Google Doodle celebrates Nigerian guitarist Oliver De Coque

Doodles are periodic changes made to the official logo of the Google search engine’s homepage in commemoration of holidays and anniversaries and in honour of the lives of famous artists, scientists and pioneers.

“Today’s doodle, illustrated by Lagos-based guest artist @OhabTBJ, pays tribute to Nigerian musician Oliver De Coque on his 74th birthday,” Google said. "Crowned the ‘Highlife King of Africa’, he is widely revered as one of the continent's most prolific recording artists of all time.”

Lagos-based illustrator Ohab TBJ, who created the doodle, described working on the project as a “dream come true.” The image portrays De Coque, dressed in traditional regalia and playing the guitar, surrounded by a talking drum, vinyl and a microphone. 

“I illustrated a Google Doodle. It’s a doodle to commemorate the late Oliver De Coque, a Nigerian guitarist and one of Africa’s prolific recording artists, on his birthday today. This is one of my dream projects come true and I still can’t believe it,” Ohab TBJ said on Instagram.. 

Born Oliver Sunday Akanite, the revered musician began to play music at the age of 11 and learnt to play the guitar from Piccolo, a Congolese guitarist living in Nigeria. His music mentors included Sunny Agaga and Jacob Oluwole. 

De Coque’s debut collection Messiah Messiah was published in 1977 and until his death at 61 in 2008, he was credited with composing more than 90 albums. He is also widely regarded for popularising the ogene genre that blends modern highlife and traditional Igbo music. His most popular songs include ‘Biri Ka Mbiri’, ‘People’s Club of Nigeria’, ‘Identity’, ‘Nempi Social Club’, ‘Ana Enwe’ and ‘Nnukwu Mmanwu’, among others.

He was often backed by the Igede International Band, led by his brother Eugene. His sons Edu De Coque, Safin De Coque and Solar De Coque are also successful musicians.