14/10/2022
TONY ONEWEEK
THE KEGITE....
The Gyration Master.
The Life Senior Fellow of the Supremost Komuradium.
Tony Oneweek joined the Kegites club of Nigeria (Formerly known as the Palm wine drinkers club) aka Pammy at the then Anampoly Oko. The school branch was called Ilya Erosion Oko then. It was in 1986 after he was admitted to study for the Ordinary National Diploma in Mass Communication. Tony distinguished himself in the art of playing the Kegite drums and lead singing. He was an acclaimed "Drumito" and "Songito".
The story of Ilya Erosion cannot be told without mentioning the name of Tony Oneweek because himself and Dennis Onwuzulike Jr (Now Pastor Kosita Madu) were instrumental to the successful test of Kariability (TOK) of the baby Ilya Erosion at the World headquarters in the premises of the University of Ife before the chapter would be recognized and upgraded to a full Ilya that could crown Chiefs. Erosion was a baby Ilya before then. Tony and Junior literally gave Anampoly their "keg of office" (The authority to crown Chiefs).
On the same night in Ife, some chapters from the south east "rented" Tony and Junior to "songitize" and "drumitize" for them wearing their regalia and winning them their kegs of office. The first Chiefo of Ilya Erosion, the Late William Nwafor felorized (upgraded) Tony Oneweek inside a bus during a Migration (trip) to another Ilya in the south east. Tony was singing and playing the drum for over two hours nonstop and Chief Ashyna was so impressed that he raised his staff of office and pronounced Tony Oneweek a fellow even though he was still a student (a Comrad or Congo).
However, when it was clearly Tony Oneweek's turn to be crowned Chiefo of Ilya Erosion, Chief Ashyna's successor Chief Nero wanted to do otherwise for reasons best known to him but the gods truncated his every plan until that fateful night at Ilya Nkassu (the University of Nigeria Nsukka), when in the absence of Tony Oneweek who had moved on, the lot fell on someone he never imagined will be made Chiefo. The new Chiefo was named "Chief the Neutral" because he never imagined he will be a Chiefo.
Tony Oneweek had squarely faced his HND final year academic works, but was honored by Chief the Neutral when he was made the Chairman of the elders' council who selected Chief Neutral's successor. This appointment settled the matter as the late Felix Nwabueze was made Tony's Secretary in the council of elders., a clear testimony that Tony was superior in Kariability. Indeed "Neutral" was neutral.
Tony Oneweek then oversaw the most transparent test of Kariability in choosing a Chiefo for Ilya Erosion where the late Obiajulu Osadebe (the son of the legendary Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe) emerged and was crowned the fourth Chiefo of Ilya Erosion. Having concluded Youth service, working in Onitsha and running a Barbershop, Tony Oneweek was a rallying point of sorts to students of Oko poly who would gather at 12 Osuma street to pay homage. He was consulted and physically present in Oko when Obiajulu Osadebe chose and crowned Emeka Rollas Ejezie the fifth Chiefo of Ilya Erosion.
In the late 80s, Tony's Kariability and popularity in the south east states was unprecedented. Himself and "Junior" were college superstars who would hold a Gyration session for hours on end keeping the arena highly active and bubbling. Till date, Tony always acknowledges "Junior" as the real Master of Kegite Gyration. Tony learnt and sang many Yoruba songs because Junior spoke Yoruba language fluently and they were room mates. Till date, drum patterns created by Oneweek and Junior are still being played by drumitos in the Supreme Komuradium. Today, Tony's title of Gyration Master is still undisputed as he remains unstoppable, walking with God.
Culled from:
www.tonyoneweek.com
