Oliver De Coque, dead at 61.By Chinyere Obinna O.
The Nigerian world of Music is reeling in shock as another musical legend succumbs to death, cut down at the prime of his life. Oliver De Coque, the musical juggernaut who won various awards, honors and accolades worldwide including a highly coveted doctor of letters in music from the University of New Orleans, died in Lagos, Nigeria on Friday June 20th, 2008. Incidentally, Mr. De Coque, was honored at Owerri in Anambra State Nigeria with a lifetime achievement award by his peers at the Nigerian Music Award just days before his death. Ever the consummate professional, Mr. De Coque, flew in all the way from Lagos for the show despite his failing health and even phoned the organizers of the follow up parade where he was slated to feature on June 24th to inform them that he could not make it due to his health issues. Such was the character of a man who had earned the respect of all music lovers and music makers world wide for his flamboyant stylized version of high life music, infused with poignant touches of traditional Ibo musical style. Mr. Oliver De Coque was a highly skilled musician who dedicated his entire life to his craft.
Born Sunday Oliver Akanite on April 14, 1947 in Ezenifite in Anambra State, Nigeria, Mr. Oliver De Coque made his arrival into this world in style- on the day of the great eclipse of the sun. As a young boy, he was extremely sickly until his mother took him to a great medicine woman, who declared that the young boy would be great. The moment that the medicine woman set eyes on him, she had her assistants bring out the biggest Ogene (gong) that she had and beat it so loud that the sound of it resonated with him for life. That was the moment that the medicine woman declared that he had two roads to greatness in life, either as a medicine man, or as a musician. Oliver De Coque chose music and never looked back.
Oliver De Coque began his musical career at the age of 17, playing the Epkili traditional Ibo music. His was a career that spanned the course of several decades and culminated in various gold records, awards and honors. Mr. De Coque was a household name world wide, his name was synonymous with high life and he set the gold standard for musicians everywhere to follow. His hit record People's Club of Nigeria, which sold six million copies immortalized the namesake clubhouse that still exists worldwide to this day. By age 21, De Coque had formed his first band called Oliver and Co, or Oliver and Company and from there he coined his stage name, Oliver De Coque. During the Nigerian Biafran war, De Coque joined the Biafran Organization of Freedom Fighters (BOFF), as a soldier of sorts. Even then he understood too well the power that music held and used it to boost the morale of his fellow soldiers. After the war ended, he proceeded to Aba in Imo State where he trained with three notable masters of the art of music and instrumentation and honed his unique guitar style.
Mr. Oliver De Coque reached the acme of his career but his was a hard but well earned road that saw him playing with bands in Aba, Lagos and finally in London, where he worked at various odd jobs while he honed his skills playing at various venues. Soon he saved up enough to buy his first musical set - a set of drums, an amplifier, 2 guiters and 2 microphones. The year was 1975 and the environment was ripe for his type of musical genius. His inspiration was the Ikenga superstars of Africa band, which had released their hit Ikenga ga alumo in 1975. That song was an instant hit but De Coque thought that he could do better because he believed that the song, although it was catchy, was also flat. With that in mind, De Coque dug deeper and came up with his first hit Ekeoha,which changed his life forever and placed his name on the musical map. other hits came and De Coque continued on his meteoric ride to the top of the charts, where he continued to dominate until his death. Even before his untimely death, Mr. De Coque felt that he still had a lot left to give.
His death has left all who knew him in shock. Mr. De Coque will always be remembered for his flamboyant style, his gentleness and humility of spirit, and his love for all mankind that spilled over into his music. Mr. De Coque was a unifying force in an environment of inflated egos where the money, the accolades and the success could quickly corrupt.
Born Sunday Oliver Akanite on April 14, 1947 in Ezenifite in Anambra State, Nigeria, Mr. Oliver De Coque made his arrival into this world in style- on the day of the great eclipse of the sun. As a young boy, he was extremely sickly until his mother took him to a great medicine woman, who declared that the young boy would be great. The moment that the medicine woman set eyes on him, she had her assistants bring out the biggest Ogene (gong) that she had and beat it so loud that the sound of it resonated with him for life. That was the moment that the medicine woman declared that he had two roads to greatness in life, either as a medicine man, or as a musician. Oliver De Coque chose music and never looked back.
Oliver De Coque began his musical career at the age of 17, playing the Epkili traditional Ibo music. His was a career that spanned the course of several decades and culminated in various gold records, awards and honors. Mr. De Coque was a household name world wide, his name was synonymous with high life and he set the gold standard for musicians everywhere to follow. His hit record People's Club of Nigeria, which sold six million copies immortalized the namesake clubhouse that still exists worldwide to this day. By age 21, De Coque had formed his first band called Oliver and Co, or Oliver and Company and from there he coined his stage name, Oliver De Coque. During the Nigerian Biafran war, De Coque joined the Biafran Organization of Freedom Fighters (BOFF), as a soldier of sorts. Even then he understood too well the power that music held and used it to boost the morale of his fellow soldiers. After the war ended, he proceeded to Aba in Imo State where he trained with three notable masters of the art of music and instrumentation and honed his unique guitar style.
Mr. Oliver De Coque reached the acme of his career but his was a hard but well earned road that saw him playing with bands in Aba, Lagos and finally in London, where he worked at various odd jobs while he honed his skills playing at various venues. Soon he saved up enough to buy his first musical set - a set of drums, an amplifier, 2 guiters and 2 microphones. The year was 1975 and the environment was ripe for his type of musical genius. His inspiration was the Ikenga superstars of Africa band, which had released their hit Ikenga ga alumo in 1975. That song was an instant hit but De Coque thought that he could do better because he believed that the song, although it was catchy, was also flat. With that in mind, De Coque dug deeper and came up with his first hit Ekeoha,which changed his life forever and placed his name on the musical map. other hits came and De Coque continued on his meteoric ride to the top of the charts, where he continued to dominate until his death. Even before his untimely death, Mr. De Coque felt that he still had a lot left to give.
His death has left all who knew him in shock. Mr. De Coque will always be remembered for his flamboyant style, his gentleness and humility of spirit, and his love for all mankind that spilled over into his music. Mr. De Coque was a unifying force in an environment of inflated egos where the money, the accolades and the success could quickly corrupt.
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