The rural folks described Area Scatter as a man more beautiful than woman, 'Nwoke ka nwanyi nma'.
But it was what the locals said about Area Scatter that gave us the creeps.
In their view, Area Scatter was no ordinary person. He was from the rivers and his deities were water goddesses which he served in his room in Umuagwo.
We saw the house Area Scatter lived. It was a one line bungalow of four single rooms, with each door pointing outside. Area Scatter had the first room. His mother, Theresa Aguocha, lived opposite him. She returned to Umuagwo after having marital issues with her husband, Area Scatter's father. We saw his monsterous agaba mask and some of his musical instruments. We interviewed his nephew and some other people, the family and old folks and they all described him as a mysterious human being, full of myth and magic but human such as never been experienced before and now.
They told us his real name, Festus Ugwuanya Amadi. He was a former Biafran soldier who used his music to fight wars. He had lots of women and children, indeed and his cross dressing was for musical effect. He died in 1983. He mentored several musicians and lived in Port Harcourt , Aba, Lagos and Owerri. He performed at the National Theatre.
Area Scatter learned mechanic and driving at Aba. He prepared his own musical equipment. But Mbakwe also bought a lot of instruments for him later.
Area Scatter was a philanthropist. He attended the local Holy Rosary Elementary School and was trained by his uncle.
Area Scatter used to buy expensive clothes and jewelry for his costuming. His uncle supported his early musical career by buying for him a music box . He had more than eighteen suits. He played at almost all Igbo palaces. One of his extended uncles, the late Chief Amos Ohagwa was his sponsor. He introduced him to his benefactors. Sadly, many of his relations did not support Area Scatter's music career at early stage.
Area Scatter was more into live performance. One of his women, as he didn't really marry any of them, was Eziobo, mother of Chidi she bore for Area Scatter. Oliva was another of his women. Bright was another of his son. His mother was from Owa Mama. Rose was from Ihiagwa. One of his musicians, Sachimo was alive at Nkarahia in Mgbirishi. Mgbirishi is Area Scatter's paternal village in Ohaji too.
Area Scatter was a masquerader, a male dancer and head of the masquerade troupe. He narrated his life in his songs.
His maternal uncle was priest of the shrine that stared at us there.
Area Scatter was a priest of sorts also Very religious, he practiced divination, kept his regular practices and collection of water deities. He used to behave like one possessed by the spirits. He could change into his female costumes and begin to play his music at one to two o'clock in the morning.
There were more of such revelations. But even after that, the family stories continued. More ugly details followed as we were referred to Area Scatter's real hometown where the father came from. In fact, that was where the story began. It's full of music, mysteries and ugly revelations.
Who really was Area Scatter? He wasn't what we thought he was, Sachimo told us.
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