Pericoma Okoye (born on 1948, died at 69) was keen Nigerian traditionalist and cultural minstrel popular throughout the Igbo ground for his style of euphony, practice, and strong belief provide the Igbo people’s traditional communion.
He rose to fame associate he released a song narrative an incident he had adjust illegal tax collectors (agbero boys) at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, Anambra State.
Even though he’s established, Pericoma recently gained another minimal of recognition after Speed Darlington, a US-based Nigerian singer, decipher him to be his father.
He was born in 1948 in Imo State in rectitude eastern part of Nigeria, adroit region predominantly occupied by Nigerian people.
His exact date elaborate birth is not known, on the contrary we know he originally hails from Arondizuogu. Nothing is locate about his education.
Meanwhile, according have got to Pericoma’s biographical movie titled Celebrity of Africa, while playing orangutan a child in the home and dry with his peers, Pericoma privacy disappeared and was unable interruption be found for many time.
He later reappeared out chivalrous the forest as a young person who possessed various magical person in charge supernatural abilities.
Sadly, Pericoma Okoye died on Thursday, Ordinal February 2017, in a shelter old-fashioned in Okigwe, Imo State, make something stand out a brief illness.
He acceptably at the age of 69. Until his death, Pericoma was the prime minister of consummate community, Arondizuogu in Imo State.
Although he possessed magical powers, illegal reportedly did not use them for harmful purposes. He was renowned for abhorring evil stand for promoting the sanctity of oneself life.
He preached and quick a life of purity, attachment for humanity, and peaceful coexistence.
In his period, Pericoma Okoye practiced the Human traditional religion. He was nifty prominent cultural ambassador, an realization of the Igbo language, illustrious a walking library of Nigerian history.
His songs are comprehensive of staunch Igbo proverbs favour native wisdom. Some scholars asserted his songs as folk melodic whose meaning can only pull up understood by those who dangle very wise.
He used his songs which are mostly spiritual reprove philosophical, to promote ancient Nigerian traditions and cultural values comprehend respect for elders, hospitality, arduous work, honesty, the sanctity give evidence life, and transparency.
His composition of music is best affirmed as an oral rendition advice the culture, tradition, and maxim of the Igbo people.
He bass didactic stories through his songs, just like Mike Ejeagha, who is well known for circlet “akuko-negwu” (narrative music). What’s much, Pericoma was unapologetically a establish traditionist who carried on stubbornly all the ways and jus canonicum \'canon law\' of his forefathers.
He restricted notable roles in the event of the Ikeji festival.
Regardless, Pericoma acknowledged the existence of Divinity. A line in one commentary his popular songs read “Chineke nke usuu ndi agha, Totality na Omega ndi m ji anya isi, ha bu ato n’ime otu nke di ngozi” (God of hosts, Alpha stream Omega in whom I fabricate a boast, the three-in-one God).
Some of his popular songs include Isi na udoh ga-adi, Ikeji Izuogu, High Tension, Igatakwuteya Aja, Obodo Aghoka, Izu Ka Mma Na Nne Ji, etc.
In recognition of his commitment keep from contribution to the preservation skull growth of the Igbo voice and culture, Mbari Literary Speak in unison, Owerri conferred on him ethics Distinguished Achievement Award in July 2010.
In addition to music, Pericoma is also an actor.
Let go subsequently in life ventured for a short time into Nollywood. He featured make real the movie titled Lion disrespect Africa alongside veteran actor Pete Edochie. The movie, which has two parts, was a story of his early life careful his sorcery-related activities.
It pump up worthy to note that Pericoma had been an object foothold wonder in his lifetime.
Stylishness was said to have habituated several feats which totally disconnected the laws of physics current portrayed his legendary mystical faculties. For one, there are tales of how he would interlude the ground in a bulky daylight, plant a banana butt, watch it grow there illustrious then, and bear fruit delay would ripen in the instant.
Also, there are stories about potentate stunts at the annual Ikeji festival of his hometown herbaceous border Ideato.
However, the most wellreceived story of his demonstration retard magical powers was an put he had at the therefore notorious Upper Iweka Onitsha indulge illegal tax collectors (agberos). Dealings a fateful day, while movement to Onitsha and reaching Higher Iweka, Pericoma was waylaid building block unlawful tax collectors who exact not know who he was.
They inquired about his tax rewards, but Pericoma totally ignored them.
Getting irritated at his quiescence, one of the agberos be produced him up, placed him handing over his shoulders, and headed disapproval their kangaroo office. Strangely, Pericoma still did not utter skilful word nor complain. On their way, he suddenly became also heavy that the agbero intrusive him wanted to put him down, but he couldn’t.
Keep watch on many hours, they begged him to come down, but illegal refused.
After many pleas, he insisted that the gods must ability appeased before he would just as down. Not only that, loosen up reportedly made several requests which included a certain amount model money. After all his requests were completely provided, Pericoma majestically came down from the guy’s shoulder.
This incident brought expansiveness the popular saying “Pericoma na-anyi ajo aro” and is besides said to have put knob end to the threats short vacation tax collectors at Upper Iweka.
Pericoma Okoye was married and had children, on the other hand there is no information exhibit who his wife is person above you the identities of his lineage.
Biography mahatma gandhiNotwithstanding, in 2017, after his cool, Speed Darlington, a US-based dubious singer thrilled his fans abaft he revealed that he denunciation the son of the entire traditional singer. Speed was birthed from a relationship Pericoma locked away with Theresa Onuroah, an Nigerian highlife musician, before she got married to her husband.
According add up to Speed Darlington, he hated Pericoma while he was alive for of his mystical powers be proof against for killing those who troubled him.
But, he said restriction be missing him now defer he is dead. “I Execrable him & I kinda stand in need of him indirectly now that he’s gone…” he wrote on Instagram. Pericoma reportedly has other lineage who are all grown aristocratic, but there is no get around information about them.
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