In 1990, Christian Ifeanyichukwu Alianina, the musician better known as Chris Hanen, asked God to take control in ‘Ozigizaga’, the standout track from his debut album, ‘Turning Point’.
Though the LP released by EMI had other tracks including ‘Mandela Song’, ‘Let’s go where the action is’, ‘Nwayo Nwayo’, ‘Love is good’ and ‘Everybody is one’, ‘Ozigizaga’ was the most popular. It earned the artist who had previously worked with the likes of Bright Chimezie, Tony Okoroji, Stella Monye, Onyeka Onwuenu and, Chris Mba plaudits. It also cemented his place in Nigeria’s music history as his sophomore album, ‘New Dawn’ wasn’t as popular as the debut.
Released at a time the country was in a state of flux, Hanen’s message in ‘Ozigizaga’ was simple: God should take control because he couldn’t understand what was happening.
“In Ozigizaga, I was complaining to God that I didn’t understand the situation of things. It was zig-zag. ‘Oh God, come and take control. You are the highest creator, and you are the only one that can help us out,” he told the late music journalist, Cletus Nwachukwu, in a 2005 interview.
We don’t know if God heeded his call or not concerning Nigeria’s situation until He took Hanen, singer, songwriter and performer on Tuesday, December 3, 2019.
From Ezhionum kingdom, Ukwani local council of Delta State, Hanen’s love for music started from childhood. It evolved until he became a recording artist. He participated in cultural dances, did acapella and later became a DJ. He started his apprenticeship by following musicians and playing for them before eventually releasing his albums.
His debut ‘Turning Point’ jointly produced with Sam Uquah (Jnr) sold a lot of copies and fetched the artist substantial money. The sophomore ‘New Dawn’ years after the first further opened doors for the artist who contended that it was a better production than the first.
“The technical approach of the second album was much better than the first one in terms of quality and production. I want to point out that the second album, ‘New Dawn,’ increased my popularity because it took me out of Nigeria to Ghana and some other places in the world.”
Sadly, that was the last album the singer who described his music as ‘African Dance Beat, with an element of reggae and highlife’ released as he focused on live shows within and outside the country. He featured in several gigs in his native Delta State including some by the Organisation For the Advancement Of Anioma Culture. He also managed some clubs until news of his passing broke on Tuesday.
