By Patrick Ochei
Chief Emeka Maduka, the Ozo-Nwelibe of Ukwuru in Anambra State of Nigeria is a popular household name in music, specialising in Egwu Ekpili. In an exclusive interview at his country home in Ukwuru, he revealed how he started playing music and derived his stage name ‘Morocco’.
The music maestro hinted that his father did everything possible for him to study well and become either a medical doctor or a lawyer. He said instead, destiny had another choice for him as he started playing music while in Secondary School.
He said his choice to play music made his father to resent him, as well as other members of his family and community who started referring to him as a vagabond and hooligan. He stated that at times people would say he was mad.
Mad! Just by going into music.
Chief Maduka reiterated that this career choice didn’t go down well with the father who had to reject him, eventually forcing him out of the village after completing his secondary education.
“Out of town I started organising a group of those who would assist me play drums and other local instruments then. I don’t play instruments, I only sing. And I started making money performing for people and at events.
“Then to buy a bicycle was a big achievement in the village; people would regard you as a rich man. I gathered money and bought a bicycle and drove it to my village to impress them.
“This still didn’t satisfy my father who still believed I was going to become a hooligan by playing music. People in the village were even saying I had gone to do money rituals, that I had joined a secret society. I do not do rituals, God only blessed me with music talent”, he explained.
The highly talented musician affirmed that by this condemnation by his people, he was determined to make it in life through music that God had bestowed in him.
He said then people who played music played for fun and name, they didn’t make money. He said the only Igbo musician who ever made so much money was Chief Osita Osadebey, making him to decide to emulate Osadebey to make money out of music.
“I discovered my stage name in the dictionary. I searched the dictionary to see Morocco which means “Someone who is supposed to be a hooligan but ended up becoming a hero. That is where I Derived my name Morocco”, the Ekpili King explained.
Morocco stated that his father never supported him until he died. He said when he was told of his father’s demise, he returned home with so much money and immediately commenced building of a bungalow. He said people were surprised how he had made so much money from the supposed hooliganism (music).
Chief Maduka affirmed that the same village people who rejected him, then decided to make him a leader of the village without an election.
He said he ruled the village for 10 years and decided to quick ceremoniously. He said for this period he ensured there was no levy in the village to execute any communal project, that he told them they could only make contributions willingly. He maintained that he was using his money to fund most of the projects except for those who made contributions.
“It was as a result of this community service that my people named me ‘Osisi-Oma’. Eventually, when I entered the Ozo title, I was conferred with OZO NWELIBE, making me a member of the Igwe cabinet of Umugama.
“While all this was going on, I sang ‘Akalaka’, what God has written no man can clean. Music is my destiny, I started playing music while in secondary school and by today I have done 60 years in music and I am 76 years old, still strong and performing.
“Music has taken me to perform in America, Malaysia, China, South Africa, London, Cameroon, Ghana and other places.
“Music made me to discover my good friend from Delta State, Mr Eddie Isebor who is based in London. This man had done so much for me. He is the one, with his Global Promoters Group putting together, a music promotion concert to celebrate my 60th Anniversary in October. I am really and indeed grateful to this awesome man and other of my fans all over the world”, Morocco revealed.
