IKOM: We can reliably inform that a gold plated statue, erected in memory of foremost Cross River-born highlife great, Prince Nico Mbarga, has been knocked down by an unidentified vehicle in Ikom, CR central.
Ray Ugba Morphy, who financed the statue project, took to his Facebook wall to show pictures and announce to the world that: “A reckless driver just ran into the Prince Nico Statue that I had installed at Ikom. Thank God, the damage is minimal! It will be up and fixed shortly though the Sculptor is very busy, he assures me he will get it fixed in a few weeks!”
Located at Border Road, Ikom, the statue was put together as a memorial to Mbarga whose ‘Panco’ music style birthed the massive award winning hit song, “Sweet Mother”, recorded with his Rocafil Jazz Band. Rendered in Pidgin English, the song became and is still one of the highest selling songs out of Nigeria, selling more than 13 million copies since its release in 1974. The song, dedicated to his mother, praises the tireless care mothers shower on their children, away from the largely unsuccessful romantic songs the Mbarga sang before this smash hit.
While authorities in the area were reluctant to inform www.calitown.com of any plans to rebuild or properly position this enigma’s statue, Morphy, it appears has the onerous task of putting it back.
Mbarga was born on January 1, 1950, had an active music career from 1970 until he died on June 24, 1997, after he was involved in a motorcycle accident in Calabar. He was reportedly rushing to catch up a visa for a music tour of 50 states in the U.S.