The Backstory Behind Osadebe’s Evergreen Song, Ebezina.

Osadebe and his band were billed to perform outside the country. He lodged his crew at a hotel close to the airport and instructed them not to leave the hotel premises come what may.

This was a period when there was no mobile telecommunication.

Osadebe left to finalize the visa procession and traveling documents of him and his crew. He actually didn’t know when he will be back.

A day or two passed, Osadebe was not seen. One of his band members who was an abali agba aka couldn’t hold it any longer. He felt he needed to satisfy his sexual urge or else he will go crazy.

So, off he went in search of the quarters of umu oma osiso. It was at this moment of escape that Osadebe arrived and asked the available band members to pack up, it’s time to jet out of the country.

When the pleasure seeking band member returned and learnt Osadebe and the rest have left the country, he broke down in tears and cried profusely.

Performing outside the country remains professional highlight for artistes all over the world.

It is this uncontrollable cry of regret from this band member for being abandoned in what was supposed to be a career highlight that informed the song Ebezina.

Ebezina simply means, stop crying or don’t cry.

In the song, Osadebe, upon their return, was telling this particular fellow to stop crying, that he Osadebe left an instruction and he didn’t listen. Rather, he went to look for ‘Akwuna’.

If you understand this backstory, then the repeated refrain in the song, Ogazi amaka mana ejiro ya ago muo will now make better meaning to you.

The literal meaning of the above line is not entirely correct. But the metaphorical meaning is what packs depth. Ogazi was a metaphor for the fairer sex.

So, Osadebe was simply saying, the pleasure found in women are immeasurably sweet, yet you cannot use investment in such pleasure to do something meaningful with your life.

I have always argued, guinea fowls are used in Ife Muo. Therefore, Osadebe was not literally talking about Ogazi. Rather, he used the beauty of a guinea fowl as a graphic metaphor for women.

Many have listened to the song and concluded, wow so they do not use a guinea fowl in igbo spirituality?

Those who know ife ana atu okuko na anya know that a guinea fowl or other birds can be used in Igo Muo.

You need to know the backstory behind the song for you to understand exactly what that graphic refrain that has served as the hook of the evergreen song, Ebezina, really means.

Ezeikolomuo
Igbo Consciousness Teacher