…And His Project For The Physically Challenged
Classical Soloist, Aloysius Theophilus Olumati Mbata has continued to dazzle opera music lovers wherever he performed. His mien disposition has often singled him out among contemporary gospel singers. But to the ‘matured mind’ and old school buffs who relish classical music, he is simply amazing.
Mbata is physically challenged and walks with difficulty because of an injured limb.
How he manages to switch pitches with minimal efforts, remain a wonder. And more puzzling is the joyful smile that radiates his face when he drops the microphone, after every successful performance.
Another spectacular thing about the singer is his mastery of Spanish, French and Italian words, as he often express them with precision and fluidity. It was later understood that these languages being the very foundation of classical music, is the oil that lubricates his singing ingenuity.
Mbata caught the attention of this reporter for the first time after delivering a solo performance at the ‘Day of Tribute’ staged at the Obi Wali Integrated Cultural Center, Port Harcourt on Saturday, June 19, 2021 in honour of late iconic legal practitioner, Sir B. M. Wifa. His star performance which was greeted with a rousing ovation from the crowd that almost lasted to eternity, got everyone entrapped.
No wonder that even the Head of Service of Rivers State government, Dr. Rufus Godwins, who represented Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike at the occasion could not hide his excitement. After requesting a standing ovation for Mbata, he busted in Spanish, ‘Gracias Y Que Dios Tebendiga’ meaning, ‘Thank you and may God bless you really good’.
Again, at Wifa’s burial in his home town, Kono, Khana Local Government Area on Saturday, June 26, 2021, Mbata was on hand to perform with the team of the Methodist Church of Nigeria which conducted the burial service at Community Secondary School, Kono.
And, as if Mbata’s ministration at Obi Wali Integrated Cultural Centre, Port Harcourt was not enough, he literally set the burial venue on fire, singing some popular secular and Christian secular songs. Some of the songs rendered were as old as 600 BC. Songs by famous composers like Mozart, Beethoven, Sebastian, Chopin and many more.
In an interview with National Network reporter, Mbata who said he began singing at the age of 7 in his Rukpokwu, Obio Akpor Local Government home, said his role models in classical music remain Luciano Pavarotti, Andre Bocelli and Placido Domingo.
How did he get to speaking the predominant classical music languages of Italian, Spanish and French?
“I give all the glory to God Almighty. Traditionally, I speak Ikwerre, Igbo and English. But the other ones that enhance my kind of music, I learnt through rigorous studying and practicals. I have also been following some Italian, French and Spanish singers over time. As I grew, I discovered I could study their words, learn their pronunciations and I kick-started from there, and here we are today”, he revealed.
On the acquisition of the kind of voice which has distinguished him from the rest of his peers, Mbata had this to say: “I tend to watch most of the things I eat. I always test my voice before going on stage to know the capacity and volume that the voice can carry in a particular song.
“I select the kind of voice to sing on stage and the kind of voice that would fit the songs I would sing. But above, all I do regular voice exercise and watch what I eat”, he said.
Mbata, whose musical theme is ‘Believe You Can’, advised the youths to believe and have confidence on themselves. They should shun whatever negativity that is fueled by the current social, economic and political crisis being experienced in the country today.
“It is believed that the youths are the leaders of tomorrow, but ironically, the youths find themselves in various parts of the country doing demeaning things. The youths should rather engage themselves in productive ventures. They should try to discover their talents on time. It is never too late to discover your talent”, he declared.
Mbata said he is putting efforts to leave an enduring legacy for posterity. One of such moves, according to him, is a classical music charity concert which he organizes regularly for the benefit of the physically challenged in Port Harcourt and its environs.
“In these concerts, I also feature upcoming singers. My 2015 concert was done for the physically challenged while my 2019 concert was done for the motherless and the homeless. I am looking forward to doing another concert to support the elderly. And, in each of these concerts, I try to raise classical artists. In each concert, you see a new person singing”, he said.
