The Story Of Ikoli Harcourt Whyte - The Man That Gave The World Famous Igbo Hymns
Ikoli Harcourt Whyte popularly known as Harcourt Whyte was a composer best remembered for his classic hymn "Atula egwu".
He was born in Abonnema in the old Niger Delta region in 1905 from the . He was named Ikoli as a baby by his parents Munabo and Odibo.
In 1919, he was diagnosed with leprosy after symptoms were first noticed in 1918. In the early 1920s, he was sent to Port Harcourt General Hospital where he developed his talent in music and went on to form a vocalist band with forty other lepers.
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In 1932, he was transferred to Uzuakoli Leprosy Hospital, Bende Division, Eastern Nigeria where he met doctor-reverend-musician T.F. Davey from England. Whyte was encouraged by Davey, who took him on village survey tours to collect various traditional sounds.
In 1949, after 34 years of ill health, Whyte was finally cured and discharged by Davey as "clean". Whyte dedicated much of his life to the betterment and education of lepers who suffered the same illness as he once did.
His works attracted wide interest and were popular throughout the Igboland, eventually earning him the title of "Father of Igbo church music".
His career saw him compose over 600 hymns and compositions in the Igbo language.
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The life of Harcourt Whyte was depicted and some of his hymns were sampled in a 1985 stage play titled "Hopes of the Living Dead" by Ola Rotimi.
"Otuto Nke Chukwu" as performed by Harcourt Whyte was sampled in "Champion of the World" in Everyday Life by Coldplay.
During the Civil War, Whyte's songs were popular as a source of courage and hope.He died in a Motor accident in 1977.
Above is the Picture of Whyte and wife.
