Discography of Waziri Oshomah
Alhaji Waziri Oshomah was born in Osomegbe Ekperi, northern Edo State, Nigeria, and together with his late colleague/rival Bolivia Oshiogbeme is a leading musician of the Etsako people of that region. Edo and Delta States, together with their constituent peoples such as the Edo or Bini, Urhobo, Itsekiri and "western" Igbo, roughly correspond to the former Benin Empire, renowned worldwide for its artwork. While Etsako is related to the more widespread Edo language, the two are not mutually intelligible. There are close to 200,000 Etsako speakers in Nigeria, divided among various dialects. Oshomah's recordings are usually listed as "Ekperi," which is a dialect of Etsako.
Etsakoland, or Afemia, lies at the southernmost reach of Islam in Nigeria. Unlike most of the former Benin Empire, people in this area are divided almost evenly between Christians and Muslims, in fact it is not uncommon to see a church and mosque next to each other. Alhaji Oshomah himself is a Muslim.
Waziri Oshomah still lives in Auchi, Edo State, and still plays music to the delight of Nigerians. My thanks to Mr. Peter Agabi and Dr. George K Oyakhire for information they have provided on Oshomah and the Etsako people. Any further information on Oshomah and his recordings would be very much appreciated. - John Beadle
1973
Sir Waziri Oshomah & his Family United Band of Afenmai Nigeria
Ikkhayeapeya Iyowame (LP; Decca West Africa [Lagos] WAPS 97)
[A] Ikkhayeapeya Iyowame / Uyelime Nodomhe / Contractor Peter A. Sedi / Alex A. Irothume / Iraluagbo-Mhe
[B] Proprietor James Idomele / Akhayagboke Osimhe Oayyaemheya / Atsoegbele Agbcity / Olusetse Olukhomo / Hon. E.B. Sute / Ayayele
1974
Sir Waziri Oshomah & his Family Traditional Sound Makers
Onoagbenye Oseogho (LP; Decca West Africa [Lagos] WAPS 161)
[A] Onoagbenye Oseogho / Agiede Otemomie / Osime Izimede / Alhaji Inu Umoru / Ekpeme Vhakoyouno / Ugwotome Lukhayome
[B] Late Peter Umogbai / Osomegbe Special / Olime Bimhayazaduegbe / Ogie-Gie
1974
Sir Waziri Oshomah & his Traditional Family Sound Makers
Egbemhenyemho (LP; Decca West Africa [Lagos] WAPS 207)
[A] Egbemhenyemho / Igechemho / Amoi Ma Dumhamhaegbe / Wazogwere / Okhala Oviokhala / Rhagwu Wenewgwe
[B] Alhaji Col. F.A. Z. Shelu / Egwili Ozagboa II / Alhaji Inu Umoru / Oberaireghe
1974
Sir Waziri Oshomah & his Family Traditional Sound Makers
Akhamotse Amobe (LP; Decca West Africa [Lagos] WAPS 229)
[A] Akhamotse Amobe / Izemhi Zakheobo / Amiagbo Ukporeyaki / Orevio Zobo Nwoeghughu / Oghena Oyowo
[B] Ugwotomhe Part II / Late Umosco F. Agwenethokhai / Iluneneale / Onokele Omiofu / Ukponiorobemhede
1975
Sir Waziri Oshomah & his Family Traditional Sound Makers
Etsakor V.I.P.s (LP; Decca West Africa [Lagos] WAPS 297)
[A] Etsakor V.I.P.s / Lt. Momodu Gimah / Inusah Iyamah / Co. Shelu Etc. / Oluetse Akhayoagboke / Wakhala Gbe Afenmai
[B] Oghene Rememugle / Ilamoghena Tseyo / Iwarue Afenmai / Etsakor Chiefs / Rudson Imodu Sule / Asuorime Rudson Sule
1977
Sir Waziri Oshomah & his Family Traditional Sound Makers
Amionarheyele (LP; Decca West Africa [Lagos] WAPS 363)
[A] Amionarheyele / Alhaji Oyarhekua / Tse Yemare / Alhaji J.I. Gbadume
[B] Erhame Iyomhe Nigwegie / Ajala Oshomah: Aibi Idonigie / Eneregbenwume / Aliakwe Lazaluonotse
Late 1970s?
Sir Waziri Oshomah & his Afemai Traditional Sounds
Osomhe-Mhe (LP; Son of Man Trading Company [Onitsha, Nigeria] SOM 2)
[A] Osomhe-Mhe / Osinomuno Akhayagboke / Ukhalage Inu Umoru / Oluetse / Isele Koko Isele
[B] Ebayeuwe Odo / Ivhia Afenmai / Alhaji Inu Umoru / Zonuze Agbo
Late 1970s?
Sir Waziri Oshomah
Ikwekiame Nezimede (LP; Decca [Lagos] WAPS 403
[A] ?
[B] ?
1979
Sir Waziri Oshomah & his Traditional Sound Makers
Alhaji Yesufu Sado (Vol. II) (LP; Shanu Olu [Lagos] SOS 067)
[A] Alhaji Yesufu Sado Managing Director Alhaji Y. Sado & Son Ltd.
[B] Chief J. Aigbokhaode Electrical Contractor Ikhin-Benin / Ikwelame Idhume
1980
Sir Waziri Oshomah & his Traditional Sound Makers
Etsakor Super Star (LP; Ebohon EBPLS 2)
[A] Chief L. O. Idonije / M/D L. O. Idonije Builders (Nig) LTD Auchi
[B] Late Chief Benson Akhigbe / Ukuse Osi Owan
1983
Sir Waziri Oshomah & his Traditional Sound Makers
Aloaye (LP; Waziri WAZ 001)
[A] ?
[B] ?
1983
Sir Waziri Oshomah & his Traditional Sound Makers
Madam Hassanah Waziri & her Velvet Voice Vol. 1 (LP; Shanu Olu [Lagos] SOS 156)
[A] My Luck / Anegbe
[B] Akhameze / Osomegbe
-- Gilbert Hsiao reports that there is no female voice on this LP. It is apparently a straight Waziri Oshomah recording.
1985
Sir Waziri Oshomah & his Traditional Sound Makers
Knock Out '86 (LP; Shanu Olu [Lagos] SOS 217)
[A] Agbo-Oshiomare / Era-Iyo-Joe Agbedo
[B] Omonolegba - Chief Arona Osumah / Okpa - Eva Doherty Agbi
1986
Sir Waziri Oshomah & his Traditional Sound Makers
Message to My People (LP; Shanu Olu [Lagos] SOS 227)
[A] Alhaji M. S. Umoru Special / Ayegebere Late Madam Christiana Orbih
[B] Ukponosom Esq. J. Q. Sadoh / Alhaji M. S. Umoru / Aloaye B. J. Sedi / Alhassan Oyerhekhu
1980s ?
Alhaji Waziri Oshomah & his Traditional Sound Organization
Oyoyo (The Best) (LP; Sonnidisk [Lagos] SDR 017)
[A] Eno Gbomhe (Chief Abdu Mahe Adamu) / Oyoyo (John Degoh)
[B] Ayegbere (Albert Leeogie) / Ekperi Abuke
1990s?
Alhaji Sir Waziri Oshomah and His Oyoyo Sound International
Patience (Oyoyo Series III)
(Cassette; Sonnidisk [Lagos] SDC 176)
[A] Ivienagbo Oyoyo Three / Omo Nonyanya Krees Imodibie
[B] Amiema Wamiegue: Hakuri / Oghena Kemhise-Oyoyo Reggae
-- This discography was compiled, in collaboration with Toshiya Endo, by John Beadleat P.O. Box 100174, Milwaukee, WI 53210 USA.
For weblog, visit (http://likembe.blogspot.com/), and
E-mail to John Beadle
Special thanks to: Peter T. Agabi, Dr. George K. Oyakhire, Gilbert Hsiao..
Last updated on May 30, 2005
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