The Real Story Behind Oliver De Coque’s Short Life

 

Chief Dr. Oliver Sunday Akanite was widely known as Oliver De Coque. He was a Nigerian highlife musician and guitarist who released over 50 albums during a career spanning more than 40 years. This made him one of Africa’s most famous highlife icons. Oliver and his band, the ‘Ogene Sound Super of Africa,’ fused modern highlife with traditional Igbo music.

He fathered 12 children—seven boys and five girls—and they all enjoyed his company. Darlington Akanite, one of his sons, recalls, “It was wonderful. My siblings and I didn’t see him as a star. He was a caring, friendly, and loving father to us.”

Growing up, Oliver was called ‘The Game Master’ because of his skill at the game Draft. In Igbo, Draft is ‘Okwe.’ People started to call him ‘Oliver Di ka Okwe,’ which means ‘Oliver like Okwe.’ He later shortened it to ‘Oliver De Coque,’ adopting a more French-sounding name.

HIS STYLE AND LOOK

Oliver loved fashion and spent a lot on keeping up his appearance. He spent about 30,000 naira weekly on his beard, totaling 120,000 naira each month. He visited his barber twice weekly and always said his beard was his signature style. He believed maintaining a beard was part of personal pride.

HIS ILLNESS AND DEATH

At the end of 2007, Oliver became seriously ill. He had diabetes and high blood pressure. Many artists don’t usually share health problems openly. His son feels that if Oliver had spoken about his sickness, he could have gotten faster help. Darlington says his father was sick for three months. He recovered in February 2008 and resumed performing. He planned to go to the US for a check-up on July 2, but he died on June 20.

Darlington believes his father sensed he was near death. On that day, Oliver chose to stay indoors and told Darlington to stay with him. After breakfast, Oliver started to feel unwell. He canceled his plans for the day. Darlington didn’t think it was serious. He only wanted to comfort his father while taking a shower. Then he said he wanted to visit friends but his father begged him to stay. Darlington thought he was just missing out on fun, so he reluctantly remained.

While he was with his father, Oliver shared stories about his life and career. Suddenly, he gasped for air and complained about breathing problems. Oliver decided he needed help immediately. On the way to the hospital, he told the driver to turn up the air conditioning because he felt hot. Darlington’s fear grew when his father started shouting, ‘Wheelbarrow! Wheelbarrow! Darlington, bring a wheelbarrow!’

After his death, Darlington realised he meant a wheelchair, not a wheelbarrow. Darlington believes his father might have been losing feeling in his body and becoming unconscious. Oliver was rushed into emergency care, but nothing could save him.

He grasped Darlington’s hand tightly as he took his last breath. His son closed his father’s eyes and kissed his forehead. Darlington was left feeling very confused and overwhelmed by everything that had happened.