Artist: Okpan Arhibo
Song: Ikenike Gbere
Genre: Urhobo Highlife Music
Language: Urhobo
“Ikenike Gbere” is one of the old songs associated with the legendary Urhobo musician Okpan Arhibo, a name that remains an important part of Urhobo traditional music.
Born Joseph Obererhiri Edjevwedje in 1947, Okpan Arhibo was from Agbarho in Ughelli North, Delta State. Before fully going into music, he worked as a driver with the Delta Steel Company in Ovwian Aladja. He later left the job to concentrate on music and went on to become one of the most recognised Urhobo traditional musicians.
Okpan Arhibo’s music was more than entertainment. He used his songs to talk about Urhobo culture, everyday life, morality, relationships, unity and the experiences of the people. Researchers have described him as an important cultural figure whose music helped preserve Urhobo traditions and identity.
His career became particularly prominent from the 1970s, and in the 1980s his Catch Fire album helped introduce another dimension to his sound. He brought some Western musical influences into his recordings while still keeping the Urhobo cultural elements that made his music recognisable.
Okpan Arhibo was also known for using the Urhobo language extensively in his songs, particularly the Agbarho dialect. His music carried stories, observations and traditional knowledge from one generation to another.
Although recordings such as “Ikenike Gbere” are difficult to find on today’s streaming platforms, preserving them is important because songs from that era form part of the musical history of Urhobo people.
Okpan Arhibo passed away in March 2022 at the age of 75, leaving behind a large body of traditional music and a legacy that continues to be discussed in studies of Urhobo culture and indigenous Nigerian music.
For people who grew up listening to old Urhobo music, songs like “Ikenike Gbere” are more than old recordings. They are pieces of a musical tradition that captured the language, stories and way of life of an earlier generation.
Listen to “Ikenike Gbere” using the audio player below and enjoy this old Urhobo classic from the legendary Okpan Arhibo.
