Mr. Bigger Ibekwe, a theatre arts graduate, song writer and composer talks about his debut album set for launch on November 5, his foray in the theatre among other issues, writes IBEKS PREEZI
That Mr. Bigger Ibekwe has a passion for theatre arts, is no doubt palpable as he picks his words recalling how the journey started. In his account, he recalled why it took him this long to decide to come out with an album now, his voice resonate with charisma and character. His decision to study theatre art ahead of law was not a mistake.
“I began to answer Bigger in my primary school, specifically, Primary 3; and that was as a result of an incident. A teacher looked at what I did and said look, ‘this boy you are bigger’.
Definitely, it is not about size but about contents of the head. So the name stuck and I have been answering that name ever since. And it so appeared that the name has been carrying a lot of good luck for me. So, I strongly believe that there is much in a name,” he says.
Ibekwe who hails from Umunze in Anambra State, speaks, apart from his native language Igbo, Yoruba and English, Chinese language fluently. “I am a graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Benin. Then I also read Chinese language and Culture at Jujen Catholic University, Hsinchuang Taipei, Taiwan.
Then of course I did a PGD at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos. Also, I did a masters’ programme in International Relations and Politics at a university in Australia,” he explains.
So what really prompted me into reading theatre? You ask.
It was as a result of my desire to go into the university with the hope that after that I will go and read law that really spurred me. But by the time graduated in theatre arts, I so much became in love with it so much that I didn’t want to study law again.
For Chinese language and culture, circumstance took me to Taiwan, and you needed to learn their language to be able to communicate with them. And if you communicate with the Chinese, they become very friendly with you.
So, I had no option than to study their language, study their culture. And we used then to really facilitate our visa, and the course of that, when I rounded up my programme, I went to study for my masters’ programme in Australia.
I was then shuttling between Taiwan and Australia. Then what prompted my going to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos, was really the fact that I like writing, and I felt I should have to up my writing career.
Also, you see, we were always watching ‘Village Headmaster’ that time; there was Boniface, there was the Headmaster, Chief Eleyimi, Garuba, Oloja, Councilor Balogun and so on. Then, once it is time for Village Headmaster, everybody runs home to watch it.
The streets will be literally empty. So, that was how fell in love with acting. Village Headmaster really inspired me to study theatre arts. Then, I was living with a lady who was working at NTA then as a news caster.
We looked at her as a star; when she was coming back from work or going in the evening we always admire her. So the desire to work on television started developing.
On his your opinion about the arts, he adds that it’s been wonderful.
“I think the truth of the matter is that the Nigerian society only recently began to appreciate the arts. Outside here, which everybody knows, theatre artistes are the stars that everybody wants to associate with.
According to him, prior to his going to study theatre arts in the university, he has featured in some stage play. “I began acting when I was still in secondary school in Benin. I remember playing a role which later became popular, Idikoko, a man who was actually feigning blindness.
I have acted major plays such as Kurunmi and Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again by Ola Rotimi. I also acted in The gods are not to blame. Speaking about his debut album that was launched on November 5, at Park Lane Hotels, Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos, he says: “This is actually my debut.
Theatre and music, you can say, they are like husband and wife. They so much interrelate. Since my days in secondary school I compose songs, it is something I took over from my mother, who is a very good composer.
She used to sing for local women, composing songs. Of course, out of the eight kids she has, there are only two of us that inherited that talent from her. “And those days if there some songs they want us to use in the acting, I of course compose them. And when we were in the university, I was a member of the university choir, headed by Dr. (Mrs.)Mokwenye.
She requested that we compose traditional songs. I remember I came up with one that she liked.” The album, as you know, is titled Rapture. Most of these songs, I compose them and kept them, and at a time it began to bother that what if one dies without really producing them? What do you tell God.
He gave the creative talent and you don’t use it. So, I felt guilty, and I said from now onwards, at least every year, God willing I should be coming out with an album.
As you can see from the album, it is Mr. Bigger Ibekwe and the Music Evangelist; it is a collection of gospel songs. Our purpose is to disseminate the coming of Christ. It is evangelism. Hence I cannot carry microphone and go around preaching, I decided to do my own through music.
It is a four-track album. The fourth one is about three songs together, and it is four children. The track titled Rapture is actually to tell the people about rapture. Are you prepared for it? So it is a kind of warning for everybody to be prepared to meet their maker.
The second track is titled Uwa Awala, which is about the evils in the society. The third track is Kamzuru Ime gi (a prayerful note asking God to allow me to hide inside Him. It is a very prayerful song. The fourth track is very danceable medley suitable for celebration, birthday and so on.
I want the society to recognise that there is judgment; I want people to realise that evil does not pay. There is reward for everything that man does. The unique thing about this album is that apart from songs, I speak direct to the people. Whoever listens to it will know that this person is serious about what he is saying.
Culture
Culture is very important, because if you look at the old society, you will discover that the people were more upright than this present society. We need to hold and preserve those aspects of our culture that are good. Ibekwe believes in the saying: Once an artiste, always an artiste. He enthused that given the opportunity, he feature in a stage production.
