27/10/2022
I LOVE THIS LEGEND - MAZI PERICOMO OKOYE:
Rev. Fr. Abel Ezenwa Wrote.
As I was growing up, I was hearing a lot of wonderful tales about this legend from Arondizuogu Na Iheme. What really captured my fancy about him was his music, njima dance group, etc. When I eventually became a priest, I was posted to Arondizuogu to work as a Parish Priest. I felt happy that I would meet the man on regular basis. However, I discovered that he lived at the other side of Arondizuogu called "Ofe Imo". As time went on, I was nurturing the idea of visiting him at his family house to interact with and interview him, at least. That opportunity never came.
One day, as I drove out from my Parish House, St. Philip's Parish, Ndiakeme-Uno, Arondizuogu in the company of an Arondizuogu man, we were driving towards Obinetiti. Rain was drizzling, and lo, there was a hefty looking man with his umbrella standing beside his Volvo Car, making calls. The man with me in the car said: "Why is Mazi Pericomo standing under the rain at this time? " Though we had bye-passed him a little, but once I heard him mention the name - "Pericomo" I got excited and asked him if he was the Pericomo I used to hear about, and he said 'yes'. I immediately revised my car, drove very close to where he was standing. Immediately he saw me, he beamed with smile and greeted me: "Good morning, Father!" I responded back, "Good morning, Mazi" and we shook hands. I then asked him, "Mazi, this one you are standing under the rain beside your car, is your car having problems". He said "yes" that his car broke down but he had put a call across to his Mechanic who was already on the way coming to meet him. I then said okay, bade him farewell and we continued our journey. I felt happy that day having met him one-on-one. Such a simple and happy man. I made up my mind from then to pay him a courtesy visit at his homestead but circumstances did not allow it to be realized. That's just my little encounter with him.
Mazi Pericomo was a social crusader. His traditional music was replete with messages of natural wisdom, social justice, equity, brotherhood, and the likes. There are so many of them: "EZE, EBINA IKPE N'OTU OLU" (King, Never Pass A Judgement On Hearing From One Side), "IZU KA MMA NA NNE JI" (There Is Nothing Sweeter Than Brotherhood), etc. Analyzing those his music albums you see pure inspiration at work. He had really scribbled his name on the sands of time; leaving a lasting legacy for posterity. His fame has indeed put the name of Arondizuogu on the world map. In other words, the name, "PERICOMO" has become synonymous with "ARONDIZUOGU". He lives on! We have many uncanonized saints in Igboland.
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Desmond CeeJay Nnadozie
Fenfe Pericoma
