Obiajula Ugbomah and Mark Ugbomah
Recorded
June 3, 2023
Archived
June 3, 2023
46:52 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
ddf000630
Description
Mark Ugbomah (34) asks his father, Obiajula Ugbomah (58), about his childhood, migrating to the United States, and finding home and belonging in music and important interpersonal relationships.Subject Log / Time Code
Obiajula (O) shares his experience of growing up in England and the various family members that went in and out of his life in his early years.
O shares that his mother was in a mentally unstable state, which led him to meet his "second mother", Jenny.
O talks more about Jenny, who volunteered her time to take care of him and take him on trips.
O and his brother get placed in a foster home and they call Jenny to "come get us."
O almost commits suicide at 7. He finds comfort through food. Recalls memory of Jenny drinking bottles of wine and throwing the corks into the bath for him to play with.
O talks about going to a boarding school he loved, where he did dance, violin, and theater.
On Christmas of 1973, O's grandma comes to his school and demands to see him and takes them away to NY.
Jenny flies to NY, and his grandma hides kids in closet. O kept thinking she would come back every year, but she didn't, but she would always send birthday presents.
O finds comfort and peace in music. Starts playing Jamaican and dancehall music and in 1984 releases his first record.
His second record get attention and he recalls his first live show.
O shares how he sees his grandma and Jenny nowadays.
Participants share their love and thanks for each other.
[Track 2] O shares that he handled all funeral proceedings upon Jenny's death.
Participants
- Obiajula Ugbomah
- Mark Ugbomah