The Meteoric Rise of A Passionate Warri Boy: The Sammie Okposo Story

Sammie with his son Fejiro

Do you know that the biggest stars live the shortest lives?

Stars are born, live, and die. This process is called the "life cycle of a star". Most of the time a star shines, it is in a stage of its life cycle called the main sequence. How long it stays in the main sequence phase depends on how much mass the star has. Very big stars have a lot of mass to use as nuclear fuel to make it glow. However, they use that fuel at a very big rate. So, even though they are big, they live the shortest lives.

On the 30th of May 1971, there was celebration at the Okposos'. All roads led to Point Road, Apapa-Lagos, Nigeria. The labor had been tough as the umblical cord was wrapped twice around Baby Sammie's neck. To the glory of God, he was born hale and hearty. From that time, Sammie became his Mom's favorite and she was his prayer warrior. Her baby boy defied all odds right from the womb.

Samuel, whose name means “heard of God,” was dedicated to God by his parents . His father hailed from Ivori-Irri in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State while his mother was from Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Like the boy Samuel in the bible , Mama Sammie had made a vow before God. She recited Hannah's prayer

"And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” Samuel 1:11 (ESV)

The family moved to Warri and attended Gospel Church of Christ. It was there that his love and gift for music were discovered.

His passion for music dictated all his decisions even at an early age. He had a pervasive preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control.

His Sunday school leader at that time, Uncle Eddy, noticed he was always drawn to the performing arts in church. Sammie was always first to signify interest in been part of poem recitation , drama presentations and playing the konga. On his ninth birthday, Uncle Eddy bought him a piano as a present. Sammie was fascinated that he had an ear for notes and music. He was consumed by that instrument. By the age of ten, he was ministering in church.

His passion for music dictated all his decisions even at an early age. He had a pervasive preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control. The boy Sammie decided to be a musician and no one could talk him out of it. He attended Hussey College Warri, Unity School Agbarho and Stepforward Secondary School. His love for music affected his studies. If you were looking for Sammie at that time you will find him with his music teachers or at church rehearsals or at gigs.

Notable among his early music influencers are Fortune Otega and Olorogun Ochuko Arayki.

Industry Tribute

Fortune Otega

Fortune recalls " I taught him and his friends Music theory. Types of musical scales, intervals, chord construction, arpeggios, progressions, juxtaposing Tonic Solfa with musical alphabets. Advanced ear training with scales and arpeggios. Melodic phrasings, runs and riffs. How to cultivate and express music - precision, clarity, flow, less-is-more, etc. interaction of melody, harmony and rhythm. .

I supplied photocopies of many foundational music books - methods, techniques and transcriptions.

He had a quick mind, attentive and fearlessly experimental with musical ideas. He was very passionate with music. "

"In 2013, I watched him perform and it was such an elation to watch your student transform into a successful international act. Very fulfilling."

Sammie always said he learnt music the right way.

Olorogun Ochuko Arayki

Ochuko recalled that Sammie moved in with him to be around music to the chagrin of his parents. The Arayki Family House at 4 Eboh Street was Sammie's second home. Their relationship was bitter sweet. They did gigs together with the likes of Emma Grey. Sammie's playing skills were refined during their association.

Sammie determined in his teenage years that he had found his purpose in life and it was going to be music. He gave up pursuing a college degree (Accounting) after his A-levels and headed to Lagos to find his feet in the music industry. That move was not taken well by his family and true to his “stubborn” nature, he did not turn back.

There were times in Ajegunle where he first lived, that he wanted to return home to do the bidding of his father. Sammie recalls: "Somehow I persevered the hardship and with the help of Kingsley Ogoro of Klink Studios, I learnt digital music production."

The rest they say is history.

Fejiro hanging out at Zamar

Sammie said " But as I look back I am thankful that I am in Christ Jesus and I have committed to lending my voice and life to lift up the name of Jesus around that world. I am ever grateful to my loving heavenly Father that has all the days ordained for me written in His book before one of them came to be"

Sammie Okposo sacrificed everything (even some relationships) to become the music legend celebrated around the world today.

How can I say goodbye?

To be continued...

By Dr Uvoh Onoriobe
Editor, Real Relationships Magazine
editor@realrelationshipsmag.com