Augustine Obiora
Augustine Obiora, Fela’s Band Member Passes Away in Ibusa
– Emeka Esogbue
“When beggars die, there are no comets seen; the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.”
William Shakespeare’s words appeared to have re-echoed in the community of Ibusa in Delta State when the news broke on Tuesday that Augustine Obiora had passed on.
Augustine Obiora was an important band member of the late Afrobeat musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti who hailed from Ibusa.
On returning to Ibusa, Obiora popularly known by his stage name of “Nyash Controller” because of his thrilling dance steps, continued his entertainment actively, later joining the band of Ogbogu Okonji and His Anioma Brothers.
Expressing his view of the late dancer in a condolence message, in People of Oshimili North (PoON), a WhatsApp forum, Awele Onokwai recalled, “when he returned from Fela’s Shrine to Ibusa, he stayed with his Aunt in Nkpikolo” (in Ibusa).
Augustine Obiora, a staunch believer in Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s philosophies, was reported to have rejected penning his life and times with the late Afrobeat musician on the ground that Fela’s struggles were not for commercialization.
“I begged him to let me produce a small book on his 25 years of close encounter with this unusual musician that took the world stage with surprise but he declined,” revealed, Victor Utomi, a lawyer from the community.
“In his words and beliefs, Fela’s story and advent through Afro-National struggles are not what anybody should commercialize or make money from,” Utomi remarked.
The late Augustine Obiora was a dancer in Fela’s band for 25 years.
He died quietly in the early hours of Tuesday in Ibusa, his hometown, and will be missed by all.
