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Ezebuiro C. Obinna, UDSW

Ezebuiro Obinna (died June 2, 1999), the legendary Ultimate Dr. Sir Warrior, was the leader of the famous Oriental Brothers International Band which ruled the Nigerian highlife music scene for several decades. He strategically modernized and revolutionized highlife. His style remains an epitome of defined music with meaning, direction and purpose. He played on various occasions in Nigeria as well as in the international stage in places like London and United States of America. Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (941x944, 221 KB) This image is of a music album or single cover, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher of the album or the artist(s) which produced the music or artwork in question. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (941x944, 221 KB) This image is of a music album or single cover, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher of the album or the artist(s) which produced the music or artwork in question. ... June 2 is the 153rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (154th in leap years), with 212 days remaining. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... See also: *High life Highlife is a musical genre that originated in Ghana and Sierra Leone in the 1920s and spread to other West African countries. ...

At the age of 27 in 1974, Warrior registered an indelible trademark with his universally recognized genre. His subsequent 1975 album Nwa Ada Di Mma with eight tracks was a touch of originality. He carefully and selectively intertwined elegance, delicacy and politeness to fashion his music into a world class and timeless record. His spectacular work has garnered him several awards. With two to four calculated points of induction of clever and witty remarks often spiced with Igbo proverbs, his lyrics remain rejuvenating.

Ezebuiro C. Obinna, UDSW

Combining Igbo vocals with deft guitar work and a solid rhythm section, the Oriental Brothers created a unique style of Nigerian highlife that for many people is the definitive sound of Nigerian highlife music. Warrior brought happiness to everybody through the music he played. Early in life he was recognized as a prodigy that by 11, he was conscripted into the highly evolved Owere men’s music. By 16, he was famed for his powerful voice as well as his mastery of the heartland hits characterized by the Èsè music. Image File history File links The_Ultimate_Dr._Sir_Warrior. ... Image File history File links The_Ultimate_Dr._Sir_Warrior. ... Igbo (also known, less commonly, as Ibo; Ndi Igbo in Igbo) is a language spoken in Nigeria by around 18 million speakers (the Igbo), especially in the southeastern region once identified as Biafra. ...

When in 1992 he was singing alongside the other two Igbo highlife players, one articulate observer named Ezekwelu Okonkwo uttered "Two musicians and a maestro". Hailing from Umuhu Inyi-Ogwugwu in Agbaaja Mbaise, many consider Warrior to be one of the most influential musicians to come out of Igboland, and most definitely one of the most well known. A highly reputed philosopher, he very much unrolled the inner core of the Igbo universe to the world through his magical and ebullient oratory and classy lyrics.

Ezebuiro C. Obinna, UDSW

Dr. Sir Warrior started his music career as part one of the most successful bands in Nigeria in the 1970s, the Oriental Brothers International Band. The band later splintered, leading to Prince Ichita & the Great Oriental Brothers International Band, Oriental Brothers International and then the original Dr. Sir Warrior & His Oriental Brothers International. Warrior’s discography is luminous with over 100 tracks that continue to be great hits. His 1978 album Nwanne Abu Enyi alone sold 7.8 million copies, and remains “the talk of the town” till date. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (941x937, 237 KB) This image is of a music album or single cover, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher of the album or the artist(s) which produced the music or artwork in question. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (941x937, 237 KB) This image is of a music album or single cover, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher of the album or the artist(s) which produced the music or artwork in question. ...

Primarily, the Oriental Brothers comprised Godwin Kabaaka Opara, Ferdinand Dan Satch Emeka Opara, Nathaniel Ejiogu, Hybrilious Akwilla Alaraibe, Prince Ichita and Christogonus Ezebuiro "Warrior" Obinna. Ejiogu died shortly before the band's success. The first split within the group occurred in 1977 when founding members Dan Satch Opara and Prince Ichita left to start their own bands under the Oriental Brothers moniker. The Opara brothers later joined the famed and distinguished Warrior’s band.

Ezebuiro C. Obinna, UDSW

While each of the groups had their distinct sound, they all shared the original band's passion for blending Congolese guitar picking and traditional Igbo rhythms. At a time of immense loss and great struggle after the Biafran War, the Oriental Brothers offered a rare light of hope. According to Nigerian magazine Kwenu, the Oriental Brothers played a very important spiritual role in keeping many Igbo sane. They were the pride of a people traumatized by a war so vicious. Image File history File links Warrior,_Eze_Egwu_ndi_Igbo. ... Image File history File links Warrior,_Eze_Egwu_ndi_Igbo. ...

Today, Dr. Sir Warrior's works are being studied and classified. Igbo academicians alike met to include the learning of the legend's lyrics in Music subject in the curriculum. This music art prodigy's brilliance keeps inspiring many who regard him as the Igbo Highlife musician of the twentieth century. He died in 1999 and is immortalized with the Imo State Heartland FM [100.5 MHz] dedicated to playing his tracks. His sons Uche Obinna and Ajuzieogu Obinna and his brother Emperor Teddy Obinna have taken after this magnificent maestro.

Discography