By Thomas Peretu
A few years ago, I was the publisher of a magazine titled Biography. It was quite a successful enterprise. Don’t ask me why I closed shop. That’s a matter for another day. The motto of Biography was “To every life, there’s a story.” In other words, behind every successful person, there’s a hidden tale unknown to the public.
This assertion rings true for my subject, this hazy evening.
I had the privilege again of watching Buchi, one of Nigeria’s most iconic gospel artistes. After several years refining his craft, he’s still standing tall like the rock of Gibraltar.
I knew Buchi way back in the late 80s. He was a regular face at the floating buka, a rundown ship anchored at the Marina in Lagos Island. The floating buka was a rendezvous for lovers of reggae music and canabis. Buchi and several other budding artistes cut their teeth at that joint. Ras Kimono and many others in that era were veterans of the buka circuit. They usually performed raw natural, undiluted roots reggae. Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh Sly Dumba and a great number of other exponents were the heroes of the day. These artistes all had adherants and followers in Nigeria. I guess Buchi was one of them. Music scouts like me and other patrons of the bar were treated to the best of reggae music. Suddenly, Buchi took to gospel reggae, an unpopular genre at the time. I make bold to infer that Buchi pioneered gospel reggae music in Nigeria. I may be wrong. He popularized and propagated it at a time when it was classified as worldly music. Sooner than later, Buchi became a household name after his debut album was released. He was a major topic for family discussions at dinner tables. Or in the Christian fold. The industry welcomed him with open hands. That was how he carved a niche for himself as a dominant brand in the market.
Buchi’s grass to grace story is quite motivating. And that explains why the motto of Biography is germane and succinct.
He told his interviewers on Channels TV how he went into cultism in the university. He gave insights into why he veered off into cultism, chief of which was to fight for justice within the university system. He thought the cult group would provide him with a veritable outlet to realise his dream of rights activism in the campus. Not too long after, he discovered the true essence of the various groups. Their aims and objectives, he noted were at variance with his own ideals and desires. But then, he was already neck deep into it. No way to escape. Neither, could he renounce his membership either I private or in the public space. It was a catch 22 situation. The church however, came to his rescue. And that was bow he escaped the stranglehold of the group. From then on, he has never looked back. As an evangelist his over riding mission is to spread the gospel of Christ through reggae music to all parts of the world.
As a matter of fact, I got to know that Buchi was a university lecturer before he took to music full scale.
Today, Buchi is the author of two books— “Cease the fire” and “My weed and I”. Buchi painted a gory picture about the prevalence of cultism in Nigeria. He told his audience how our youths are overwhelmingly subscribing to the powers of cultism. He said cultism and drug abuse and trafficking are the twin evils taking the lives of our youths. He even revealed that most cult groups are agents of some godfathers somewhere. Cultists have patrons, he opined. Cultism, he said is no longer warehoused in tertiary institutions. It is now part and parcel of the society. City centres are now the play grounds of cultists. The disturbing trend, he observed is the fact that most parents are heade above heels in the act. And that’s why the menace cannot be curbed with kid’s gloves. He is no less positive that it can be wiped out or reduced drastically with sincerity of purpose and commitment on the part of our leaders.
He advocated for the registration of cult groups by the Corporate Affairs Commission. Any group that does not meet the stipulated criteria for registration should be proscribed, he offered.
Buchi’s life story should inspire any young person seeking for direction, value and meaning. Look for his books, they may be the panacea you need to revitalise your life. Good evening.
… Peretu is a journalist, a lawyer and a poet based in Abuja.
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