The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State council has mourned the demise of Highlife maestro, Chief Chukwuemeka Maduka, professionally known as Morocco.
This is contained in a tribute singed and issued by the secretary to the union, Comrade Patrick Ochei, and was made available to newsmen in Asaba, Delta State.
Comrade Ochie said the death of the veteran Ekpiki musician is no longer a rumour as he had confirmed from reliable sources.
The Tribute reads:
Morocco’s End Of An Era: Could This Be The Truth?
“Once again, the news of the passing of the Ukwuru born Ekpili music Crooner and King, Chief Emeka Maduka a.k.a Morocco is everywhere in the media space. It didn’t come to me as a rude shock; I only needed to fact check so I don’t become a peddler of fake news in this period of Mis-Information and False news.
“First I asked myself, ‘could this be the truth? I asked this question because it has always been rumoured that Morocco is dead at one point or the other.
“However, this time it was a female colleague, Chimdi who called to give me the news. She was in my company sometime this year when we went to Ukwuru in Anambra State to interview a man called Morocco.
“I belong to a platform with Chief Morocco. I had rushed to the platform to confirm my doubt; and yes, the news came out positive this time. Morocco’s 60th Anniversary Chief Promoter, based in London, Mr. Eddie Isebor had confirmed it already in conjunction with the musician’s son.
“Just after the confirmation, my former Photo-Journalist, Favour had called from Abuja. I just told her it was no longer “Asiri” – Morocco, the Ozo Nwelibe himself had left us to the Great Beyond.
“Chief Chukwuemeka Maduka a.k.a Morocco was found to be with. I met him at Ukwuru where I had gone to interview him ahead of the proposed musical concert to celebrate his 60th Anniversary in professional music by Global Friends Africa-Euro Hospitality Association.
“The above music promoters based in London had planned a big musical concert in Awka and Onitsha to celebrate the Pioneer Voice behind the Ekpili Music in March 2020. However, the date was shifted to October to enable the Coronavirus pandemic to die down. Before October, the promoters had eventually decided to move the date entirely to 2021 to enable the world to get over the Covid-19 pandemic that is still raging on. Unfortunately, the man could no longer endure the uncertainties of the time in world health palaver and he surrendered to the ultimate call of death.
“A truthful man Morocco was. We had erroneously acknowledged him as the Longest Performing Igbo Musician. But he disputed us, giving it to Mike Ejeaya from Enugu State.
“A traditionalist yet loved God with passion. He built a church in his village at Ukwuru where he worships the Highest God amid serious traditional worship of other deities. His business office is based in Awka where he had comfortable business investment in hotels and others, yet he would be in his village every weekend to worship and serve God on a Sunday among his saved kinsmen.
“He told us stories that are still stuck in our memoirs. Stories of how he was likened to a vagabond because he wanted to play music. Stories of how the Ekpili music was conceptualized from “Njakiri”. No wonder at old age he was still very jovial.
“Morocco was a prudent man who was able to convert his wealth from music to an enduring investment. All his children are doing well both in Nigeria and abroad, with one seriously in gospel music. He has hotels in Awka and music a studio.
“An experienced music icon, Morocco became a rallying point both for old-time musicians and young ones in Anambra. He was named the Life Premier of PMAN, South East Zone, because of his bridge-building role to bring Igbo musicians together.
“Chief Morocco was one musician not given to alcohol, drug, and women; he was simply a man who naturally came to impact society with his ever reverberating music. He was a husband to one wife.
“No wonder he never was worried about anything, even when his death was rumoured. Instead of being worried that the world viewed him as a dead man at a time, he converted the worry to music – ‘Asiri’.
“Chief Morocco performed till his very last. The last we spoke, he said he had an event to perform in Enugu State. He was always conscious of a clashing appointment. You either meet him in Awka or at Ukwuru, but it must not be when he had been booked to perform.
“I met him once and I admired him more. He brought back the frenzied old days when his lyrics were the rave of the moment and still is. He even sang for me that day.
“I was looking forward to meeting with him again to deliver a collection of publications we had made on him. But I never knew the last we spoke and agreed on a date to meet after my NUJ election was to be the last.
“What more can I say about Chief Emeka Morocco Maduka, but submit to the will of God. He lived a good life by almost all standards in my opinion. He came, he saw and he conquered. He was an enigma whose music will continue to scintillate the air for generations to come.
“In a nutshell, Chief Morocco’s death is no longer an “Asiri” but the Truth. The Truth enshrined in his “Akalaka”. Good night Osiris-Oma. Good night Ozo Nwelibe of Umugama! Ochie wrote
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