The damage Chief Micheal Udegbi’s songs did to the psychology of some Igbo youths is going to take a long time and efforts to repair.
He became popular at a period when there’s a massive traditional revolution and advocacy of returning to Odinani, especially among the youths folks. His songs became the soundtrack of every young Igbo youth, especially those aspiring to be wealthy without seeing the necessity of putting the hardwork.
He propagates “Igwo Ogwu” & “Ibute Ike” without creating a distinction between which is right and wrong.
Every youth admires his style of eulogy and wishes to be wealthy to be eulogized that way.
His songs, though enjoyed by many, is the opposite of the style of music made by so many renowned old Igbo musicians that focuses on moral, advice & principle.
In 2023, he promoted ogwu through his track “Ndi Ogwu Ego”, two years after, sensing the negative influence of that track, he quickly replaced it with “Nso bu ogwu” which gives a better advice than the first track.
Today, we randomly see how young folks engage in different kind of r!tuaļs just to “bute ike”. Some of these people were influenced by what they heard, saw or experienced.
We need reorientation!
