PERICOMA: HIS BIRTH, DEATH, SONGS, HONOUR AND ACTIVISM

Pericoma’s efforts individually and collectively to contribute his own quota towards preserving the culture of Ndi-Igbo, like all other meaningful efforts in life, did not go without recognition and challenges.

HONOUR

The reputed and celebrated Cultural Prime Minister of his people of Arondizuogu, in Imo State, South East Nigeria; Chief Azubuike Nwankwo Mezue Okoye (Pericoma), was honoured in October 2010 with the Distinguished Achievement Award of the Mbari Literary Society. The coveted award was bestowed on him in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

HIS BIRTH, DEATH

The renowned Cultural Prime Minister of Arondizuogu, Chief Azubuike Nwankwo Mezue Okoye, reputed with his stage name Pericoma, was born in 1948. He breathed his last in February 2017, after a period of 69 years. Greater portion of his life was spent impacting lives, contributing and promoting the heritage, tradition and culture of not just Ndi-Igbo, but the growth and development of the heritage, tradition and culture of Africa. He indeed advanced the culture of the African society positively.

MUSIC AND SONGS

According to reports, he had many songs before his death in 2017, among which are: Uto Nti, Ejezue, Ikeeji Izuogu, Ekere Ngba, Nduka Aku, Iga atakwutaya Aja. He was reported to have created about 200 songs before he embarked on his journey to the great beyond.

ACTIVISM: HIS ENCOUNTER

As an activist, which Chief Mezue Okoye, the traditional Prime Minister and cultural Ambassador indeed was, he was reputed to have played very active role in the effort at that time to curb the activities of illegal task collectors. He therefore was active in the fight against different forms of illegalities that bedevil task collection in the south eastern part of Nigeria, but was equally rampant in the whole of Nigeria then.

 The story was told about the encounter Pericoma had with tax collectors in the Upper Iweka area of Onitsha in Anambra state, south east Nigeria during one of his several trips to Onitsha.

According to the story, Pericoma was rudely accosted by some tax collectors, and in view of the argument that ensued between him and the tax collectors, among them (the tax collectors) was an overzealous Tax official, who in a bid to achieve his nefarious objective of fleecing Pericoma of his money, decided to threaten the music icon, obviously to force him to submission and do his bidden. In view of this the silly tax collector decided to give Pericoma the ignoble and an unhappy treatment, when he lifted him up, placed him on his shoulder and took him to their office.

In the face of this demeaning episode or encounter, Pericoma was reported as saying nothing and did not in any form resist the treatment of his oppressor, instead waited patiently as the dastard act was perfectly and diligently executed uninterruptedly.

As events of the day unfolded, problem arose when the oppressor who obviously could no longer retain the weight of Pericoma whom he carried on his shoulder decided to offload him, but was unable to do so. Putting Pericoma down, that is, lifting him off the shoulder of his oppressor to relieve him of the weight he was carrying had become a problem. This scenario played out for several hours. Soon, it became clear that the oppressed (Pericoma) did not allow the oppressor the rare privilege of putting him down. After some time, news began to filter in that Pericoma was widely reputed for his magical powers. He was credited as possessing super natural powers that enabled him to command strange things, for example the one the crowd was witnessing to occur.

The strange situation continued several hours later, until entreaties began to pour in, and in droves, pleading on Pericoma to rescind his position and pardon him (the now obviously in pain and regretting adversary), but unfortunately all the pleas fell on deaf ears.

When Pericoma decided to assist, he demanded that the gods must be appeased. Regrettably the appeasement must take place (performed) before the great cultural advocate, Omenala practitioner and Ambassador will descend from the shoulder of his young oppressor. Without much ado, the crowd that gathered prevailed on him to put up his request, and he later did. Soon after his request was attended to completely, the music icon, traditional Prime Minister of Arondizuogu and cultural ambassador decided to get off the shoulder of his oppressor.

The view of many people in and outside the upper Iweka area of Onitsha, Anambra State, south east Nigeria, according to reports is to the effect that the encounter Pericoma had with the tax collectors was instrumental, as a matter of fact the major ingredient that checked the illegal activities of tax collectors of that time around the area.

Pericoma’s style of music and songs remain unique, outstandingly entertaining and captivating. His performances at events are qualified as evergreen, electrifying and enticingly attractive. His messages in terms of reach are best described as deep, wide and massive, penetrating and bewitching...

Click the link below for the beginning of the story:

https://www.belfordscorelines.com/2024/04/the-omenala-exponent-impressive-dive-he.html 

By Nnabugwu Chizoba