Life history of Oliver de Coque
While most of us remember this musician under his stage name, the real name of Oliver de Coque was Chief Dr. Oliver Sunday Akanite.
The life history of this great person can be divided into several periods:
- Birth and childhood years
- Music career
- Songs that got the world’s recognition
- Death
De Coque was a talented guitarist who blended West African highlife with Congolese rhythmic guitar style, developing a unique sound he called Ogene.
He was crowned the King of Highlife music by his royal majesty Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, in 1994 for his consistency, and subsequently got awarded with an honorary doctorate in music by the University of New Orleans for his musical achievement.
Google recently honored him with a doodle on what would have been his 74th Birthday. His Expo’76-Ogene Sound Super Of Africa My Woman (1986) Viynl record is available on CoolAfrican for collectors and lovers of African sounds.
Dubbed as the Highlife King of Africa, Oliver De Coque, real name Oliver Sunday Akanite is a recording artist and guitarist who hails from the southeastern part of Nigeria, Anambra.
Oliver de Coque music
Among the many albums released by the artiste and his Ogene Super Sound of Africa band, we should mention such titles as:
- Ugbana
- Messiah Messiah
- Nnukwu Mmanwu
- Identity
- Easter Special
- Naira Power
- Self Titled
- Born Singer
- Music Africa
- Destiny (Akalaka)
- No More War
Oliver de Coque songs list
The famous musician’s 10 most recognised and best songs are:
- Otimkpu
- Ana Enwe Obodo Enwe
- People’s Club of Nigeria
- Mbiri ka mbiri
- Let’s Pray to God
- Nke Nakpa Onye
- Deserves Praises
- Father Father
- Oliver de Coque in the USA
- Tolerance (Eleta Aghara)
If you understand the Igbo language, you will hear many names of wealthy people from this community whose accomplishments are honoured through his music.
Early Life
Oliver de Coque began his music career in the mid-1960s as a member of the Paradise Rhythm Band before forming his band, Expo ’76. He rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s with his unique style of highlife music, which he dubbed “Ogene Sound Super of Africa.”
Career
His music was characterized by socially conscious lyrics that addressed issues that affected Nigerian society. He released several albums, including “Identity,” “Biri Ka Mbiri,” “Uwa Bu Aja,” and “Ana Enwe Obodo Enwe,” which were a fusion of traditional Igbo music, highlife, and modern African pop.
In addition to his music career, Oliver de Coque was a charitable person who utilized his music to support various causes. He was a patron of the International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights and supported their efforts to promote human rights in Nigeria and other African countries.
Oliver De Coque’s Death
Oliver de Coque passed away on June 20, 2008, at the age of 61, after a brief illness. He left behind a rich legacy in Nigerian music and is remembered as one of the greatest highlife musicians of all time.
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