Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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MBARGA, Prince Nico

(b Nicholas Mbarga, '50, Abakaliki, Nigeria; d 24 June '97) Singer, composer, guitarist, bandleader. Camerounian father and Nigerian mother; grew up in Cross River State among the Etura. He first mastered the traditional wooden xylophone, then played in high school bands; the family fled to Cameroon during the Nigerian civil war '69; he played in a hotel band called the Melody Orchestra, starting on congas, moving through trap drums, bass and rhythm guitar before settling on lead guitar. He returned to Nigeria '72 with other musicians and played panko (a combination of highlife, Congo and makossa) at the Plaza Hotel in Onitsha, having a hit single 'I No Go Marry Me Papa' '73; a series of singles failed to score until Prince Nico and his Rockafil Jazz released 'Sweet Mother' '76: sung in pidgin to enhance its appeal, it remained a best seller for more than two years and is still one of the best-known African pop songs. Albums of dance music were successful enough to pay for a hotel/night club in Onitsha and the Sweet Mother hotel in Calabar. LPs on the Rogers All Stars label incl. Sweet Mother and Free Education, also on Rounder USA; compilation Akie Special on CD. Four Camerounian members of his band were expelled from Nigeria '83 under a government policy of expulsion of aliens, stupid politicians yet again putting a crimp on a successful career.