Entertainment

Legendary Highlife Musician, Kabaka, Oriental Brothers, Announce Return, Set To Release ‘Abialam’

Published

2 years ago

September 7, 2023

Legendary and veteran highlife musician, Godwin Okpara popularly known as Kabaka, has announced his return to the music scene on a big scale.

Amarachi Anyanwu, the Chief Operating Officer of Derda Promotions, made this known at a news conference held at Nest Hub, Yaba, Lagos.

Kabaka, a famous guitarist, was the leader of the Oriental Brothers International Band. The band was famous in the Eastern Nigerian highlife scene for several years.

After the group lost its lead vocalist, Chief Christogonus Ezewuiro Obinna, popularly known as ‘Sir Warrior’ in 1999, the group went under and left its fans with their vinyl record albums as memory.

Anyanwu disclosed that Kabaka partnered Derda Promotions, a leading 360 entertainment management company, to unveil his long-awaited masterpiece album entitled “Abialam”.

She stated that the release of the album was slated for September 15, with a Pre-Listening event at the Art Nouveau Centre, Owerri, Imo.

“We invite music lovers, critics, and fans alike to join us in celebrating the musical genius of Kabaka and his Oriental brothers.

“Abialam meaning ‘I have returned’, takes listeners on a musical journey that transcends time and space, exploring emotions, culture, and life experiences,” she said.

According to her, the album, ‘Abialam,’ is coming 17 years after Kabaka’s tribute, “Madu bu aja”, which is translated as ‘We are Sand’ to his friend and former band member, late Sir Warrior in 2000.

Speaking on the necessity for the collaboration between Derda Promotions and Kabaka, Anyanwu said, “this is the first legendary artiste we would be working with and it is just to bridge the generational gap between young and old.

“Through this, we intend to retain the authenticity of our highlife music.”

Earlier in his remarks, Kabaka, expressed delight and readiness to take over the music world with his indigenous highlife album.

The 77-year-old singer, composer and instrumentalist noted that ‘Abialam’ aimed at restoring the Highlife genre.

The septuagenarian said: “Abialam is my way of reaffirming my musical presence.

“While there were misconceptions about my absence, this album serves as a testament that my passion for music remains undiminished.

“Abialam’ comprises a meticulously curated selection of six tracks, each with its own unique story.

“From soul-stirring highlife to infectious Bongo rhythms, the album showcases extraordinary ability to evoke emotions and connect with the life experience through music,” he said.

The album also featured renowned Bongo legendary artiste, Sir Foreigner a.k.a Eze Bongo, in one of the six tracks.

The legendary artiste’s musical journey spans several decades, genres, and bands, as he creates and performs songs that resonate with millions of listeners across Africa and beyond.

His musical genius, versatility, and innovation earned him a place among the most influential and celebrated highlife artists of all time.

Some of his major albums with the Oriental Brothers include ‘Uwa Atualamujo/ Ihe Chinyere,’ ‘Ihe Oma,’ ‘Isichim nyara gi,’ ‘Five Fingers,’ ‘Oriental Special,’ ‘Osa enwe akwu,’ ‘Onyeoma nmadu eji egbuya,’ ‘Anam ele chi,’ ‘Hallelujah,’ “Madu bu aja’ and ‘Abialam’.
(NAN)

Entertainment

Why I Can Share My Husband With My Friend — Regina Daniels

Published

10 hours ago

September 5, 2025

Editor

Popular Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, has revealed why she can share her husband with her friend, explaining that she would be willing to do so if the friend had been single for too long.

The actress, who is married to Senator Ned Nwoko, made this revelation in a recent post via the Insta-stories section of her official Instagram page, where she has 15.3 million followers.

In the post, Regina Daniels reshared a reel of a lady who said she decided to lend her man to her best friend who had been single for over six months.

Words overlaid on the reel read: “My friend was single for over 6months so I lent her my man.”

Supporting the idea, Regina Daniels reposted the video and added her own take, stressing that she could also do the same for her friend if the situation arose.

She wrote: “Something I can do though.”

Entertainment

Why I Left Fela’s Band – Femi Kuti Reveals

Published

15 hours ago

September 5, 2025

Editor

Femi Kuti, a popular Nigerian musician and the first son of the Afrobeat founder, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has revealed why he left his father’s band.

Femi made the disclosure during his recent appearance on Afropolitan podcast.

Speaking about his decision to part ways with Fela’s music band, Femi Kuti disclosed that he left to discover his own identity because “I did not have any possibility of my life”.

“Growing up in school, everybody would be like ‘aren’t you going to be like your dad or won’t you play music? I was pressured to be like my father.

“If I wanted to play music, I had to be Femi Kuti. I used the same mathematical thought that I cannot be Fela. I began to wear the same outfits with my father because I used to stay with my mother before I ran away to stay with him.

“I was like mini Fela because he usually dresses me like himself. I just thought I should better look for myself fast, or I’m going to be a very unhappy man. So I went back to my mother.

“The moment I formed my band, his fan base descended on me. It was very difficult to find a good write up about me then because the press hated me and at this time, there was no internet for me to defend myself.

“Being under my father, I didn’t have any possibility of my own life, including having children. I saw my life in his life,” the 63-year-old stated

Entertainment

It’s Unfair To Exclude Tems From Afrobeats Big 3 – Tiwa Savage [VIDEO]

Published

15 hours ago

September 5, 2025

Editor

Famous Nigerian songstress Tiwa Savage has made a case for Tems after her name was excluded from Afrobeats’ top three artistes.

The term ‘Big 3’ is widely used to refer to the male trio Davido, Burna Boy, and Wizkid, who are celebrated as Nigeria’s most dominant global musical exports.

However, questioning the criteria used in selecting the ‘Big 3’ in the industry, Tiwa argued that the narrative turns a blind eye to the outstanding achievements of leading women in the Afrobeats genre.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Radio 1Xtra, she challenged the exclusionary labelling of female singers and insisted that Tems deserves top-tier recognition.

“Think about it, Certain types of artistes get paid more. So, they get the opportunity to spend more on influencers and radio play so you are going to hear their music way more.

“Also, I feel like it is unfair to have a conversation about the Top 3 and not mention someone like Tems. Are you serious?” she asked.

Tems rose to fame in 2020 after her collaboration with Wizkid on ‘Essence’.

She earned her first Grammy in 2023 for her contribution to ‘Wait For U’ in 2022.

In 2025, Tems received her second Grammy Award in the ‘Best African Performance’ category.