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Bright Chimezie



Bright Chimezie (born 10 January 1960), also known as Okoro Junior, is an Nigerian Igbo highlife musician originally from Ekeoba, Ohuhu, Umuahia, Abia State of Nigeria. His type of music, popularly known as zigima, became widely available in Nigeria from the early 80s.

Chimezie started playing music as a member of his church choir, an interest that grew tremendously while he was a student at Eke Oba Community secondary school, Umuahia.
After secondary school, Bright established the Modernised Odumodu Cultural Dance Group which became so popular in the whole of Eastern Nigeria. The group specialised in story telling through music. In 1979, Bright disbanded the group and left home for Lagos where he played at several night clubs such as Phoenician Night Club, Gondola Club as well as Tee Mac Connection at Mama Koko Hotel, Ebute-Metta.

While working for the Nigerian Customs Authority (1980-1983), Bright was also busy shaping up his brand of music by producing demos. In 1984, he was informed that Rogers All Stars Recording Company was interested in traditional African music. He went to Onitsha to give them his demo. That was the birth of Respect Africa, the album that shot him into limelight.

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