NCC Can’t Stop Pirates – Ojukwu …Says Igbokwe’s Death, Big Blow To Music Industry

Mr Lazbrey Ojukwu, Nigeria’s foremost musician, says pirates are still waxing strong in spite of the spirited efforts of the Nigeria Copyright Council (NCC).

Ojukwu, whose popular album, “I want you to be my baby, “ hit the music industry in the 70s, told newesmen that “in spite of all the fight put up by the NCC, pirates are still waxing strong.’’

“You see these days, we only survive through public performance and that is all. If I produce another CD or album, it is just to tell my fans that I’m still kicking; I know they will pirate it,’’ he added.

He lamented that piracy had become a major challenge to the industry, saying “ you produce the music, the pirates smile to the banks, it is killing the industry.”

Ojukwu said he produced an album some three years back, expressing regrets that “ uptill today and as I speak to you, I have not seen one naira, not even the marketer.’’

“The marketer has not even told me whether my CD sold a copy or two. He just disappeared into thin air,” he said.

On how to tackle the menace, he called on law enforcement agencies to “wake up ” to their responsibilities.

He further suggested that clerics should preach against piracy to enable those involved realise that their action was a breach of the divine law on stealing.

Ojukwu described the present generation of musicians as not hard working, querying: “How can you say you’re a musician and you can’t play an instrument? ‘’

He condemned what he described as “an act of jabbering some few unintelligible words over some computerised beats and you begin to mime,’’ adding that there was no visual effect in present day music.

“I don’t think this a healthy development. The sooner they get back to proper live music to perform their act, the better for them and everyone,’’ he said.

Ojukwu, whose song, “I want you to be my love’’, made waves in the 1970s, also told newsmen in Umuahia last Friday that the death of Christie Igbokwe came to him as a surprise.

“I never heard one day that she was sick. To the music industry, it will mean another heavy loss because someone at just 50 has a lot more to offer.

“So our losing her at this stage of her life and career is a blow. It is not pleasant at all,’’ he said.

The lady of songs as she was popularly called, and one of Nigeria’s most prominent musicians , died in a hospital in Lagos on Thursday.

Ojukwu criticised the music inSOUTH-EASTdustry in Nigeria and said the current generation of musicians were not working hard.

“I wouldn’t say I am happy because the present generation of musicians is not working hard.

“How can you say you are a musician and you can’t play an instrument?

“You just go and jabber some few unintelligible words over some computerised beats and you begin to jump all over the place and say you are a musician.

“I mean, it’s funny. These days those who call themselves musicians come out with a one man act, call them to perform publicly, they just spin the CD and begin to mime,’’ he said, adding: “It has no meaning.

“The joy is not there again. During our time, you can’t make it without having other human beings, a full band to back you. You the singer, the artistes, you put up some visual effects to back you.

“There are some visual effects in our kind of music, which is now lacking. These days, it is miming. They mime and pretend that they are singing.

“Who is fooling who? I don’t think it is a healthy development.

“The sooner they get back to proper live music using musicians to perform their act, the better for them and for everyone.’’

He said that the biggest challenge facing the industry was piracy, pointing out that “musicians toil to produce their music, while pirates smile to the bank.’’