Posted by By SEGUN AJIBOYE on
For Tony One Week, coming out alive from the Federal Polytechnic, Okoh, Anambra State, was an act of God.
For Tony One Week, coming out alive from the Federal Polytechnic, Okoh, Anambra State, was an act of God.
This is because not only was he a member of the Black Axe Confraternity, but also because there was so much violence in the school.
One-Week, whose real name is Tony Nuonagor, explained to Sunday Sun in an exclusive interview that "at Okoh, there was so much violence.
But I thank God that I survived it. I am a living testimony of what God can do in somebody's life. As you see me, I've been humbled by life."
Though he would not agree with the term, secret cult, preferring to call the groups fraternities, Tony would however confess that he was indeed a prominent member of the Neo Black Movement a.k.a. Black Axe.
In the organisation, he rose to become the leader of the movement in the entire East Central zone.
Insisting he never killed anybody whilst still in the confraternity, he disclosed that he joined the movement out of curiosity.
"We were the people that joined out of curiosity. It came through Edo State. But don't forget that anything that enters the East, we would always overdo it.
It came into Awka, then Okoh. I was the first zonal head for the East Central zone. I was at no time a victim of any fight during my student days. I believe it was because God knows my heart that I was always for peace. That was why I was neither shot at nor had a head broken.
"They are not secret cults, they are fraternities and associations. A cult is like the Ogboni and other secret groups. But those groups on campuses are only doing things together. If you fight one of them, you would have to fight all of them. But the unfortunate thing is the youths of today don't know the limit of fighting. In their bid to outdo one another, they bring guns and other weapons."
To those who knew the young Tony, it was no surprise that he became a member of the Black Axe confraternity. As early as when he was in the primary school, he had displayed the traits of a man that would be daring.
On how he took on the name One-Week, he disclosed that it was as a result of the troubles he gave his mates and teachers.
The teacher, overwhelmed by the young boy's troubles, did not search long before he gave him the name after the book, One Week, One Trouble.
But all that is now history. The only link he still has with the past is probably the name. His entire life has taken a huge departure from the past to give his life a new meaning. Tony is today better known for his musical career, which he disclosed started at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.
He came to Lagos in the early 90s in search of a job. He ended up doing everything and anything that was available, from acting, directing and production.
His life took a turn for the best when he witnessed the payment of royalties to a gospel artiste. Out of curiosity, he asked for permission to produce an album. That album, released in 1998, became a household song, thus began his rise to stardom.
He has gone on to release three more albums since then. Today, he makes more money from shows where he performs as MC, stand-up comedian or musician. In the last couple of years, Tony has been involved in all the shows put together by the Nigerian Breweries PLC, making him one of the most consistent artistes on their bill.
Asked to comment on the botched 50-Cent concert, Tony, who was one of the artistes billed to perform, replied "I feel very bad about this thing Idris did during the 50 Cent show. None of us was on the poster. It was 50 Cent that the people came to watch. Even if none of us was there, the stadium would still have been filled."
Tony has however put that disappointment behind him. He disclosed to Sunday Sun that he has been signed on by a European based music promoter to perform across Europe during the festive period.
The trip, which began few days to Christmas, would see him perform in Germany, Italy and Holland before returning to Nigeria in the middle of the year.