A while back I lost my most prized music collection -- a collection that had been in my possession for many, many years. The loss was painful, and so I went online searching for replacements. Ever since my adolescent years in Lagos and Jos, where I first picked up elementary Igbo, I have always taken pleasure in the music of the Oriental Brothers, Onyeka Onwenu, Oliver de Coque, Christy Essien Igbokwe, Osita Osadebe and a host of Igbo musicians.

I prided myself in owning a sizeable number of the most important music in the Igbo language, especially those recorded between 1979 and 1988. I was a connoisseur of some sort, an aficionado. When it comes to music and movies, the language and the genre is irrelevant so long as it is a beautiful and moving piece of work. There was something about Igbo language, there still is; and there was something special about the Nigerian music of yesteryears.

If you’ve been listening and dancing to western and Latin-American music for most of the year, and suddenly, you hear the African music, gosh, it moves your soul; it touches the core of your humanity. Whenever I return to African music after several months’ absence, the feeling I get is akin to taking in the scent and touch of a female lover. Have you ever listened to birds perched on the Iroko tree? Revelations and epiphanies come to me mostly in such moments when I am lost in trance, listening to familiar voices.

Oftentimes, I wonder what happened to people like Jide Obi, Felix Liberty, Tony Allen, and Bobby Benson and the chaps from Saint Gregory’s College, Ofege. While online, I discovered a few other gems: Seyi Sodimu, Daddy Showkey, Chinyere Udoma, Back 2 Base, Rita Edochie and Agatha Moses. A few weeks ago, it came to my attention that artists like Sodimu and Showkey have been around for a while. Oh, poor me, I am a decade late!

And then just this weekend, out of curiosity, I went online again only to find a fabulous collection of Nigerian comedians, including Okey Bakassi, Mike Ogbolosinger, Sound Sultan, Sheddy Baba, Klint, and Basket Mouth, I Go Die, Gandoki, Malic, Omobaba, Ali Baba, Basorge, I Go Save and many others. I laughed and laughed and laughed so much am now almost paralyzed from laughing.

My stomach and my head and my lungs all ached from laughing. I have seen some of the best comedians the United States have to offer, but I must tell you, Nigerian comedians can pull their own weight anytime, anywhere. They are all very good, and some are brilliant beyond belief. Of the one dozen or so that I watched and listened to, I Go Die, Okey Bakassi, Mike Ogbolosinger and Basket Mouth seem to be in a different class.

Mike Ogbolosinger has a great stage presence, has great comedic material and seems really comfortable with himself and his material. He is a natural in every which way. Okey Bakassi is the master story-teller; expressive, patient with his delivery and timing and is also very agile on stage. The fellow tells some very wonderful stories laced with rib-busters. His “who took my wallet…1978” and “armed robbery” jokes are timeless.

And then there is Basket Mouth with his corn-hair, wide eyes, and innocent-looking stage demeanor. Did you hear his “chop puff-puff chop puff-puff” joke? Woah, this fella is good! He has a way with his material and is very unpredictable, too. He leads you on, caresses you, teases you and then suddenly…bang...he drops the bomb on your ribs.

But if you think you’ve seen the best of the best, well, wait until you see and listen to a “mad-man” called I Go Die. Ha, this dude is a riot. He is a one-man arsonist, a one-man fire fighter. He is crazy; but crazy in a very good way. He is raw, vulgar, sharp, acidic and engaging. A master story teller and a fine fabulist. He’s got this Warri-line going for him. And has a way with the crowd. You should hear his “breast-sucking” joke.

Do not pirate or illegally copy their works. Please go online or go to the store near you to buy their works. They are well worth it. And if you have the time and are in the mood to listen to some old but cool music, then I’d suggest you click on these links for some simple pleasure (but I also enthusiastically recommend you buy their works). You won’t regret it. If you already have them, well then, I hope you enjoy them as much as I did and continue to do. Simple pleasures they all are.

1. Daddy Showkey – Dyna & Somebody Call My Name

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xiwo6f1ZJ0Y&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUFtAJVU-6I&NR=1

2. Seyi Sodimu -- Love Me Jeje, Love  Me Tender

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi33GuzaY6g&feature=related

3. This Kind of Woman -- Mama G

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi33GuzaY6g&feature=related

4. Back 2 Base -- Wo Ekilemo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6NDKC5xZrs&feature=related

5. Osadebe -- Osondi Owendi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiZozFgBoVw&feature=related

Sabidde@yahoo.com.

Robot  Villager

# 1 A while back I lost ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 20.05.2008 01:13

nallanah  Villager

# 2 Oga Sab, Na true you talk. Those of us in the UK perhaps are more fortunate than our brothers and sisters in the US. These group of comedians regularly host shows in the UK, completely sold out I must add. ...absolutely hilarious every single one of them; and very talented. Long may they reign. Posted by nallanah| 20.05.2008 03:07

Fadu  Villager

# 3 The night i discovered these guys , i spent my whole friday night listening and watching them on Youtube. These guys are hilarious. Posted by Fadu| 20.05.2008 03:29

bennie  Villager

# 4 Bros Sab, I was angry on my wedding day that the DJ decided to play People's Club of Nigeria for the bride and groom's dance. Although it was not appropriate for a wedding, listening to it now, thanks to your post almost 2 decades on, I have really enjoyed it. Have a great day. Bennie Posted by bennie| 20.05.2008 07:38

Kevin obosi  Villager

# 5 Yeah Right!! BUT if only they could stop telling stupid jokes like making fun of the disables in our society eg Alibaba, Tee A, etc. I've heard them tell 'Flat Jokes' which in my opinion were not funny AT ALL. They're lucky they live in in a 'lawless' country like Nigeria, I bet if the try it in a civilised world, that would nail their hopeless career. I saw one they call 'a nite of a 1000 laughs' and you should see how this 'clowns' make fun of people with diabilites, not caring how sensitive such jokes or rather stupid fun could be for those who know what it means to live with people with disabilities. they even go as far as mimicking this unfortunte people, it's not a laughing matter AT ALL. Thank God I have none in my family, but spare a thought for those who do.... One of this so called comedian was in London not too long ago,( I think it was that fat soul with dog breath called Gbenga Adeyinka, the one that gives himself different titles) and can you imagin on a live TV in Europe o, yelling straight into the camera that 'Oyinbo people, make una no come nigeria o, if un come na kidnap we go kidnap una o, bla bla bla...' imagin that.... foooooool. I think its time they get their acts together and stop telling stupid jokes...anyway I only watch some of them if I need something to bore me to sleep. Kevin Posted by Kevin obosi| 20.05.2008 09:37

ifeolooni  Villager

# 6 come on kevin some of them are really funny and i think some are stupid as well very stupid Posted by ifeolooni| 20.05.2008 10:06

Kevin obosi  Villager

# 7 I know some of them can be funny, I like this guy from warri called 'I go Die' Clint the drunk, and some I can't remember their name, but my point is they should cut the very racist (not Tribal jokes o) and insensitive jibes. Posted by Kevin obosi| 20.05.2008 11:59

Obi  Villager

# 8 The Ofege guys of St. Gregorys college; Melvin Ukachi & Co. were phenomenal. Their era quickly recalls to mind when being a secondary school student was something very special. Their era was the innocent age. Nigerians had hope in the Nigerian system. The crime wave in Lagos and beyond were at its lowest, even as a night out at Suya Spot, Beach Comber or the Fela's Afrika 70 shrine might just last TDB. Songs, quite often, serve as calendar of events. I wonder what I will remember of this era when some of our today's music and bands are talked about in the future. Posted by Obi| 20.05.2008 14:44

ALORAINIDDEVIL  Villager

# 9 www.duduradio.com you will find some good oldies there... Posted by ALORAINIDDEVIL| 20.05.2008 16:02

fmkp  Villager

# 10 My all time favorites are " I go die" and Okey Bakassi. Did you listen to the joke about the Testimony during sunday worship? To these talented Nigerian comedians...I give twenty five gbossahs...Thanks for letting me know that I can watch them on youtube... FMKP SFO, USA. Posted by fmkp| 20.05.2008 19:20