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15/04/2024

THE STORY OF PRINCE NICO MBARGA ( SWEET MOTHER I NO GO FORGET YOU)

Prince Nico Mbarga as he was fondly called made a living by playing music every Sunday night at Onitsha plaza hotel, though not many knew this story. There is probably no street or building named after him. And when Nigerians list the legends of this country, Nico’s name doesn’t make the cut. But on the board of the most sold singles in the world (1998) – where Elton John’s Candle In The Wind, Celine Dion’s My Heart Goes On, etc., were captured – only one African, with over 13 million copies sold, made the list. And that was Nico Mbarga.

You see, Nico was the child of a Cameroonian father and a Nigerian woman from Mbembe (Obubra LGA, Cross Rivers State.)

He was born and raised in Ikom – present-day Cross River State. He started fishing as a boy, and his father, who sawed timber, was a nice man. He bought his boy a secondhand Philip Radio, and the boy became addicted to highlife music. He couldn’t stop listening to Bobby Benson’s ‘Taxi Driver.’ But the death of his father when he was still too tender made his mother, a peasant farmer, the sole breadwinner.

The mother suffered a lot, but the boy wasn’t a prodigal. He moved from one bar to the other doing what he loved - singing. Sometimes he got a little pay, others didn’t pay at all. At his 17th year, the Nigerian – Biafra war broke out. And while his mother stayed back in Nigeria, Nico found his way to Mamfe – Cameroon. That’s where he met Lucy. Both lovers were so poor they couldn’t afford a pot of boiling water. But Lucy married Nico anyways.

In 1970, the Biafran Nigeria War come to an end, and Nico and Lucy without a penny to their names, or passports traverse “the bush way” to make it back to Nigeria, settling in Onitsha, a trading town on the Niger River. And why the choice of the town Onitsha?

Onitsha was booming, literally. And it was there that God blessed Nico. He became a darling of the town. He built a band named Rocafil Jazz. There, EMI – a record company, signed Nico and Rocafil Jazz. In 1971, Nico released his first song, ‘I No Go Marry My Papa’ – inspired by his wife, Lucy. The song helped him to build his brand, and he remembered that there was one song that was in his memory. The words were: ‘Sweet Mother, I no go forget you, for this suffer you suffer for me…’

But EMI record that liked the song initially later thought that it was childish and didn’t produce it. But Sweet Mother wasn’t just a song to Nico; it was his life, his autobiography. So, wherever he went with his band, he sang the song. It was while he was singing the song at a joint that an Onitsha Independent Record owner, Romanus Okonkwo of Rogers All Star, heard the song, and that encounter led to Nico breaking off from EMI.

Romanus Okonkwo would produce ‘Sweet Mother’ and release it through his fledging label. It was an instant hit. The story had it that the song became an anthem. It got every Nigerian to their feet, belting ‘Sweet Mother’ at the top of their lungs.

The song took them to Ghana, Togo, Kenya. Nico became larger than the Nigerian Market. They even went on a London Tour. But you see, the fame and money as recorded came too fast for Rocafil Jazz. The band fell apart, made up, then folded up and never made any music together again.

But in Rocafil’s prime and the years thereafter “Sweet Mother” , with the bite of pirated copies sold more than 13 million copies. Yes, Prince Nico Mbarga’s “Sweet Mother” has sold more copies than “Macarena.” And even The Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand.”

But the story have not ended of what became of Prince Nico Mbarga and his sweet Mother. According to David Zabinsky in his articles on the life and time of Prince Nico Mbargas noted that that Nico on his way to Ikom probably to see ‘Sweet Mother,’ his biological mother, Nico’s car ran out of petrol. So he hailed down an okada, a local motorbike. But while on top, an accident sent Nico flying. He hit his head badly. Nico died two weeks later in the hospital. Never able to play “Sweet Mother” one last time. Or say goodbye to his mother.

Back in Ikom, when Nico’s mother now elderly heard the news, she fell in shock. She’d never get back up, either. She died shortly after.

15/04/2024

This is Lagos Marina Nigeria 🇳🇬 in the 1960s

God bless Nigeria 🇳🇬❤️

10/12/2023

The Garage is providing students struggling with remote work with all the infrastructure required to make working hard as easy as possible

10/12/2023

Ebun Feludu Interview with Ebun FeluduFOUNDER AND CEO, KOKARI COCONUTS & COMPANY Lives in: Nigeria Ebun Feludu is the founder of Kokari Coconuts & Company, a Nigerian agro-processing company which turns coconuts into a variety of food and personal care products. In this interview with Jeanette Clark...

THE EXPERIENCE LAGOS GOSPEL CONCERT‘The Experience’ is a free, annual, all-night Gospel music concert which features som...
08/12/2023

THE EXPERIENCE LAGOS GOSPEL CONCERT

‘The Experience’ is a free, annual, all-night Gospel music concert which features some of the most celebrated, award winning and exceptional psalmists from Nigeria and around the world. This phenomenal concert is convened annually by Pastor Paul Adefarasin, the lead pastor of House On The Rock, Lagos, Nigeria.

Now in its 18th edition, this amazing concert, which began on Friday, December 1st, 2006, has grown exponentially on all frontiers, receiving awards such as “The Event Shows/Programmes of The Year by The Association of Professional Party Organisers and Event Planners in Nigeria (APPOEMN), “The Corporate Event Of The Year’ by The Most Influential People of African Descent [MIPAD] and The Event Of Excellence Award by African Gospel Music and Media Awards (AGMMA) amongst others.

Birthed by a God-inspired vision, ‘The Experience’ provides a platform where all can raise their hearts, hands and voices together as one in unfettered praise to the Almighty irrespective of tribe, denomination, creed or language.

‘The Experience’ has become a favourite destination to end the year in a magnificent way for gospel music enthusiasts from Nigeria and across the globe, including two hybrid editions in 2020 and 2021 owing to the restrictions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is the perfect atmosphere for hundreds of thousands of people to gather in one accord to praise and worship God with unfettered expressions from dusk till dawn irrespective of class, race or denomination.

It is hugely anticipated by Christians and non-Christians alike with an average attendance of at least 500,000 attendees at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos, Nigeria.

Even more people tune in online to watch from across the globe, creating and leaving a digital footprint in all 7 continents of the world long after the main event is over.
The concert features world class gospel music from some of the most celebrated indigenous and international recording artistes of this generation. Some of the world-renowned, award-winning, international and Nigerian gospel Artistes who have graced The Experience stage include –

Angela Christie, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Chevelle Franklyn, Chandler Moore, Deitrick Haddon, Don Moen, Donnie McClurkin, Fred Hammond, Gabriel Eziashi, Hezekiah Walker Israel Houghton. Jessica Reedy, Kim Burrell, Kirk Franklin, Kurt Carr, Lionel Peterson, Mary Mary, Micah Stampley, Nathaniel Bassey, Panam Percy Paul, Phil Driscoll, Planetshakers, Ron Kenoly, Smokie Norful, Sonnie Badu, Todd Dulaney, Travis Greene, Tye Tribbett, William McDowell, Yolanda Adams, Chioma Jesus, Chee, Eben Eno Michael, Frank Edwards, Glowreeyah, Julius Nglass, Kikelomo Mudiaga The Lagos City Chorale, Mercy Chinwo, Midnight Crew, Onos Ariyo, Samsong Segun Obe, Sinach, Tope Alabi.

High profile dignitaries from various sectors have also been in attendance at the event, notable amongst them were former Nigerian President Yakubu Gowon, former Nigerian Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, former governors of Lagos state Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode and incumbent governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, Diplomatic Envoys former US Ambassador, James F. Entwistle, former Deputy British High Commissioner, Laura Beaufils, Ministers of the Gospel Bishop T. D. Jakes, Pastor Sam Adeyemi and Industrialists Folorunsho Alakija, Jimi Agbaje, Segun Agbaje, Sola David-Borha and Tonye Cole etc.

06/12/2023

Amanda Azubuike, a British Nigerian, has been promoted from lieutenant colonel to brigadier-general in the United States army.

Voom Foundation Transforming Nigeria’s Healthcare Through Free Heart Surgeries
06/12/2023

Voom Foundation Transforming Nigeria’s Healthcare Through Free Heart Surgeries

At a time when accessing medical care is becoming difficult and expensive, the Vincent Obioma Ohaju Memorial (VOOM) Foundation serves as a beacon of hope in Nig

30/11/2023

Former Chief of Army Staff and billionaire oil magnate Theophilus Danjuma has inaugurated a multimillion-naira medical facility in Enugu, named Goodwill Medical Centre (GMC).

CALABAR CARNIVALCalabar Carnival is an annual event held in Cross River State, Nigeria every December. It was introduced...
29/11/2023

CALABAR CARNIVAL

Calabar Carnival is an annual event held in Cross River State, Nigeria every December. It was introduced and declared by former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke as an activity to mark Christmas celebration yearly. He said his vision for creating the festival was to make Cross-River a home of tourism and hospitality in Nigeria and Africa. The quality of the festival has grown over the years making it Nigeria's biggest street carnival and an internationally recognized festival, televised by local and international media outlets. It used to be a month-long event which began on the 1st to 30th of December, until the former governor of the state, Benedict Ayade changed it to a two weeks event after he was elected. During the 2017 carnival, Former governor Benedict Ayade said in his speech that the carnival is to showcase Africa as the richest continent and a blessed place where the young ones should be proud to belong. The carnival has always been entertaining and colourful as different competitions takes place and huge cash prizes are won. The event hosts local and international musicians, actors and actresses, politicians and other notable men and women. Some of the entertainers who have attended the carnival include Lucky Dube, Akon, Fat Joe, Young Jeezy, Nelly, Kirk Franklin etc.
The programme is drafted each year by the committee in charge of tourism and cultural activities and new initiatives are introduced with different themes chosen to drive the carnival. In December 2009, the Carnival Committee organized "Carnival Cup 2009", a football competition among the five competing carnival bands - Seagull, Passion 4, Masta Blasta, Bayside and Freedom. These bands are distinguished by their colors The Seagull is the Red band and is known as the most stylish and coordinated band, Passion 4 is the Green band and is known as the most successful band, Masta Blasta is the orange and largest band, Bayside is the Blue band, and Freedom is the Yellow band. The Festival also includes music performance from both local and international artistes, Boat regatta, Fashion shows, Beauty pageant, Christmas Village, traditional dances and the annual Ekpe Festival which brings in thousands of tourists.
Other activities that make up this carnival include essay writing competitions, which involves both secondary school and tertiary students. These competitions are designed to promote reading culture among the youths of the State and inculcate in them the carnival culture.
The current governor of Cross River, Mr Bassey Otu has announced this year's theme to be "Season of Sweetness" and it is going to be his first carnival since being sworn into office in May 2023.

THE QUEEN OF POSITIVITY, OSARONU
26/11/2023

THE QUEEN OF POSITIVITY, OSARONU

Being in wheelchair isn’t death sentence, I’m ‘Queen of Positivity’– Marketing graduate, Osaronu 26th March 2022 By  Godfrey George Kindly share this story: Dorathy Osaronu is a graduate of Marketing from the Rivers State University currently in a wheelchair after coming down with poliomy...

MEET THE NIGERIAN PHILANTHROPIST WHO CLINCHED AFRICAN ACHIEVERS AWARD IN THE UK.
26/11/2023

MEET THE NIGERIAN PHILANTHROPIST WHO CLINCHED AFRICAN ACHIEVERS AWARD IN THE UK.

A Nigerian philanthropist and founder of DP Foundation, Paddy Emmanuel Iyamu has emerged victorious at the 13th Africa Achievers Awards in the United

XOVAR LOUNGE LEKKI, LAGOS Xovar is a one-stop entertainment and relaxation spot, located in Lekki, Lagos state. It has b...
19/11/2023

XOVAR LOUNGE LEKKI, LAGOS

Xovar is a one-stop entertainment and relaxation spot, located in Lekki, Lagos state. It has both indoor and outdoor lounges, restaurant and large outdoor space for corporate and personal events. The restaurant serves the very best in tasty, well-garnished grills and sumptuous continental meals. The bars are well stocked with over 400 brands of liquor and a wide array of sweet savory cocktails to choose from.
Xovar, is the preferred destination for the best food and drinks. Because of its strategic location, in the heart of Lekki, this relaxation and entertainment hub, is privileged to host some of the most trendiest events in Lagos, Nigeria.
Xovar has always been the best place to relax and unwind. The atmosphere and ambience combines to give an unforgettable lounging experience from your walk in to the next visit. The in-house restaurant is the perfect place to eat delicious African and Intercontinental cuisines all in a traditional but sophisticated way.

18/11/2023

The Guinness World Records, on Wednesday, has announced a Nigerian, Tonye Solomon, as the new record holder for the most steps

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