Unearthing Lost Etsako Classics: The Full Albums

Kingsley Momoh

Across the valleys and farmlands of Edo North in Nigeria lies a treasure trove of sound, history, and memory. For decades, the Afemai people, particularly the Etsako, have expressed their joys, struggles, and aspirations through music. Their songs were more than entertainment. They were carriers of language, chronicles of community events, and vessels of spiritual reflection.

Yet, as modernity swept across Nigeria, many of these musical treasures faded from mainstream circulation. Records once played at village ceremonies, vinyls that brought families together at dusk, and tapes that echoed through markets slowly disappeared from memory. Today, only fragments survive in households, old collections, or fading recollections of elders.

This is why the project Unearthing Lost Etsako Classics: The Full Albums has begun. It is an intentional cultural rescue effort, an attempt to revive not just the songs but the worlds they embody. By presenting these works in their complete album forms, we invite audiences, both Afemai and global, to rediscover the rhythms, messages, and artistry of a people whose contributions to Nigerian music have often gone unnoticed.

A Mission Rooted in Culture

This project is more than archiving. It is about creatively conserving and propagating the culture of the Afemai through storytelling and media. For centuries, music has been central to Afemai identity. From the percussive intensity of traditional drums to the lyrical depth of folk storytelling, these works embody the Afemai philosophy of resilience, joy, and communal living.

The Afemai, sometimes misrepresented or overlooked in wider narratives of Nigerian culture, have nonetheless made superb contributions across the country, in governance, arts, commerce, and social life. Our music is a living testimony of that contribution. To conserve it is to ensure that future generations do not grow up alienated from their roots.

From Passion to Project

With over twenty years of experience in media at the highest levels, I have witnessed firsthand the power of storytelling in shaping perception and building legacy. That experience, combined with my deep personal passion for Afemai culture, has led me to launch Etsako Guy, a creative platform dedicated to documenting and projecting Afemai heritage.

Through video documentaries, digitized full albums, cultural showcases, and community events, Etsako Guy seeks to create a bridge between the past and the present. Each rediscovered album is not just a collection of songs but a journey, an invitation to travel back in time and feel what our people felt, hear what they sang, and understand the values they preserved in sound.

The Icons of Etsako Music

The story of Etsako music cannot be told without mentioning some of the iconic figures who gave voice to our traditions:

General Bolivia Osigbemhe: Indeed the legendary Bolivia was one of the biggest musical sharpers from afemai. His children particularly Constance Bolivia has kept the legacy on by also creating his own legacy which appears to have surpassed his late father's. 

Hon Vincent Ugabi: A legendary voice whose songs blended storytelling, wisdom, and dance rhythms that defined community gatherings.

Sir Alhaji Waziri Oshomah: Known as the pioneer of Afemai modern sound, fusing traditional Etsako rhythms with highlife, Afrobeat, and religious influences.

Anco Momodu: Celebrated for his unique voice and the ability to blend folk with popular Nigerian sounds. He is reputed to be the first in the pack of Afemai artistes whose works crossed the Afemai borders.

King Benji Igbadumhe: With a unique voice and dexterity, his sound remains unique in ways that makes his lovers dance and sing along.

Agbi Dance Group: Known for their ceremonial and celebratory styles that animated social life across villages.

Madam Ikenebomhe: Agbaobesi's tunes are heart warming yet,  imbedded with life lessons which easily resonates with all.

Esther Omozele: One of the notable female voices in Afemai music, bringing balance and depth to a male dominated scene.

Jeremiah Oshiorenua (Jericho): Remembered as a vibrant musician whose songs carried both entertainment and cultural lessons.

These musicians, along with countless unsung local performers, preserved the identity of Etsako through melodies, proverbs, and rhythms. Their works are not just music but cultural archives, mapping our values and history.

Why It Matters Now

In today's globalized world, cultures that do modification tell their own stories risk being forgotten or overshadowed. While Nigerian music has achieved worldwide acclaim through Afrobeat and Afropop, the diversity of local traditions remains underrepresented. By shining a light on Etsako classics, we expand the narrative of Nigerian music beyond Lagos clubs and international charts, rooting it in the soil of community traditions and ancestral wisdom.

Moreover, there is a generational urgency. Many of the original custodians of these songs are aging. Without intentional documentation, their voices and legacies could vanish forever. By digitizing and sharing these works, we ensure that Afemai youths, and indeed the world, can access their cultural inheritance with pride.

Looking Ahead

Unearthing Lost Etsako Classics: The Full Albums is only the beginning. It is the first step in a broader vision to tactically project Afemai culture onto the national and global stage. Beyond music, this vision will extend into oral histories, fashion, cuisine, festivals, and contemporary artistic expressions.

The goal is not nostalgia alone, but continuity, ensuring that Afemai culture remains alive, adaptive, and respected. In celebrating our past, we inspire creativity for the future.

Proudly Afemai

This is both a personal mission and a communal calling. Proudly Afemai, I am committed to projecting Afemai to Afemais and to the world. To my people, this is a reminder of who we are and what we have contributed. To the wider Nigerian and global audience, this is an invitation to listen, to learn, and to celebrate with us.

The beat of Afemai is still alive. It only needs to be heard again. And that is the journey we are embarking on, one lost classic at a time.        Etsako Guy on Youtube