This is Mr. John Haruna Zekeri also known as ABISHO.
Abisho, the orphan boy from Imane who wrote his name & carved a niche for himself in the annals of Igala music history died & was laid to rest in a ceremony larger than a titled chief.
The masses turned up for their own, Abisho became the unifying factor for all practitioners of the creative industry in igala land.
Years to come he will be remembered as one of the greatest musicians from Igala land.
Abisho has so many unreleased protest songs which we listened to at his wake keep.
In my book CONCEPT OF MUSIC IN IGALA LAND I did a categorization of the various music in Igala land & the music of Abisho can be classed under the DOCUMENTATIVE MUSIC with a lot of political messages.
Music is like politics rooted in conflict and harmony.
The heart of music is the interplay of the physical and the mental, as the compromise between them forms a cohesive whole.
Compromise is also the heart of the political process, trying to find common ground and consensus solutions to problems of society through open communication.
Both music & politics seek to inspire their targets, and both have made great use of the other to advance their ideas.
As we pay our last respect to a great hero of Igala land whose political songs trended the igala cybersphere for a whole week, I’d like to examine the way music and politics have become strangely entwined.
Music and politics have existed for centuries, sometimes harmoniously, and other times not as much.
Historical records are full of examples of songs that laud the achievements of nations, dating all the way back to ancient times.
On the other hand, however, songwriters have turned to their craft when confronted with social and political unjustness, and give birth to songs that seek to shine a light on the perceived inequities of the day. From protest songs to voter campaigns, campaign rallies to musical endorsements and musicians campaigning, there’s been no shortage of love between music and politics.
As a form of communication, music has always been used to express opinions about matters of the day.
There have been plenty of songs, jingles mostly, endorsing individual candidates and causes.
Bob Marley in one of his interview was asked if he was rich and he asked if being rich was in monetary terms…. Abisho had no kobo, but he didn’t die poor.
He left behind no wife, no child, just two sisters and a younger brother who appeared from nowhere after years of being away, infact this brother never even knew Abisho was late till he came to Ankpa but blood is thicker than water and Abisho’s spirit urged him home.
This space is too small to write about ABISHO for his story is like a movie.
I am happy to have witnessed his life & to have fully given him the last respect and a worthy one.
So much left unsaid but let me mention that to all who supported to give this last respect to Abisho…*may you all have helpers in your time of need*
*May you all be celebrated too in life and death*
Good Creatives don’t die for our work lives after us.
May the souls of all the faithfully departed through the mercy of the almighty rest in peace.
ABISHO LIVES ON.
Signed
*BABA OJONUGWA J.F.O*