By
Nze James Chinonyerem I count myself lucky to have come from a community with great values. I am, like my contemporaries, luckier to have seen great and inspiring people from our community Emii. Ndaa Basil Akalonu, Bazy Cole was among the great inspirers. He was from my village, Ubah Emii in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo state. He became an acclaimed global citizen through his artistry in music.
He was a neat man, in heart, spirit and mien. Ndaa Basil was a mover, singer, organizer and representative of our collective kindred spirit to do good, be good, nice, honest and dependable at all times.
Together with his peers in the musical group, Sweet Breeze, they composed and tendered melodious songs which stirred the spirit, inspired the despondent, restored hope, created affections, sustained relationships and opened great spaces for all people irrespective of class and creed to find relaxations and peace.
The song, “She’s My Choice” remains evergreen. It is a song that talks about love, celebrates genuine affections, deepens hope as well as a testament of love choice. The other songs followed in the same tradition.
Beyond music, Ndaa Basil was a pan Owerri man actively disposed to the developments of Owerri. He devoted time, talent and treasures to ensure the unity, peace and progress of Nde Owere.
He was also a good mixer who related seamlessly with the high, low, mighty, weak, rich and poor. He was a philosopher, designer, good dresser and bridge builder with a great sense of decorum.
Anyone who knew him would always attest to the simplicity of his character, the disarming touches of his robust conversations, depths of intellect, genuineness of spirit, resilience of drive, creativity of mind, effortlessness in acquaintances, infectious smiles and nobility of carriage. All of this defines the poetic chemistry of his personality.
Truly, he was a great gift to humanity with great artistic touches. Like David, with his harps, he played music to salvage tortured souls and restore the beauties of love, togetherness and progress of mankind. With his passage, humanity has lost a nice man, talented spirit, mobilizer, idea generator, jolly fellow and thinker. My condolences go to his wife, family, Chief Pal Akalonu(Ndaa Pal), Emii community, Nde Owere and indeed, lovers of nice people and art.
I join all men and women of goodwill to celebrate him and pray for God’s grace upon his soul.
In the words of William Shakespeare, I say to you Ndaa Bazy, “Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow”
