“It was precisely 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 18, 2014, when Mr. Ignatius Maurice Udoh, a.k.a. Rasman Maxwell Udoh, joined his ancestors and those who went before him ‘to heaven’. It was still as a puzzle and an unbelievable tales.”

These were part of the touchy words of tribute to the departed reggae music star, Rasman Maxwell Udoh, of the “Daka No Mi” fame, by his brother, Dr. Cletus Udoh.

The weather was gloomy, even as wailing rent the air. Uncontrollable tears flooded the eyes of virtually all the sympathisers who thronged his compound at Ikot Idaha, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, to confirm the unpalatable news of the passage of a man of forthright views and manners, beauty in character and in heart and handsome in personality, international reggae musician of high repute, a prominent voice and a voice of the voiceless.

Maxwell Udoh, while alive, preferred being left alone singing to defend the defenceless, but he was put out of circulation by the protracted sickness that eventually resulted in his death. He had fought gallantly as a man and as a spirit-filled Christian to survive. Unfortunately, however, all the assistance of his brothers, sisters, nephews, wife and medical personnel to save his life proved abortive. “Though painful, one could only say that his sickness had finally found a cure, for death is the final cure of all diseases,” his brother, Dr. Cletus Udoh, stated.

Ignatius Maurice Udoh was born on August 29, 1959 into James Okon Nyong’s family of Efi North Itam in Akwa Ibom State. Due to what was described as “unprintable family circumstances,” Chief Maurice Udoh’s family (grandparents) of Ikot Idaha, Ibiono Ibom, took up the responsibility to nurture him and, to the glory of God, he survived. His mother was late Iquo Maurice Udoh of Ikot Idaha, who died few days after his birth. He never opened his eyes to see his late mother, but was only told who and how his late mother was by his grand-pa who nick-named him ‘Eteka’, meaning ‘Father of his mother’, and took care of him from the cradle.

Rasman Maxwell Udoh was educated at St. Peter’s Primary School, Ikot Ambang, Ibiono Ibom, and obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) after the civil war in 1973 and thereafter enrolled for his secondary school education at the famous Methodist Boys High School, Oron, which he completed in 1980. It was here that Rasman Maxwell Udoh stopped his academic pursuit and went to train as a professional reggae musician under the tutelage of his uncle, Patrick Peter Udoh of The Doves Rock Band.

After The Doves Band rocked into oblivion, the promising Maxwell Udoh chanelled his creative energies into a solo career. He was now living in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, and became a good entertainment writer, writing songs and there formed Rasman Maxwell Udoh and His Masses Militia Band, where he was to come into reckoning as one of Nigeria’s most successful impresarios, first with the hit album ‘Forward Ever, Backward Never’. The monster hit was a huge route to his greatness and this exposed him globally and gained him several musical awards. He was popularly elected as chairman, Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Abia State Chapter. It is also worthy to state here that Rasman Maxwell Udoh, was the first African to sing ‘Reggae Music’.

Some of his other hits include ‘Justice and Freedom’, ‘I Cry for the Masses’, ‘Child Abuse’, ‘My Destiny’, and the vernacular ‘Daka No Mi’.In all, he had nine albums to his credit.

Rasman Maxwell Udoh was the musician of musicians whose life and works positively affected millions of people across the globe. Arrangements have been concluded for his brial in Ikot Idaha, Ibiono Ibom, with an unprecedented crowd expected to throng the serene community of Ikot Idaha Ibiono Primary School field. According to his family source, the mourning house would be opened today, Saturday, June 27, to Sunday, June 28, 2015 for visits by friends, professional colleagues, churches, villages and other well wishers. There would be a legends concert and celebrity night of songs on Monday, June 29, at Ikot Idaha Primary School field, Ibiono Ibom LGA.

Interment follows on Tuesday, June 30, after a funeral service by Christ True Gospel Mission at the same Primary School field, Ikot Idaha Ibiono, by 10 a.m.

The farewell greetings to the departed reggae music maestro are: “Adieu Legend, Mobiliser, Stabiliser, Man of Excellence, and May Your Gently Soul Rest in Perfect Peace.”

•Effiong Udousoroh is the Uyo Correspondent of News Express.Photo shows late reggae star Rasman Maxwell Udoh.

Update news