A Tribute to Bongos Ikwue – A Living Legend.

In 2008, a moment came into my life that I will always carry with me. I had just won a music competition. It was a big one, at least to me. I was young, full of fire, and figuring out what it meant to chase a dream. That kind of win gives you a rush, the feeling that doors are beginning to open, that something big might be just around the corner. Around that time, my uncle, Reverend Tim Addah, made a quiet but powerful decision. He introduced me to Bongos Ikwue.

We were in Otukpo, in Benue State. I remember the mood of that day so clearly. The stillness of the town, the significance in the air, even if I didn’t fully grasp it yet. I knew I was meeting someone important, but I didn’t yet understand the weight of it. Bongos Ikwue wasn’t just a respected musician. He was, and still is, a giant in Nigerian music. A true pioneer. A man whose voice helped shape the sound of a generation.

But what struck me most about meeting him wasn’t his reputation. It was his presence. Bongos Ikwue welcomed me with warmth and ease. There was no performance, no ego, just a kind, grounded man with wisdom in his words. I still remember one thing he said clearly. He encouraged me to finish school. At the time, I was riding high on the momentum of the competition, full of ambition and big plans, but those words landed with clarity. He wasn’t giving me a lecture. He was reminding me of something deeper. That no matter how bright things look in the moment, your foundation matters. That education gives you something nothing else can take away.

Those words have stayed with me, long after I stopped pursuing music as a career. I wouldn’t say I’m on a musical path anymore, not in the professional sense. But that musical path brought me here. It introduced me to people like Bongos Ikwue. It opened doors that shaped who I am today. It was never wasted time. It was part of my becoming.

Over the years, my respect for Bongos Ikwue has only grown. The more I’ve listened, the more I’ve understood what makes his music so enduring. His songs are simple in the best way. Honest, soulful, full of life. Tracks like “Still Searching” and “What’s Gonna Be Gonna Be” speak to experiences that don’t expire. They speak to being human. He doesn’t try to sound like anyone else. He never did. His blend of folk, country, soul, and Nigerian roots is completely his own. You hear it and you know it’s him.

There’s something so rare about that kind of originality. In a world that often rewards imitation, Bongos Ikwue has always been himself. He didn’t follow trends. He didn’t chase charts. He just created from a place of truth. And the truth lasts.

What also stands out to me is the way he’s carried himself over time. With grace, with dignity, and with consistency. He never relied on scandal or noise to stay relevant. His legacy was built on something much deeper. Integrity, craft, and a genuine connection to people. Watching him now, whether in an old performance or in a quiet conversation, I still feel the same sense of calm strength I felt back in Otukpo.

That meeting wasn’t a turning point in the dramatic sense, but it planted something in me. It showed me what longevity looks like. What it means to have purpose beyond popularity. What it means to carry something meaningful with you through life, whether you’re standing on a stage or not.

I’m also deeply grateful to my uncle, Reverend Tim Addah, for that introduction. He didn’t have to arrange it. But he did because he saw something I didn’t yet see. He knew the value of that encounter. He knew what it meant to be exposed to legacy, not just success but soul. I miss him, and I hope he knew even then how much that moment meant to me.

Bongos Ikwue is still here. Still inspiring. Still creating, still reminding us that music can be deep and powerful without being complicated. That you can have impact without shouting. That you can remain true to yourself and still be heard around the world. He is one of the greats. And we are lucky to have him.