We still miss Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe. The late highlife legend would have turned 84 this year (2020) and while it has been 13 years since that cold day on 11 May 2007, when death snatched him away from Nigerians and the entire world, the music world is still throwing him a party.
Several parties, in fact, not counting the number of highlife musicians he inspired. Osadebe may no longer be with us, but try as we might, we just cannot let him go. Here are five songs that still remind us of him.
1 Osondi Owendi (Please Us, irritate Others)
In the 13 years since his death, Osadebe has gone from being a star to an icon and then a legend. One of his most powerful gifts was his ability to write his own lyrics in a way it resonates with his listeners.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiZozFgBoVw
Osadebe wrote over 500 songs from when he released his first album in 1958.
2, Kedu America (How is America)
Osadebe’s social commentary always comes with a twinge of humour. He was a man who knew how to get his listeners hooked. Osadebe’s musical gifts didn’t come in the form of nimble fingers or pitch-perfect performances, rather he wrote some of the most relatable songs the music world has ever seen.
His song took him places and highlife music soaked foreign lands.
3 Ebezina (Don’t Cry Again)
Most of his lyrics has an uplift of hope while some are filled with his personal trials and tribulations but what really mattered was the way he made people feel connected; and many still yearn to feel that way today.
This song is still relevant today, especially this period the world is going through a pandemic.
4, Makojo: (Regardless of how bad, no matter how tough, we shall survive).
Aside from his beautiful lyrics that offer hope, his sound was his own. The message of Osadebe’s music still sounds new and appropriate.
There he is, mashed up with the greats like Fela. His music has been remixed and remastered all over the world
5 Yoba Chukwu (Keep Asking God)
Beneath the boisterous rhythm of his sound was a message. Perhaps that is why we still celebrate him. We want to believe that he is listening. Osadebe has not aged since 2007 he died, but the rest of the World has. To hear his voice now is to remember who we were when we first heard him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chZbOItoSSI
When we were too young and the future seemed exciting and uncertain. When we celebrate and listen to Osadebe, we remember how that used to feel.
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