Biafran War Cost my Father His Arm and it, Christopher Odiwe, Anioma Rapper
*Christopher Azubuike Odiwe who’s stage name is “Ordy Kris,” is a rap artiste from Ubulu-Uku, an Anioma community. He shares with EMEKA ESOGBUE (PEN MASTER), memories of growing up, life as musician and other stories that will interest you. Excerpt:*
*Pen Master: Ordy Kris, it feels good to know we have an artiste in your stature, a hip-hop artiste at that. Let us know you.*
Odiwe: My name is Odiwe Christopher Azubike popularly called Ordy Kris, which is my stage name. Am from Ubulu-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State. I actually started as an hip-hop artist, but right now I can’t limit myself to hip-hop because certain factors have taken me through an evolutionary process that resulted to what I have found myself doing today. I draw inspiration from other genres of music but I still do hip-hop. Unfortunately, my parents separated when I was about 4 years old and that made me to live with my Dad till I was about 16 years old when I went to school in Ubulu-Uku, my hometown. My education was as unstable as NEPA electricity, and this made me pass out of secondary school at age 22 with very good grades though. I realized there was no fiscal plan for my future so I jumped straight into the streets and started hustling fulltime. I started struggling for my life and fending for myself from JSS 3. Although my Dad did his best, he’s handicapped because he lost an arm in the Biafra war being a Biafran soldier. The absence of my mother in my life was not so felt because I had an amazing stepmother, may her soul rest in peace. I was also blessed with an amazing grandma and her loving and kind younger sister whom I lived with in the village. They thought me everything I know today. May their souls also rest in peace. My hobbies are singing, dancing and making people around me happy. My life is like a reality show. People who come close find it easy to cope with me
*Pen Master: Ordy Kris, since you lived in Ubulu-Uku, how was life in this community?*
Odiwe: Living in Ubulu-Uku and blending into the system real fast wasn’t a problem for me because I moved there with a determined mindset to succeed. Incidentally, within few weeks, I was already doing things in a way that no one could tell that I was new. The only thing that distinguished me from other hardworking youths was my inability to speak my Enuani dialect fluently but in no time I became a village champion which I still am and am very proud to be. The youths in the village where anxious to go to the city so they were interested in every information they could get from me about Lagos. They loved hip-hop a great deal, I realized they were also influenced by foreign movies and music, maybe not as much as I was. The major difference between us was our IQ. They were so eager to improve so I was teaching them how to rap and dance. It was all fun and the memories are forever golden.
*Pen Master: Not many rap artists are known to exist among our Anioma people. Why did you take to this genre of music?*
Odiwe: (Laughing) Growing up as a child, I was influenced by a lot of foreign movies and music. Maybe, it is because at the time, entertainment was at its lowest ebb in Nigeria. Besides, I was born and raised in Lagos and that might also be considered a factor that influenced my choice of music genre. At the time I started taking music seriously, people who were doing it were those guys putting on big boots with extra large jeans and shirts.
*Pen Master: Ordy Kdis, how did the journey begin for you?*
Odiwe: To be sincere with you, my journey hasn’t really started because I think the journey starts for every known musician when the public has known them and accepted what they do. I have always been pushing to have my head raised though but I think I may not be doing enough. I have been relying on my own efforts. I have not had the opportunity to work with people of like-minds to help take my career to another level as we rise as a team. Meanwhile, I started music by loving music and listening to a host of idols. There was a rechargeable lamp that has radio that looks like a 4 liter gallon. I would put a big speaker in a big clay pot and connect it to the radio. Often times, people heard my noise and sang along. Although in my maternal grandaunt’s house where I lived, we had all imported electronics which only few people had, I didn’t have absolute control of it as I had with my ‘ududu mkpotu.’ When I got back to Lagos in 2005, I had my dream came true as I recorded my first song in that year. Since then, I have recorded about 25 songs including features. I have lost count of the number of songs I have written. Writing songs seem the easiest thing for me.
*Pen Master: So, what is your genre?*
Odiwe: (smiles) …right now, I will say I have really evolved past hip-hop because what influences me more is my immediate environment or contents which I engage myself. Now, I don’t see people in fat jeans, shirts and boots again. Right now, I live in a community of Yoruba people in Ogun State and I radiate within the energy available. Some years back, I lived in my hometown (Ubulu-Uku) and I was there for 6 years then I was charged also with the energy of my own soil. I sing in English, Igbo, Yoruba and Pigeon English. So now I can say I do high-life, afro-pop, hip-hop and gospel. I am a Christian. When I am in church, I draw the energy too.
*Pen Master: Are you a member of any particular band or you are a soloist?*
Odiwe: No
*Pen Master: Have you been performing in concerts and what’s the experience like?*
Odiwe: Well, I have performed in a few shows and the feeling was awesome.
*Pen Master: I like to ask this question: How supportive have your people been to you?*
Odiwe: Not at all and I don’t blame them. I have some good upbringing that have negative effects on me today. I hardly socialize and is very bad for my personality. But am working hard to change some things now that I can.
*Pen Master: Again, not many of these concerts or musical shows are known to feature in our Anioma region. Where does the challenge lie?*
Odiwe: This is a very big challenge and I will tell you why. Most people who hail from Anioma or other Enuani communities either live in the city or in Diaspora. They facilitate what is available in the locations domiciled by them. Unlike the Yoruba people, if they live in London and want to do parties, they will invite a Yoruba star from Nigeria. This is a wide topic we can discuss all day.
*Pen Master: Since the days of Eddy Remedy, we do not find many of you ascending the stage for a performance, dressed* *in Akwa Ocha attire. Are you also worried that we do not take our cultural heritage to the world?*
Odiwe: I agree with you on this absolutely and I admit that I am guilty as well. I think we need to do more as entertainers and role models or potential celebrities to push out our culture to the world to the best of our ability.
*Pen Master: Aside music, what else do you do?*
Odiwe: I am a livestock farmer and I am particularly into poultry and fishery.
*Pen Master: Do you have any initiative for your Ubulu-Uku or Anioma people?*
Odiwe: Well, I have projects upon projects and ideas upon ideas but all may be a waste if I don’t meet people with other talents to complement mine. My talent is to write, compose and sing or perform, while some other people have the talent to promote, market, network and manage other talents. I need my Anioma people to work with. People who compliment me, people who together we shall sit on the moon and play with the stars. If I am called upon by my Anioma people for consultancy, assistance or performance, I am sure to jump at it. I love my people.
*Pen Master: Where do you see yourself in the next few years?*
Odiwe: Well, I can’t really tell for now because no one has control over the future. However, I wish to make a significant remark in the music and entertainment industry at large
*Pen Master: What is your advice for the young ones going into music?*
Odiwe: No matter what you pursue to achieve in life, don’t leave reality behind and don’t lose your sense of humanity because whatever you achieve that does not add value to the lives of others is worthless
*Pen Master: Any challenge as an artist? Share with our readers.*
Odiwe: The worst challenge as an artist is being unlucky to have people who can see your heart and your dreams around you. If you don’t have the right people around you, you will end up in the wrong place
*Pen Master: Tell us something most people don’t know about you.*
Odiwe: People don’t know that I am not as tough as I look. They don’t know that I am not dumb. When they think they have fooled me, I just do many things many people won’t do just for peace to reign
*Pen Master: Ordy Kris, it has been nice speaking with you.*
Odiwe: Thanks for having me