Nigerian guitarist and highlife music legend Oliver De Coque has been honoured by Google Doodle on his 74th posthumous birthday.
The illustration for the doodle was made by Lagos-based Ohab TBJ.
Born Sunday Akanite on April 14, 1947 in Ezinifite, Anambra State, the late musician is regarded as one of the most flamboyant artistes that ever came out of Africa.
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He released his debut album Messiah in 1977 and recorded no fewer than 93 albums before his death.
His Ogene style of highlife blended Congolese-inspired guitar playing with traditional Igbo music.
The fusion produced hits like ‘People’s Club of Nigeria’, ‘Biri Ka Mbiri’, ‘Ana Enwe’, ‘Nnukwu Mmanwu’ and ‘Identity’.
Known for his signature beard, Olive De Coque broke ethnic barriers by serving as apprentice to Yoruba juju musicians Sunny Agaga and Jacob Oluwale. He was also signed on to Olumo Records.
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Oliver De Coque died on June 20, 2008 at a hospital in Gbagada, Lagos.
He was aged 61.
However, Chief Oliver De Coque had his primary education at Saint Simon Central School, Ezinifite. He further attended the Niger Institute of Commerce, Aba where he studied English, Book Keeping and Accounting. He got married at the young age of 20. He ventured into music when he was 17 years of age.
In 1965, Chief Oliver De Coque with Alexanander Emelumonye released their first song, an Igbo song which they titled “Ekpili”. “Ekpili” was featured on Nigerian Television Authority every weekend on Channel 4, Ogbor Hill, Aba. While Oliver waited to play his music on weekends, he would trade on shoes during weekdays.
After the Nigerian civil war, in 1970, in search of greener pastures, Chief Oliver De Coque headed for the City of Aba in South-Eastern part of Nigeria. Luckily for him, He met an old friend of his, Obed Okoroafor, a native of Mbaise in Imo State, and as Fate would have it , Mr Obed Okporoafor was a good congarist while Chief Oliver De Coque was a good guitarist and vocalist, they easily blended professionally.
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Meeting Mr. Obed Okoroafor marked the turning point in Chief Oliver De Coque’s career, he then made a decision to give up local music entirely and go for something bigger than his “Ekpili” style of music. Chief Oliver De Coque and Mr Obed Okoroafor met a musical band that goes by the name “Sunny Agaga and his Lucky Star” Band who came from Lagos to play music in Aba.
Before Sunny Agaga and his lucky star Band started their performance at the occasion, Oliver approached the band leader, Sunny Agaga, pleading with him to allow him and his friend to feature in their band, intimating him on how good he and his friend are in music. Sunny Agaga hinted that he wouldn’t give Oliver an immediate response.
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