Bille Musical Association to establish a musical academy in Port Harcourt — Engr. Kari

Every career has affiliation with music, in this interview with Ihuoma Okoronkwo Amaike, Engr. Itelema Sydney Kari, President of Bille Musical Association x-rays the importance of music in our daily lives. In doing that, he unfolds some negotiable options to uphold the Bille old musical tradition. Excerpts:

What can you tell us about the people of Bille and their music tradition?

Bille Kingdom in Rivers State is known for singing, musical performance and accompaniment i.e we sing, play the organ instrument as well as other musical instruments professionally and as extracurricular activity.

The love for music by the Bille people cannot be overemphasized as many of us play particularly the organ instrument and sing varieties of hymns, anthems and classical pieces. In fact, there is no family in Bille that you cannot find an organist, as well as a good singer.

Presently, we are on the move to diversify our music culture to playing of other viable musical instruments like violin, viola, cello, drums, guitar, clarinet, flute etc. Find time and attend any of our events:- singing competitions, service of songs, rehearsals etc most especially in Bille, Degema Local Government Area in Rivers State, you will see the finger embellishment and the mesmerising tonality skills with which the Billes are endowed with.

We are so blessed with it and as we go on with our daily lives, we acknowledge that we have a tradition and obligation to teach the coming generation, that which we are known for to enable them carry on for posterity sake.

You have been an organist and a member of the Bille Musical Association, as the incumbent president, how many sons and daughters of Bille play musical instruments?

Like I just said, there is no family in Bille that you cannot find an organist, instrumentalist and a singer. That means that the number of Bille sons and daughters who play musical instruments are still on the increase both at home and Diaspora. I am sure that we have not had the privilege to do a head count as to ascertain the accurate figure as an association aside our registered members.

Playing of organ instrument in Bille started as far back as 1901 by Chief Albert O. Sibi of blessed memory who studied from a theological school and came back with the organ instrument to Bille. At the Theological College, Chief Sibi did not only learn how to play the instrument, he also learnt the rudiments which enabled him to play and teach works from many authors and composers of music.

He taught people like Fred Alagba, Elder George Inengi Benjamin, Elder Okpara and Elder Friday Bruce all of blessed memory. They did their best to train another generation of organists who did not relent to train the set of organists we have presently in Bille of course, the census continues with the introduction of new ideas and practices with which to treasure our heritage with the upcoming generation.

Let’s not forget in a hurry that it takes a good choirmaster and organist/ accompanist to nurture a good singing choir, with time some choristers become handy to teach their fellow choristers leading us to the stage of having a formidable choir of good standard which is as good as many can see.  Most importantly, also to buttress my point, the Amanyanabo of Bille Kingdom HRM I.N.C. Herbert (Jike Xviii) is also a renowned organist; you can make your findings.

Some persons come into different careers or life opportunities through mentorship or apprenticeship. What are your associations plan to mentor up-and-coming scholars and how do you sustain the old Bille music tradition in recent times? 

Forming a musical association was the very first step we took and as we speak, the association in their wisdom and practices organises seminars, workshops and mentorship programme for our members, the general public and the good people of Bille. We meet every month to chart new ways and even welcome new members with fresh ideas from far and wide.

For the purposes of sustainability and continuity, the association has embarked on a project to establish a musical academy at No 185 Victoria Street, Port Harcourt for Bille sons and daughters and the general public who wish to be trained on some areas of music available from the academy. There is a proposal for a plan B where a branch of the academy will be established in Bille by the second quarter of the year 2022. With these ideas running, the association deems it fit to sustain the music tradition of the good people of Bille Kingdom in Rivers State.

How would you react to a scenario where some students were given the opportunity to study music but declined?

Universities and other tertiary institutions make provisions for admission based on candidates’ choice of study. There are first and second choices these days hence offer of admission to candidates are made from the courses they applied for.

Any student who had the opportunity of studying music in the tertiary institution but declined is ignorant of the fact that there are prospects in the profession. Music is a very viable and productive venture, having affiliations to very many professions, so to speak.

Upon graduation, music goes as far as engaging its degree holders with the opportunities to become lecturers, some offer scholarship to post graduate students for further degrees and good positions in the theatre and movie industry. Most Nigerian owned states and federal universities as we speak are making relevant adjustments, requesting from the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) to be granted the privilege of having a music department attached to the faculty of humanities because of some fringe benefits the music department always come with.

Parents should guide the thoughts of their children when it has to do with choosing a career jealously and zealously, lest some mistakes we make today might turn out to be regret tomorrow though we don’t pray for that. A student who was offered the opportunity to study music and he or she turns down the offer displays a higher level of negligence and gross ineptitude as far as I am concerned.

No Bille son can do that in recent times because most families jointly sponsor their children to study let alone to study music. If such a student was born in Bille, posterity will not forgive the fellow.

What would you advise the government of rivers state through the Ministry of Youths and Empowerment to do so as to harness the musical talents of the Billes, as well as the entire Rivers State?

My candid advice to the government of Rivers State through the Ministry of Youths and Empowerment is to partner or collaborate with Non-Governmental Organisations within and outside the state, humanitarian agencies, corporate bodies, individuals and associations like the Bille Musical Association and organise empowerment programmes in the form of mentorship for music students in the tertiary institutions, church organists, choirmasters and music lovers.

We need the assistance of philanthropists to organise seminars and workshops for our members, a lot of churches in Rivers state and beyond do not have church organists and this frustrates every singing activity in some churches so to speak.

The use of pipe organ in the cathedrals is almost suffocating as most cathedrals cannot afford to buy or maintain one without the help from external bodies or even the government. Some organists play only the electronic keyboard and are yet to advance their knowledge and skills towards playing the pipe organ.

There are lots of things to do and we are really pleading for support as well as assistance in the areas we can to empower more musically inclined youths of Bille and the general public. This you can attest will engage many youths out there and hence will help to reduce the existing cases of cultism, drug addiction and other forms of juvenile delinquency.

Are you satisfied with the level of support the association receives from individual members, and what else do you request from the general public?

Sincerely speaking, the level of support the association receives from our existing members has never been enough in all the areas we project for advancement. We cannot alone raise the funds needed for procurement of musical instrument for the music academy we are embarking on. These instruments are not produced in Nigeria and you can agree with me that the academy is capital intensive.  No wonder most institutions lack one or two things needed even as they receive funds from government to run the music department.

I am using this medium to make a fervent appeal to kind hearted individuals, lovers of music and the Rivers State Government to come to our aid, support us financially, morally and otherwise to achieve this objective.

We are looking forward to see the music academy we set to embark on being an annexed musical centre for the music departments of University of Port Harcourt and that of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education all in Rivers State, if His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom Wike comes to our aid with funds and other necessary inputs from the Rivers State government.