It is said that the apple does not fall far from the tree. This certainly rings true in the case of Ogechukwu Nwamaka Onwubuya better known as Oge Kimono, Nigeria’s fast rising reggae artiste and the daughter of late reggae icon, Oseloke Augustine Onwubuya popularly known as Ras Kimono.
[ad]
Like her father, Oge has since embarked on a journey with reggae music, as she is a regular face at reggae events across Nigeria. Straight upon her father’s demise, she inherited his 13-man band and commenced the bold move to etch her name in the minds of reggae faithful in the country and around the world.

Before now, the performing artiste, songwriter, humanitarian, and entrepreneur who started singing at the age of 10 has acted as back up vocalist for a number of international music stars including Ade Bantu, Tuklan, Uwe Banton and Rocky Dawuni, while performing at key reggae events like Summer Jam, Reggae Jam, Ruhr Reggae and others in Africa and Europe.

In 2019, the Onicha-Olona indigene, whose exploits have earned her recognition including a place on the board of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), released her debut album titled, Good Ole Days, with tracks like Drum and Bass, Addicted, Safe and Main Chick; titillating reggae faithful in Nigeria and beyond. There is also Sojourner, adopted by the Nigerian-German Centre for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration as their theme song.

Like most reggae crooners, Oge’s songs revolve around love, equality and justice themes that exercised the imagination of her father and undergirded his music. “It is the same conscious music. I cannot deviate from that; I don’t know anything less or better. That is the lineage I come from. That is how I have been raised.

“People will not play Fela’s music or my father’s music if there are no messages in them. Those kinds of music are evergreen music and that is why I intend to keep doing,” Oge said in a recent interview.

According to her, her songs are about speaking the truth. “Basically, it is just me speaking the truth. There is nothing extra or out of the ordinary. What makes it unique is the melody, the delivery and of course the message. When people can listen to my music and relate with it, I have delivered my message.

“That to me is what it is – relatable messages – and that is what I am bringing. I am not trying to give you more party tracks with no message. I am particular about the message I dish out,” she added

As passionate as she is about her music, Oge is perhaps more preoccupied with promoting her cultural heritage. For her, connecting with her roots and getting young people of her home town Onicha-Olona to do the same is a project she holds dear.

This passion has led her to create the “Flavours of Onicha-Olona”, a yearly event to connect and celebrate the town’s illustrious sons and daughters, highlighting their remarkable talents through arts and entertainment.

According to her, the event aims to celebrate and preserve the rich culture and heritage of Onicha-Olona as well as educate the younger generation on the importance of community building and inclusivity.

Using the platform of entertainment (music), which is a world she is born into, the event which is bill to hold December 28, in the town, aims to showcase the talents of people in fashion, music, dance, and art with vibrant activities that will involve all age brackets.

From the kids’ corner to arts and crafts sections, career pep talks, captivating performances, the authentic flavours of Onicha-Olona will be unleashed on indigenes and visitors alike.
[ad]
She continues: “The idea of Flavours of Onicha-Olona is to showcase, harness and celebrate our rich culture and heritage through the arts in the form of fashion, music, dance, arts/sculpture, and everything entertainment.

“As we all know, the saying that implies that a village raises a child. Here I am as a daughter asking for help and guide to bring my brothers and sisters home and begin to sensitise the younger ones better on the need and essence of identifying with home.”

“We hope it will help to teach our youths to shun discrimination and defamatory talk against one another because only then can we truly build an exemplary community worthy of emulation. Flavours of Onicha-Olona is a 12-hour event scheduled to begin by noon and last till midnight.

“It will include a fashion exhibition/parade, dance troupe showcase by every community (Ogbe), musical performance, art exhibition, food exhibition, face painting (for children), games, career talk and other events.

To make the event truly remarkable, Oge notes that there is a line- up of stellar performers from Onicha-Olona including David Ace Keyz Elumelu, an acclaimed producer and musician based in Abuja, and Chukwuemeke John Jnr. Uzumefune also known as John Dust who hails from Ishiekpe Quarter in Onicha Olona.
[ad]