Nigeria, but particularly highlife music lovers all over Africa, lost one of her most glittering musical superstars with the reported death of Stephen Osita Osadebe in far away United States of America, last May 11, barely two months after he turned 71.

Nicknamed 'Doctor of Hypertension' because of the sedating, sonorous tone and flavour of his music, the Atani, Anambra State-born musician was one of the giants of that brand of Highlife music that devleoped in the dance halls and night clubs of Lagos before the civil war fractionalized and factionalized Nigerian music and the musicians who propelled them.

Discovering his musical gift as a young school leaver in Onitsha, Nigeria's commercial city, Osadebe had joined the likes of E.C. Arinze and trumpter Zeal Onyia, under whose feet young Osadebe learnt his craft in the 1950s.

By the time he had branched out on his own with the maiden track Adamma in 1958, the world knew that a new star was in the making.

Drawing from a gamut of musical traditions ranging from Calypso, Samba, bolero, rumba, jazz, waltz and native folk Igbo rythms of praise singing, the High Chief of Atani went on to achieve an iconic musical status along with other highlife greats like Rex Lawson, Janewari, Celestine Ukwu, Eddie Okonta, Victor Olaiya and Victor Uwaifo.

Non controversial and quiet living, Chief Osadebe in half a century of consistent toil went on to produce over 70 studio recordings of his music.

His music was not all praise-singing though. In mid-career he introduced satire, philosophical musings (Osondi Owendi, Makojo Anyi ga ebi, for example) into his compositions. By mid 70s, his music had achieved epic proportions among his fellow Igbo listeners. Age seemed to have matured his music so much so that between 1975 and 1984, he had become as much a recognised musician not just in the Eastern heartland and Nigeria but globally among Nigerians in diaspora.

Until his death, Osadebe wrote over 500 songs, more than half of them were released and circulated world-wide. By the time he died May 11, the Atani Chief had already achieved the status of doyen of the highlife music.

In 1995 at the age of 60, Osadebe had made his first tour of the United States and recorded the very successful Kedu America album whose contents rank among his most classical recordings.

Born in March 1936 in Atani, Ogbaru council area of Anambra State, Osadebe was largely a self-taught musician who learned from the practising masters of his time. His music though western influenced was essentially African in its cadence, originating philosophy and elemental expressions. He sang to praise, criticise, extol and condemn. But moreover, Osadebe sang for personal enjoyment and for the delight of those of his listeners whom he tried hard to move into swaying to the seductive rhythm and lyrics of his songs.

His most memorable recordings include Adamma (1950); Lagos Life Na so so Enjoyment (1962/3); United Nigeria/Okpaku Elieli (1962/63); Baby one pound No Balance (date unknown); Nulu Olu Anyi (1972); Agbala Aka Azo Ani (1980) Osondi Owendi (1985); Ndi Ochonganoko (1987); and many others.

As plans are on the way to lay this musical giant to rest in his Atani home, we join in wishing him a perfect rest and to advise the family he left behind that though physically departed, Chief Osita Stephen Osadebe (OON) will live forever in the minds of music lovers in Nigeria and beyond.

Indeed, one best way to guarantee his immortality is for the executors of his will to compile all his music into a box-set CDs. Like most elemental cultural icons, Osadebe's music which epitomizes the quintessence of highlife music that defined the West Coast of Africa may become extinct for lack of documentation. This will be a cultural tragedy that can be averted by the simple act of codifying and preserving the maestro's artistic productions.

Adieu Osita!