Nigeria:
His exhibitions in Kano virtually cast a spell on the imagination of people from various social backwounds who fervently yearned to see perform. This is he he came into acquaintance with many dignitaries includ-ing Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu who was a lieutenant-colonel in Nigerian army, at that time sta-tioned in Kano. Chief Ojukwu, who admired him for his discipline, h.ardwork and dedication which largely accounted for his fascinating physical fitness, later became 'ais friend - that friendship persisted till today.
1961, he started a nation-wide tour which took him to Onitsha, Eniigu, Aba, Pc art 1 larcourt, Lagos, .Jos and Kaduna. 1 Ie thrilled large crowas in city after city and established himself as the king of musclemen. 1 remem-ber myself going to Rex Cinema Hall at Aba to witness his exploits. At the end of the show all his kinsmen from Neni were so amazecl at what they saw that they could not offer an explanation to the Mystery of his transforma-tion into a superman. As is usual with companies anxious to promote their product by associating themselves closely with successful sportsmen, Nigerian Bottling Company got interested inhim and sponsored most of his public. shows. When his fame got established, he started getting challengers. His encounter with lron Power of Ghana at Palace Hotel, Kaduna, on March 3, 1966 was memorable. The New Nigerian of 19th March, 1966 reported that iron Power was no match for Power Mike in the weight-lifting contest. Power Mike scored 9 points while Iron Power scored 2½. On more than six occasions, the Ghanaian surrendered to the Nigerian but however, in the tug-of-war event, the two gymnasts scored even. At the end of the show, Power Mike looked very fresh and received an enduring ovation from the spectators.
Ghana
In 1964, Power Mike sold his ,motorcycle to get money for his trip to Ghana. His performances there were a tremendous success. Thousands of People
massed the stadia and halls in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi to see him perform, initially, he planned to stay for three weeks but had extend the trip to four months.
In his press conferences, he discussed many issue: source of his Power, his dream for Ghana and Africa and his future plans as a weightlifter, as stated Earlier, he explained to journalists that his Powera Ms had a divine and not a Satanic origin. As a dreamer for African greatness, he vowed to bring honour to Africa through .weightliffing. He promised to help train out talented Ghanaians for major international competitions in weightlifting. As for his future, he stated that he had plans to go to U.S.A to get further training in weightlifting under Joe Weider who had trained out famous weightlifters. He paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Si' Agyeman Prempeh II of Kumasi at his Mailhyia Palace. On holding discussions with him, the traditional ruler commented on his muscles: "Your muscles are as strong as stone". COTE D'IVOIRE He was mobbed by fans at Abidjan after his show at the Cultural Centre of Treichville. The hall was filled up at 7 p.m. before the projected time of 9 p.m. In two hours - which the spectators wanted to be extended - he displayed over 20 items of incredible feats. The spectators were in particular stunned to see him pull 40-strong men in a tug-of-war; carry 12 bags of cement on his chest; and. ,carry a bag of cement with his teeth while hoisting four men on his shoulders. Nobody was able to claim the sum of 50,000 F which brought out to give anyone able to perform any of the feats.
He defeated Mangua Yao Marcus, the Black Hercules of Cote D'Ivoire in a contest, as well as Piston -Rifler who was not able to carry 12 bags of cement on his belly. The press referred to him as the champion of champions, the black Hercules and the Samson of Africa. Out of popular demand, he toured several parts of the country: Bouake, Katiola, Abenguru, Yamoussokro, Dimbokro, Daloa and Gagnoa.
Senegal
In the advertisement for some of his shows in Senegal, he was presented as carrying a bag of cement with his teeth while at the same time carrying two bicycles, one in each hand. The poster for the Dakar show was equally dramatic:
Power Mike's Show is Supernatural: Do Not Be Told!
No person stayed behind "to be told". In a dazzling display of wonders at lba Mar Diop Stadium in Dakar, 4th june, 1967, the spectators watched Power.
Mike in amazement carrying 12 bags of cement on his belly, carrying an engine block with his teeth, preventing two cars from moving, standing un- ruffled while 5 strong men were trying to stretch his arms, etc. And at the Wilford Stadium of St Louis, he consolidated his reputation by shattering the ambition of the three Senegalese giants - Cheikh N'Diaye Sy, Cheikh Makhou and Diaraf Diaw - to dethrone him as the strongest man of Africa. The historic competition took place on 9th July, 1967 under the chairmanship of the Mayor.
The Senegalese authorities could not resist the offer of giving him permission to go from school to school to do the displays. The future generation has to edify itself with such spectacles. It is unfortunate that such opportunities are no longer existent in contemporary distressed Africa.
Europe
In 1967, accompanied by his friend, Engr. Onyeso, the Igwe of Nri, he left for Europe. He touched such places as Las Palmas, Barcelona, Madrid and Marseilles before landing in London. He also visited other parts of Europe: Greece, Yugoslavia, Germany and Sweden. However, emphasis will be laid on his stay in Britain, Sweden and Greece because the major events touching on his career happened in those places.
Great Britain
On disembarking at Heathrow airport in London, his travel documents including the passport were withheld by the immigration officials. A full account of his subsequent stay in Britian will centre around his experiences in the famous David Frost Television show in London, his encounters with the Home Office which is incharge of the British Immigration services, his interaction with the British public and his celebrated encounter with Peter O'Brien, the British record holder in dead lift and all-England power champion.
A. David Frost Show:
Power Mike's fame in Europe was so phenomenal that he had to be invited by the famous TV commentator, David Frost, in his popular show which was usually watched by mil- lions of viewers. He had a contract with the Televi- sion to appear in the show for three months.
During the show, he stunned the British public by defeating hefty men in tug-of-war contest, blowing out a hot water bottle to a bursting point, breaking a 6-inch nail with his bare hands, and above all, stopping two cars from moving. He became an instant celebrity in Britain. Many people were curi- ous to know him. The Liverpool Echo, for instance, put one of his photographs in the paper and commented enthusiastically on it:
This pocket Hercules, flexing his muscles to admiring look from bystanders is Power Mike who is only 5ft 8in. tall and weighs 121⁄2 stone, yet can perform extraordinary feats of strength (February 14, 1968)
But the Home Office sent him a shocker by telling him to leave Britain.
B. Immigration Problems with the Home Office:
Initially, the Home Office gave him permission to stay for one month pending the possibility of his stay being extended. He had to surrender his passport to the office. However, on learning through the David Show that he had got a job, the Office gave ultimatum to leave. Britain by January 14, 1968.
The action stirred up a row, since many people would like to see more of the displays of his strength. The Daily Mirror of London alluded to the case while commenting on Power Mike's picture prominently displayed in the paper:
Many newspapers pleaded for the abrogation of the order so that Power Mike could stay in Britain until the civil war in Nigeria was over. Power Mike who had only £200 with him was upset: "I do not want to stay permanently. I just want some more time to show people my powers." (Daily Mirror, London, January 3, 1968). Fortunately, through the interven- tion of well-wishers, among whom was Mr. Ted Ansel, Liverpool's overseas welfare officer, and the writing of a letter to the office by his lawyer, the decision was rescinded and a permanent resident visa given to him to enable him to stay till April 14, 1968.
C. Reception by the Public:
His reception by the generality of the Britons was hilarious. This may surprise some people because of the pervading presence of racism in Europe. But it has to be remembered that in extraordinary circumstances when racial bigots are held spellbound by the intimidating exploits of highly skilled Blacks, as in the case of Mohammed Ali, racial prejudice retreats to the background. bus mcg on to ou
The press reported his activities with elation and the public responded very positively. The London Magazine of 20th June, 1968, for instance, published his picture and commented in glowing terms on his E achievements, probably in anticipation of the show that he would be putting up at 11 p.m. that day at No.3 Princess Road, Moss Side, London:
Here he is having a breakfast lifting a bag of cement in his teeth, and hoisting -blind another on his shoulder, one-handed. For lunch he might gobble the wheels of that tractor (p.28).
Then in a tone of exhortation, it addresses the Britons:
So arise, men of Britain, to the challenge of this 5ft 8in, 121⁄2 stone Hercules (p.28).
In a peculiar situation, Power Mike carried 3 boys while at the same time comfortably carrying a bag of cement with his teeth. One of the boys felt so thrilled with the experience that he was impelled to blow a balloon.
Even women tried to engage him in a tug-of-war contest. They probably hoped to make history by succeeding where men had failed. One would have wished that Power Mike had given them the oppor- tunity to win. But this would have exposed him to the charge of male chauvinism, for this would have tantamounted to treating them as members of the weaker sex. In the spirit of fairplay, he applied the rules of the game and the women crumbled to defeat.
In addition, it was reported that the members of the British Actors' Equity Association were so mes- merized by Power Mike's performances during a TV show in London that they boisterously filled out a card of membership for him and sent it to him inviting him to become a member of their association.
It is also important to mention that he was given an opportunity in London to undergo for the first time "a course in power training and muscle build- ing" (Evening Times, March 24, 1974, p.24).
D. Battle for Supremacy with Peter O'Brien:
As has already been stated, Peter O'Brien was the British dead lift record holder and all-England power champion. When he heard of Power Mike's exploits, he wanted to prove to his compatriots that Power Mike, who was on a European tour as the strongest man of Africa, could not extend his zone of influence to Britain. He therefore threw a challenge to Power Mike and boasted that he would beat him. Power Mike accepted the challenge and said that he "would give up the power game if O'Brien beat him" (London Press Report, February 14, 1969).
The contest took place at Camden Town Hall, Euston Road on 9th February, 1969 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The judges consisted of well-known interna- tional sportsmen including the former heavy-weight boxing champion, Joe Louis, and Mr. T.M. Killop, the Physical Director of the London Central Y.M.C.A. O'Brien did his training in Stoke Newington.
As part of his preparation for the match, Power Mike had some training in a building site. There he subjected 4 hefty workers to a tug-of-war contest while carrying a bag of cement with his teeth and hoisting another one on his shoulder. As the London Evening Standard reported the incident, it's nothing to Power Mike, a 28-year- old Biafran, who is on a world tour to prove his claim to the title of Africa's strongest man (February 11, 1969).
After a long, gruesome encounter with O'Brien, Power Mike emerged the decisive winner. He called for more challengers: "I'd love to have another contest, but I haven't found a challenger yet" (Lon- don Press Report, February 14, 1969). The reporter of the London Press Report reacted to the challenge by saying that:
As Power Mike has already beaten op-leg oponents in France, West Germany, ot ins Greece, Spain and Yugoslavia, and now the English champion, too, it looks like
that challenger will be hard to find. (February 14, 1969).
Power Mike took the opportunity to reiterate the point that the gift was from God.
Sweden:
After staying for a few months in Britain, he got a one-year contract job to do displays in the famous Swedish gymnasium centre, Lapari Circus. As was stated earlier, the person who was sent to welcome him did not believe that Power Mike was the awaited hero because of his size. It was only after his first performance at the centre that he convinced every- body that he was not an impostor. When the contract offer was extended to another one year, he refused to accept it because he had other countries to visit.
Greece:
Since his stay in Greece had more bearing on his career as a wrestler, it will be discussed in next article.
In the early seventies, he visited Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia. His hypnotizing performances in the groan and grunt game and gallantry in wrestling made him an instantaneous folk hero in the region. He became the focus of attention of many dignitaries including President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, President Idi Amin of Uganda and President Jomo Kenyatta óf Kenya. Since we are focusing on his activities as a superman, it is necessary to limit our presentation to Zambia and Tanzania where the performances took an over- whelming significance.
Zambia:
He landed in Lusaka in 1970 with the hope of touring East Africa for three months. He was virtually mobbed by enthusiastic fans after holding his audi- ences spellbound in his performances in such places as Woodlands Stadium, Lusaka; Buchi Stadium in Kitwe; and Dag Hammarakjoeld Stadium. He was even invited by Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, the President, to put up a special show for him in the State House during the Easter period. He often unobstrusively took a stroll in his safari suit down Cairo Road in Lusaka, looking completely different from what he used to be when dressed up in his "leather and python strongman outfit".
On arrival at the international airport, he an- nounced his intentions to the journalists and the public by throwing a challenge to any person in the country who could withstand him in a show of strength or wrestling. He proudly and confidently
declared:
Now that I am here I would like to put be on a show in the biggest stadium so that everybody can see me holding back two cars being driven from me.
He put his honour in line by saying that he would retire from the game if anybody succeeded in outclassing him in any aspect of the encounter. When some doubting Thomases among the journalists wanted him to give a demonstration of his strength, he picked up one of them like a feather and tossed him up in the air much to the admiration of everybody.tv band
The show at Woodlands Stadium, which was watched by over 2,000 spectators, was unique. To avoid any possibility of trickery and also to encour- age the success of the show, Central African Motors Limited of Lusaka provided the two new brand Volkswagen 1500 cars that were held to a standstill by Power Mike, as well as the two drivers Peter Sharman and Chris Nahon who were among the Zambia's entries to March's East African Safari (Zambia Mail, March 9, 1970, p. 13). The stunning performance elicited a thunderous ovation from the audience. He lifted four heavy men with little difficulty: Willy Kaoma (250 Ibs), Frank Katulwende (205 Ibs), Aram Mulenga (190 Ibs) and Lemmy Mulenga (182 Ibs). Another highlight of the show was his invitation to the Zambian weightlifters to come out and enter into a competition with him. "He easily lifted up a 900 x 20 Ib tyre and carried it around the stadium first on his back and then on his head"
(Zambia Mail, March 9, 1970). One of the challeng- ers, Aram Mulenga could not lift it beyond his head, and another, Phillip Thompson beyond his chest.
The exploits at Buchi Stadium in Kitwe were equally spectacular. Among the highlights was his carrying a hefty man on his shoulder while using the other hand to destabilize three other heavy men in a tug-of-war. Then the reporter of The Miner (April 17, 1970) tells us of another event: "When he overturned a bus-size tyre with his foot and then lifted it with his hand while running, the fans were completely overwhelmed with the prowess of Power Mike".
The Head of State invited him to his residence to entertain him and his friends during his rest period for the Easter celebrations. Power Mike displayed eight items among which were two types of tug-of- war with soldiers who, as everybody knows, are usually in top physical form. Nineteen soldiers and a volunteer from the audience formed two teams of 10 people each. As Mike stayed in the middle serving as the link, each one tried without success to move him. The reporter then joyously declared: "The men finally fell down, breaking a chair in the process". In another event, he carried a soldier who held him tight around his shoulder and at the same time engaged in a tug-of-war with four others who, of course, lost the contest. President Kaunda, who loved home movies, cheerfully filmed the scenes himself.
Two rivals gave wide publicity to their intention to defeat him in a contest but failed to live up to their words. The first was Joseph Kovacs, the European heavyweight wrestling champion who boasted on March 5, 1970, that he would "remove that word "Power" from his name so that he just remains Mike" but failed to turn up to redeem his words during Power Mike's displays at the Woodlands Stadium. The other was Guy Viltard (a wrestler born in Cote d'Ivoire) who flew into Zambia and intimidatingly asserted that "If Power Mike can pull two Volkswagen cars I can pull two 5-ton lorries" (Zambia Mail, May 014, 1970). He never pulled any.
Tanzania:
When he arrived in Dar-es-Salaam on Monday, June 24, 1970, he gave a press conference inviting any person living in Tanzania to come for a test of strength. As cited by the reporter Stephen Rweikza;
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I have not seen anybody much in my strength both in Africa and Europe and I have decided to visit Tanzania, a 'friendly country' where I would prob- ably get one.
bacHe later presented shows in many places includ- ing a 22-hour performance at the Diamond Jubilee Hall, Dar-es-Salaam. The performance attracted a crowd of over 2,000 people who did not hide their astonishment at the incredible feats they saw Power Mike perform. The highlight was the carrying of 12 bags of cement. According to Charles Rajabu who reported the incident, "the 12 bags of cement were piled high on his chest and Mike did not flinch for about two minutes with the 600 kilo-weight load on his chest!"
Dr. Marks Koutralianos, the Hercules of Greece, shied away from meeting Power Mike in spite of his boasts. He had earlier proclaimed from the house tops that he could "pull back with his teeth four big cars unlike Power Mike who holds back two Volkswagen cars being driven away from him" (The Nationalist, July 10, 1970).
He added that he had got many certificates and diplomas. Power Mike ac- cepted the challenge by depositing the sum of f5,000 in the TANU office for Dr. Marks to pick up if he kept his word to compete with him. Dr. Marks later declined to enter into the battlefield because, as he said, Power Mike had no certificates, diplomas and an honorary degree like himself. Mike then called him a coward and declared:
I am a professional and thus have no diplomas to produce. All I know is that I have proved I am the strongest. And that is my diploma. (The Standard, July 11, 1970).
Dr. Marks Koutralianos' certificates, diplomas and the honorary degree were of no use to him in his ambition to dethrone Power Mike.
It is clear that Power Mike was the strongest man in Africa who succeeded in ruling the world. In Nigeria, he had no rival. During his tour of Africa
Niger, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Gabon, Dahomey (Benin), Togo, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia - no strongman competed effectively with him. In Europe - Spain, France, Britain, Sweden, Greece, Yugoslavia, Germany and U.S.A. - all challengers acknowledged his supremacy.
He successfully built on the achievements of his predecessor Killwee Nwachukwu (who also toured some parts of Africa and Europe) because of his wider exposure to training facilities and less proclivity to running a large family (Killwee had more than eight wives and forty- three children). He profusely enjoyed the sport and carried his fame with poise. There is no disputing the fact that:
His four mortar legs pounded the earth: Wherever they treaded, The grass was forbidden to be there.
Source: ThrowbackTimes.com.ng
