Our Family Relies On Royalty For Survival—Oliver De Coque’s Son, Safin

The Nigerian music industry was thrown into mourning mood in 2008 following the death of a veteran musician, Oliver De Coque. The heavily bearded guitarist reportedly died of cardiac arrest at a private hospital. His death shocked many, who were never expecting such.

Oliver De Coque won the hearts of many music lovers with his scintillating performances and songs in his lifetime. His high-life music was loved by the older generations that cut across the Igbo and Yoruba tribes.

The Anambra State-born music icon played a major role by playing music for Biafran soldiers during the civil war of 1967 to 1970. It will be recalled that the corpse of the mother of the musician was still in the mortuary, when he died in 2008. She had died few days before his death and Oliver De Coque was planning to bury the old woman in the house he was building then before he died suddenly.

In an interview with Nigeriafilms, a son of the late musician, Safin De Coque disclosed that the family has been enjoying royalties from the albums of his late dad.

“I felt the pain when he first died, but I have learnt to move on and I am glad that he left some things on ground to sustain the family,” Safin said when asked how he felt when his father died.

When further asked to explain what he meant by ‘some things’ his father left behind, the bearded rapper said, “the royalties from the sales of his albums, and what we get from his properties and many other things he left behind.” He also said, “I also appreciate his good friends, who still call the family to know how we are fairing.”

The young De Coque said that he will soon remix one of the songs of his late dad and he hopes this would bring back the memories of his father. He informed us that his own style of rap music has a fusion of highlife, which appeals to lovers of both genres of music.