Monrovia – The National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NCCEL) has honored popular Nigerian musical star Chinedu Izuchukwu Okoli, alias Flavor Nabania for his promotion of African culture and tradition through music.
Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh – [email protected]
At a well decorated event held at the head office of the Liberia Crusaders for Peace in Monrovia Monday, March 21, the chiefs said the honore was in recognition of Flavor’s immense contributions to Africa through music and for the promotion and respect for African culture and tradition.
Presenting the certificate and traditional gown on behalf of NCCEL’s National Chairman, Chief Zanzan Karwor, the Vice Chairman, Momo Kiazulu thanked Flavor for building a cultural tide with Liberia through their Traditional Queen Juli Endee.
He recounted that Nigeria has always stood by Liberia in times of crisis and the presence of Nigeria Peace keeping troupe in Liberia was a testament of the cordial relationship between the two countries.
“When our traditional queen told us that you were here, we were very happy to receive you. Liberians and Nigerians are the same people. When we were in our struggle, Nigeria was the first to come here and they continue to be here. And you the son of that soil when you are here, we thought it wise to give you a special welcome,” Chief Kiazolu said.
Chiefs and elders at the program included Momo Kiazulu, Boakai Zoulu, Peter Baloun, Chief Garsua, Chairlady Setta F. Saah and Musu Coleman.
In response, Flavor thanked the chiefs, elders and Madam Endee for the honor bestowed on him
“I want to say a very big thank you to everybody for how you people love me; I just want you to know that I am an ordinary person like you. “
“I am just a musician, but we are a blessing to each other’s lives. Seeing you people and seeing everything, I don’t know what to say,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Liberia’s Culture Ambassador, Juli Endee praised Flavor for the warm reception accorded her when she visited Nigeria.
She added that he was not only a musician, but also an icon of peace and humanity.
Revealing how Flavor was featured in her single ‘Atulaylay’, Endee explained that she had gone to Nigeria to meet MasterKraft (Flavor’s Producer) to produce her song, Atulaylay, and wanted to feature a Nigerian musician, and base on the genre, MasterKraft suggested that Flavor would be the ideal artist.
The Nigerian musical icon arrived in Liberia few days ago and thrilled his fans with his musical talent at the John Gbessay Beach in Marshall, Margibi County. Hundreds of Liberians queued to witness the Nigerian musician performing live.
A star was discovered
Meanwhile, a star was discovered at the honoring ceremony.
Semah, Weiful, a talented visually impaired nine year old boy, left Flavor and his hosts in awe after he sang some of the Nigerian star’s songs.
Introducing little Weifur to Flavor, Ambassador Endee explained that he met him at the Christian Association of the Blind (CAB) Resource Center and he told her that her that he wished to meet the Nigerian musical star one day.
Following his performance, Weifur thanked Ambassador Endee for making his dream come true.
“I am excited and I want to thank Aunty Juli Endee for making my wish come true; to see a Nigeria star that I been wishing to see today.
Thank you Aunty Juli for making me to see my star Flavor Nabania Chenidu Okoli,” he averred.
Flavour later shared photos and video of his heartrending encounter with little Weifur on Instagram.
The father of two wrote, “I made a new friend, Semah G. Weifur. He’s blind and sang my songs better than me.”