Chief Akunwata Ozoemena Nsugbe, Ayaka Nsugbe, was an Igbo Traditional Musician well known for his Egwu Ekpili. He was an avowed traditional worshipper. Currently, some of his songs have gone viral on Tiktok. In fact, Aro Nwa Nteje, an Igbo musician, has adopted and refixed some of his songs. The most popular amongst this refix is Ozoemena's Alusi Obeledu song and a tune Ozoemena sang for Engineer Arthur Eze. Ozoemena sang moving eulogies for a lot of powerful Igbo men of his time. He sang and praised Igwe Joneb, Alusi Awkuzu, to high heavens. Upon John Nebeolisa's death, he prophesied that Awkuzu will never have an Igwe in the calibre of Joneb again. He also sang for Chief Austine Ndigwe, Uzu Awka. In his special track for Uzu Awka, he predicted that Uzu Awka must be Igwe Awka. Whether his prophecy which he summed up as Ete Ose has come to pass depends on who you ask. Upon the passing of Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe who was his music idol, he sang a powerful dirge. In the song, he said, the musicians in Igbo land are not up to three. And amongst these few, Osadebe towers above the rest. Ayaka Nsugbe waxed many songs. The song which many consider as his evergreen song is his song on Omenani Na Uka. In this song, he defined what Omenani is and should be. He reminded Ndi Igbo that Omenani has been there before Ndi Uka came. Thus, he declared Omenani the landlord as far as spiritual path or religion is concerned in Ala Igbo. He also submitted in his Omenani song that Ndi Uka is copying some aspect of Omenani Igbo like divination and Igbo musical instruments. In this album on Omenani, Ozoemena Nsugbe indicted modern day Dibias. He said there are no more Dibias in Ala Igbo. He explained that in the olden days, there was division of labour in the practice of Dibia. But today, a Dibia claims to be a master in all spheres of dibiahood. Consequently, no more potency in the works of a Dibia. He concluded bitterly, ego oyibo emebisigo ogwu. It was in this album he extolled and reminded Ndi Igbo of the great Chiweuba Onumba. The famous Igbo divination Dibia that was put to test in a law court to prove his divination skill by asking him to state how many seeds was inside a pod. Chiweuba successfully divined how many seeds that was inside the pod. Thereby dazzling the white magistrate who believed initially he was a fraud. Unfortunately, Ozoemena Nsugbe who fought so hard to preach and defend Odinani Igbo with his litany of songs surrendered his life to the church at the later end of his life. He went on to sing a gospel song wherein he claimed to have entered Ugbo Jesus. In the song, he renounced all the things he did under the guise of Odinani. He advised other Igbo traditional practitioners to join him to enter Ugbo Jesus. Many Igbo Christians celebrated this big fish that was caught for Jesus. However, some close watchers believed Ozoemena Nwa Nsugbe was seriously sick during this stage of his life. He had tried to find solution to his sickness through traditional remedies and western medicine all to no avail. Thereafter, he felt he should try to seek healing via church. This necessitated his conversion. The church rather than heal him made a big show of his conversion. Regrettably, the healing he sought didn't materialise. He died dismayed. This worthy ambassador of Igbo culture died confused. Ayaka ended like the biblical John the Baptist who prophesied about the birth of Jesus and consequently baptised him. Only to became confused when he was buffeted by trials and vicissitudes of life via the hands of Herod. It was a confused John that sent people to enquire from Jesus if he was actually the chosen one or is there another? If he is the one, how come he is around, yet, he is going through all these trials? Ozoemena life was akin to the life of John the Baptist! He was a forerunner! A torch bearer! He was a worthy and proud ambassador of Igbo tradition. This is a fact no one can erase from his legacy despite how it ended for him. - @abum_nnaemeka