According to Chief Oliver De Coque in his song “Ukadinobi,” religion is an issue of the heart; God lives in our hearts, not in the church building. This old Igbo highlife song, taken from the album “Ugbala,” resonates with the Igbo adage “Uka dị n’obi,” meaning church-going or fellowship is a matter of the heart or conscience. This interpretation suggests that spirituality is a personal thing, not necessarily tied to church attendance.
In traditional Igbo culture, spirituality and a personal relationship with one’s Chi (personal god) predate Christianity. The concept of Odinala, Odinani, Omenala, Omenana, and Omenani encompasses cultural patterns infused with spirituality. Every Igbo man in the pre-Christian era had a place of worship in his Obi, referring to the family abode rather than the heart. Communities didn’t have common places of worship, though they did have central shrines for the Chief Priest, known as Dibia or Eze-mmuo. These shrines were reserved for major deities but weren’t used for regular gatherings, except during feasts or when a divine message needed to be conveyed.
The idea of “Uka dị n’obi” has both metaphysical and physical implications. Metaphysically, it aligns with philosopher Alfred North Whitehead’s notion that religion is what we do with our solitariness, emphasizing personal spirituality. Physically, it underscores that the true church is not a building but the heart, reflecting charity, good works, and moral rectitude.
Oliver Sunday Akanite, known by his stage name Oliver De Coque, was born on April 14, 1947, in Ezinifite, Anambra State, Nigeria. He began playing music at 11, learning the guitar from a Congolese guitarist in Nigeria. As an apprentice of juju musicians Sunny Agaga and Jacob Oluwale, De Coque gained local fame as a teenager. He received international attention after performing in London in 1973 and contributed guitar work to Prince Nico Mbarga’s 1977 album “Sweet Mother.”
His debut album, “Messiah Messiah,” was released in 1977, and he recorded 93 albums in total. De Coque’s music, often in the ogene genre, blended modern sounds with traditional Igbo harmonies. His notable singles include “People’s Club of Nigeria,” “Peoples Club,” “Biri Ka Mbiri,” “Ana Enwe Obodo Enwe,” “Nnukwu Mmanwu,” and “Identity,” which spent several weeks on Radio Nigeria 2’s Top Ten in 1981. He frequently played with the Igede International Band, led by his brother Eugene. Oliver De Coque passed away on June 20, 2008, but his musical legacy endures.
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