Pericoma Okoye
{{short description|Nigerian singer and sorcerer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Pericoma Okoye
| image = File:Pericoma Okoye.jpeg
| birth_name = Pericoma Mezuo Okoye
| alias = {{plainlist|
- Lion of Africa
- Arusi Makaja 1
- Mezuo Mbụ nke Arọndizuogu
}}
| birth_date = 1948
| death_date = February 16, 2017
| death_place= Okigwe, Imo, Nigeria
| origin = Arondizuogu, Imo, Nigeria
| genre = Igbo masquerade music
| occupation = Singer, songwriter
}}
Pericomo Damian Azubike Nwankwo Okoye (1948 – February 16, 2017), known as Pericoma, was a Nigerian singer, songwriter and traditionist. In addition to his music, he was known as a practitioner of Odinala, the traditional religion of the Igbo people.
Life and career
Okoye was born in 1948{{cite news |url=http://ejigbocitydiary.blogspot.com/2018/03/final-burial-for-renowned-igbo-musician.html |title=Final Burial For Renowned Igbo Musician Pericomo Nwankwo Okoye |website=Ejigbo City Diary |date=March 1, 2018 |access-date=November 14, 2023 }} in Arondizuogu in Imo State.{{cite news |author=Chuks Oluigbo |url=https://businessday.ng/arts-bdlife-arts/article/pericomo-okoye-big-masquerade-exits-stage/ |title=Pericomo Okoye: When a big masquerade exits the stage |newspaper=Business Day |date=February 19, 2017 |access-date=November 14, 2023 }} He was a singer-songwriter in the Igbo masquerade tradition. His music was described as "oral rendition of rarefied Igbo history".{{Cite news |author=Nzeh Frankwhite |url=http://authorityngr.com/2017/02/-Igbo-traditional-high-life-music-exponent-Pericoma-Okoye-passes-on/|title=Igbo traditional high life music exponent, Pericoma Okoye, passes on|website=The Authority News|date=February 17, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219212816/http://authorityngr.com/2017/02/-Igbo-traditional-high-life-music-exponent-Pericoma-Okoye-passes-on/ |archive-date=February 19, 2017 }} He first became known in the early 1970s, when he sang in the choir of St. Michael's Catholic church in Arondizuogu and then became lead vocalist of Troupe, a cultural music group. After releasing an album with them, he left to form his own group and starting in 1976, released yearly albums. He created more than 200 songs.
Okoye was cultural prime minister of Arondizuogu until his death{{Cite web |last=Aniche |first=Emeka |date=2019-12-28 |title=Chief Pericoma Mesuo Okoye - traditionist, singer/songwriter and local politician |url=https://www.arochukwu.info/post/chief-pericoma-mesuo-okoye-traditionist-singer-songwriter-and-local-politician |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=Notable Aros |language=en}} and was known as Mezuo Mbụ nke Arọndizuogu ('first of Arondizuogu') and Arụsị Makaja Mbụ ('first Makaji Arusi') or Arusi Makaja 1. After appearing with Pete Edochie in a Nollywood movie titled Lion of Africa, he also came to be called by that name.
Traditional practitioner
Okoye was also known as a practitioner of traditional Igbo religion and magic, Odinala. An article by a theologian contrasted him in this respect with Oliver de Coque, noting Okoye's praise for "herbalists and those deemed capable of making contact with and manipulating the world of the spirits".{{cite journal |author=Lawrence N. Nwankwo |title='A Na-Enwe Obodo Enwe?' A Socio-Theological Reflection on a Track in Oliver De Coque's Album |journal=Ministerium, A Journal of Contextual Theology |volume=2 |issue=1 |year=2016 }} His magic performances drew large audiences to the Ikeji festival in Arondizuogu. The best known tale of his magical exploits, recounted by Anaede Unu in a song titled "Pericoma na-anyi ajo aro", was when he foiled a gang of extortionist "agbero boys" in Onitsha who demanded his tax receipts: when he ignored them, one of them attempted to carry him off on his shoulders, but he reportedly made himself extremely heavy and prevented the man from lowering him for several hours, until the group performed the propitiatory rituals to his deity that he specified.{{Cite news |author=Khadijah Thabit |url=https://www.legit.ng/1088720-ichie-mezuo-pericomo-okoye-arusi-makaja-1-aka-pericoma-allegedly-dies-update.html|title=Ichie Mezuo Pericomo Okoye, Arusi Makaja 1, aka Pericoma, allegedly dies |website=Legit |date=February 17, 2017 |access-date=November 14, 2023}}
Honours
Personal life and death
Okoye had several wives and many children, including Omor Perry, his eldest son, Ebube Izuogu, who is also a traditional singer, and Fenfe Pericoma Johnbosco.{{Cite news |author=Uche Akolisa |date=May 8, 2020 |title=Ihe mere Pericoma ji anyị ajọ arọ|url=https://www.bbc.com/igbo/afirika-52572020|access-date=November 14, 2023 |website=BBC News Igbo|language=ig}} Darlington Okoye, a Nigerian rapper who performs under the name Speed Darlington, said in July 2017 that Pericoma Okoye was also his father.{{cite news |author=O.G.A. |url=https://www.informationng.com/2017/07/speed-darlington-reveals-hes-son-pericoma-okoye-says-hated.html |title=Speed Darlington reveals he's the Son of Pericoma Okoye, says 'I hated him' |website=Information Nigeria |date=July 9, 2017 |access-date=November 14, 2023 }}
He died on February 16, 2017, in a hospital in Okigwe.{{Cite news|url=https://allure.vanguardngr.com/2017/02/singer-and-traditionalist-ichie-mezuo-pericoma-okoye-arusi-makaja-1-reportedly-dead/ |title=Singer and traditionalist, Ichie Mezuo Pericoma Okoye, Arusi Makaja 1 reportedly dead |website=Vanguard Allure |date=February 16, 2017 |access-date=November 14, 2023 }} Final interment in the village of Ndiogbuonyeoma, Ndibeuche was scheduled for April 9, 2018.
Selected discography
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:20th-century Nigerian male singers