Chief Azubuike Nwankwo Mezue Okoye is his name. He lived as a respected and ardent follower, believer and practitioner of “Omenala” the Igbo traditional religion and culture. A musician of high standing and repute he truly was. His dance, music and songs were in both content and context, thought provoking, change oriented and impact driven. They were inspiringly unique and pioneering.
Like the thunder that strikes when the weather has gathered and the heaven is set to release its content, Chief Azubuike Nwankwo Mezue Okoye surfaced when the need to project and promote Igbo heritage, tradition and culture, through music was apt.
As
an agenda setter, he struggled consistently to establish the real face and
value of the Igbo heritage, tradition and culture, and endeavoured prominently
to stimulate in diverse ways peoples interest about same. Chief Okoye, the Ambassador
of “Omenala” redefined the Oral act of storytelling, and deployed it extensively
as an agenda setting tool in his career as a musician, and successfully created
a paradigm that altered the thinking of many people. Gradually but steadily this
shift led to a surge in followership and appreciation of the heritage,
tradition and culture of Ndi-Igbo and Africa, his core target.
THE NAME MOST PEOPLE KNOW HIM WITH
Chief Azubuike Nwankwo Mezue Okoye was popular with his stage name Pericoma, the name with which he revealed to the world his mastery of storytelling, which he did passionately through his music and dance steps, and in a grand style showcased his deep knowledge, understanding and regard for the heritage, tradition and culture of his place of origin: Arondizuogu, Imo state, South East Nigeria, Ndi-Igbo and Africa generally.
As a man richly endowed by his Maker, Pericoma was systematic in the way and manner he took the Oral literature genre of Ndi-Igbo heritage and culture not only by storm but to a crescendo. Like the honey that attracts bees in large numbers, he as a matter of fact drew the attention, interest and passion of large number of men and women, young and old, rich and poor glaringly through his special numbers, unique dancing steps and style of rendition. Using various mediums: the radio and television stations and other audio-visual means, including special appearances at events for years he sustained the enthusiasm of his followers that listen and/or watch with rapt attention as he performed, singing and dancing majestically to the rhythm of his music.
Apart from entertainment, a major achievement of Pericoma was the transformation and conversion of many haters of heritage, tradition and culture to diehard lovers, advocates and promoters.
THE PREACHING OF THE PREACHER MAN
Pericoma strived diligently and carved a niche for himself and elevated his practice as an artist in the music industry to an enviable level. His music and songs, in most cases was delivered in a story format, garnished with proverbs. His outstanding dance steps fitted harmoniously with his physique, attire and gait, aligned systematically with his wonderful voice as the lead vocalist, and synchronized beautifully with the alluring tone of his backup singers, in a way that combined with the energetic beats that came from the musical instruments to produce fascinating cultural sound that mixed perfectly with the words of Wisdom contained in Pericoma’s proverbs to complete a captivating, inspiring and enduring musical experience with suiting effect on the listener.
Through the foregoing, Pericoma endeared himself on his followers and fascinatingly crafted in their mind, very unique and long lasting impressions, thoughts and ideas that spur them to embrace and convince others to respect their heritage, tradition and culture.
A strong admirer of Pericoma we spoke to captures his impression of him this way:
“He painted memorable pictures in the minds of people, living inside of them feelings of happiness, joy and excitement. Above all Pericoma made many people to respect and discuss their culture with enthusiasm, boldness and flair of authority”.
Being a true African, Pericoma understood clearly his identity as an Igbo Man and a true Son of Africa. He promoted the heritage, tradition and culture of Ndi-Igbo and Africa, and established the beauty, relevance and value of his culture to the Globe.
As a real African entrepreneur that he was, Pericoma was an embodiment of the real identity of the African: strength and hard work, determination, self-confidence and productivity. As a colossus and enthusiastic bearer of the African identity, he owned it and preached it strongly, exhibited it diligently, passionately and efficiently, aware that the African identity is a core requirement for the survival, achievement and success of the African Entrepreneur everywhere and always.
As a practitioner of his belief in “Omenala”, Pericoma was consistent and committed. Through his strongly expressed words of wisdom, rendered in proverbs via his music, he called out Ndi-Igbo as Africans steadily, progressively and committedly to identify deliberately, genuinely and openly with the heritage, tradition and culture of Africa that is comprised of the tangible and intangible: artefacts, tools and food, clothing, languages and festivals, respect and promotion of the sanctity of human life, and as a matter of fact, unflinching support for preservation of cultural sites, locations and values of Ndi-Igbo and Africa.
Relying fundamentally on the powers of oral literature, which he was convinced he possessed, understood and could deploy extensively and efficiently in his own style and pattern towards building the Africa of his dream, he adopted methodically as his own functional influencers: tools of storytelling, captivating dance steps and rhyming musical beats which he aligned forcefully with his proverbial messages, he led actively a noble movement of awareness creation about promotion and restoration of African values and culture and that of Ndi-Igbo in particular.
Having designed and delivered his messages in punchy and penetrative manner, and ensured they produced bullet effect on the psyche of his listeners, he succeeded in arousing the interest of many people, stirred their appetite and passion and moved them to willingly embrace and project their culture, he helped Ndi-Igbo and Africa to bridge the gap he identified between the knowledge, understanding and practice of tradition and culture in Africa, he left a mark and created opportunity for others to follow…
Click the link below for the concluding part: his birth, death, songs, honour, recognition and activism:
https://www.belfordscorelines.com/2024/04/pericoma-his-birth-death-songs-honour.html
By Nnabugwu Chizoba
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