Read on Twitter
Edi mansa dio dio. Edi mansa, dio dio. Edi mansa, dio dio... if you come an ma lady o, ye o, ye o.You must be wondering what the heck you just read. Well, my 29yr old self asks the same question now, wondering what my young self was thinking when he sang the song that way.
How old was I though? What did I know? I just enjoyed watching Giringory and Clarus do their shenanigans in Chief Zebrudaya Okorigbogbogbo (Okoroigwe Nwogbo) Alias 4:30’s house, and watch him carry his big belly around, spitting his very unique grammar with all confidence. Like..
What are does you?
Who are you are?
What are it mean?
You are chopulate all the food in my house.
It have do.
The three both of you.
Plus including... just to mention a few.
I enjoyed the different types of drama that ensued in his house day in day out. What was not to love?
Who are you are?
What are it mean?
You are chopulate all the food in my house.
It have do.
The three both of you.
Plus including... just to mention a few.
I enjoyed the different types of drama that ensued in his house day in day out. What was not to love?
The funny accented English of Chief Jegede, his enthusiastic self eulogy and braggadocio. How he danced around like a leaf in the wind while blowing his own trumpet.
I Chief Jegede Shokoya Shokoya. The grandson of Idi Araba. The son of the soil. The only young millionaire in the
I Chief Jegede Shokoya Shokoya. The grandson of Idi Araba. The son of the soil. The only young millionaire in the
world.
Not forgetting the ever gracious and beautiful Ovularia and her incessant enquiry “Qu’est-ce que c’est?”
The show was always a delight. Giringory’s southern accent fascinated me most, and his special exclamation when things surprised him or went awry... “Umam mi eh!”
Not forgetting the ever gracious and beautiful Ovularia and her incessant enquiry “Qu’est-ce que c’est?”
The show was always a delight. Giringory’s southern accent fascinated me most, and his special exclamation when things surprised him or went awry... “Umam mi eh!”
So, I will sing along to the jingle whenever the show came on. It didn’t matter that we didn’t quite know what they were saying. “Edi mansa dio dio... if you come an ma lady e, ye o! Ye o”served just fine.
Anyway, at 29, I was today years old when I finally learnt the correct
Anyway, at 29, I was today years old when I finally learnt the correct
lyrics to the famous soundtrack, it’s meaning, and the story behind it. And boy, was I touched!
This has led me to make this thread about the origin of that lovely song. A story I will now try to relay as accurately as I learnt it. I hope you love it as much as I did.
This has led me to make this thread about the origin of that lovely song. A story I will now try to relay as accurately as I learnt it. I hope you love it as much as I did.
First, the song. It goes...
Eddie Quansah bia oo bia oo,
Eddie Quansah bia oo bia oo...
Eddie Quansah bia oo bia oo
(Eddie Quansah, come oh x3)
Izu ka nma na nne ji ee
Bia oo bia ooo.
(The meeting is sweeter when it is held between individuals of the same mother. Pls come x2)
Eddie Quansah bia oo bia oo,
Eddie Quansah bia oo bia oo...
Eddie Quansah bia oo bia oo
(Eddie Quansah, come oh x3)
Izu ka nma na nne ji ee
Bia oo bia ooo.
(The meeting is sweeter when it is held between individuals of the same mother. Pls come x2)
Now, the story.
There once lived a tall, dark and handsome young man in Owerri the capital city of the Eastern Nigerian State, IMO. His name, John Obikwe. He was the youngest of 4 male children. He loved a good time and frequented pubs around the city, and played the guitar.
There once lived a tall, dark and handsome young man in Owerri the capital city of the Eastern Nigerian State, IMO. His name, John Obikwe. He was the youngest of 4 male children. He loved a good time and frequented pubs around the city, and played the guitar.
The civil war of the late 60s came and of course dampened life everywhere, including Owerri which was the Biafra capital. When the war ended eventually and normal life began to pick back up, John and his brothers learnt that their late father had left them a land in PortHarcourt.
They decided to sell the land and share the money equally amongst themselves. The land was sold and John learnt that his brothers had planned to not give him his own share. When he confronted them, he was told he was too young to handle such money and should wait till he’s 40 to
get his share. This riled him up so bad he disowned them and cut himself off from the family. It is said that he then sold all his belongings (except his guitar) and ventured out. He joined a friend together with whom he left Nigeria and relocated to Ghana.
Once in Ghana, he started doing menial jobs to survive. He also took a new name—Eddie Quansah, and soon joined a highlife band in Accra.
As years passed, Eddie’s fortunes gradually changed. He got rich and famous as both a merchant and a musician.
As years passed, Eddie’s fortunes gradually changed. He got rich and famous as both a merchant and a musician.
He also married a lady called Meena Sarpong. By now he had his own band which had become famous. News traveled fast and his siblings heard of his exploits. They tried to reinitiate contact and apologize, but he was having none of it.
They even visited him and he was like aht aht, you’re not welcome here. Distraught but not discouraged, his siblings returned to Nigeria and mapped out a plan. There was a new highlife band in Owerri then, The Peacocks Guitar Band. His siblings implored this band to help make a
song for their brother. At long last, the song was recorded. It was titled Eddie Quansah. It was a song made to beg their brother to return home. It went on to become a hit not only in Owerri, but all of Eastern Nigeria.
Eddie heard the song but didn’t budge.
Eddie heard the song but didn’t budge.
He still wouldn’t have nothing to do with them.
Before long, The New Masquerade series came to being and the producers chose the song Eddie Quansah as their soundtrack. It became even more popular across the nation because of the show, but not enough to make Eddie return home.
Before long, The New Masquerade series came to being and the producers chose the song Eddie Quansah as their soundtrack. It became even more popular across the nation because of the show, but not enough to make Eddie return home.
Not much was heard of him since then. It is unclear what became of him. Some say he has passed on, some say he moved to India and is still alive.
Whichever one it is, it is a story that touches the heart; getting to know the origin of the jingle so widely loved.
Hope U loved it
Whichever one it is, it is a story that touches the heart; getting to know the origin of the jingle so widely loved.
Hope U loved it
