevance in modern trends is unrivalled, and the big names like D’banj, Don Jazzy, Ice prince (whom he carried about like his sons), Wande Coal, and the latest of them all; Davido, would be shocked at his death.

Members of the entertainment writers will miss his leadership role, his frankness and fearlessness, banter- and me, in particular. He was my brother. He told me so through a text message on June 25, 2012. He said the intimacy he shared with me was unequal. I believed him. I still do. Another great moment I shared with Ogbonnaya was on May 24 -25. These two days bore the active ingredients of my consolation in Amadi in his journey to the great beyond.

We had travelled to Benin for the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant. Throughout the journey, all that we discussed was God and importance of being born again. We shared that confidence and peace that comes with given up sinful practices. We examined the vanity of the world and the need to cling to Jesus Christ. We discussed personal projects that would help our future aspirations and put our family in their best welfare. It was the best of moments ever shared with a friend.

-Adieu, great soldier of the pen.

*Akande is the Group Entertainment Editor at The Nation Newspaper