CAPTAIN HOSA – HEAVEN’S GAIN
It was my sister, Angela Ebagua, who said, ‘Edgar you must meet Captain Hosa, na only him for the whole of Benin that can help you”. By this time, I had already heard the name several times. Uncle Soni Irabor had mentioned it, people at the Governor’s office had mentioned it. Even my brother Erico wey dey live near the Benin Moat had mentioned it and it dawned on me then I must catch Captain. I was preparing for my Play ‘Emotan’. It had just been announced the official Play of NAFEST but with no budget. The profile had gone up with the budget making my sponsorship drive much more tedious. And everywhere I went, they all said na Captain Hosa you need. Once he meet you the matter don finish. The man no dey joke with Bini Culture. My people, I pursue Capt Hosa with the help of my sister all to no avail. I met everybody around him, even his beautiful daughter but to see am face to face? Impossibility. But in all that chase, the man Hosa was revealed to me. People said some very good things about him. His love for his people, love for the common man, love for Edo State. Culture and arts. His TV station and his single-handed pursuit to revamp the cultural space. So you can see why his passing has not only caught my attention but has thrown the whole cultural and arts community into a dark gloom. A great man has passed. I still remember on one of my trips to Benin, Eric would drive me to his house and say, “See Captain house, if you can just meet am, everything don solve.” Sadly, I never got to meet him. We did a wonderful Show in Benin but I still continued the chase and still never got to see him till he passed. God keep him.