“Michael Jackson Lives in Me”

Michael Chikaria Eze, a.k.a Walko Chilko, dancer, musician and the late Michael Jackson’s look-alike

— Michael Chikaria Eze, a.k.a Walko Chilko, dancer, musician and the late Michael Jackson’s look-alike
By Osamudiamen Ogbonmwan
Just one look at Michael Chikaria Eze and one will be in no doubt that he is looking at an impeachable look-alike of the late American pop King, Michael Jackson. Eze, who also goes by the nickname Walko Chilko, and surprisingly walks like the late American idol, as you’d agree with us at the end of this interview, is a very interesting character who believes that he and Jackson are spiritual brothers.
Chilko who is 40 years old started his quest to be like Jackson when he was in his 20s. Back then in Orlu, Imo state where he hails from, he often hosted shows where he danced with a certain dexterity that could only be Jacksons, until he went to Benin city, the Edo state capital to join Felix Liberty’s band. Chilko, however, had to leave when he felt he couldn’t go on with the band. As a solo artiste, he became a professional dancer and released an album which didn’t do too well, relapsing to bask in the euphoria of looking like Jackson.
He confesses though that he and Jackson didn’t look alike until 1989 when Jackson had a major surgery to reconstruct his facial features. Little wonder, he said he will never blame Jackson for undergoing the surgery which gave him another personality.
“It made him unique,” he said. But he stated that he can never change his skin colour to be as white as Jackson’s was.
Eze said he can moonwalk perfectly because he invests a lot of time in training. The only thing he claimed he and Jackson are not identical with is food.
“I am trim naturally, but I eat well, unlike Micheal who hardly eats,” he said.
In this interview, Eze told us passionately that he and Jackson are spiritually linked, and that they still communicate, just as he introduced us to his new album entitled, “African Heroes,” with hit track, like Party the Night, which is now enjoying frequent air play.
Can we meet you?
My name is really Michael Eze, but I am popularly known as Walko Chilko. I am from Orlu in Imo State.
You look very much like the late American pop King, Michael Jackson, facially and in your dressing. Is it natural or you helped nature in becoming like him?
(Smiles) It’s really a natural thing. The facial resemblance is very natural but the clothes thing is a different thing alltogether. He is my idol and the greatest being I have ever admired. I really can’t tell you why we look alike, but I can say that the resemblance became so striking after his (Michael’s) surgery in 1989. He didn’t have a long face before, but after the surgery, he did and then we looked alike.
So, was that when you realised you wanted to be like him, I mean musically?
Actually, for years I had been wanting to be like him. I started dancing like him in the early 80’s. We only started looking alike after the surgery and when he did BAD. In the early 80’s, I was with Felix Libarty in Benin but I had to leave his band in Benin when I realised that I was more of a professional dancer. I had to face my calling.
By dancing you apparently mean mimicking Jackson?
Not really. But I realised that whatever I did always resembled that of Michael, especially in my mode of dressing. I never knew I was behaving like him.
But are you a musician, since you said you are more of a professional dancer? If yes, when did you go into music?
I am a musician and I went into the trade squarely in the early 90’s, but still I am also a professional dancer. Dancing came first because I remember back then that people hired me to dance at their occasions. I recorded an album in the early 90’s but it was not a success.
What kind of music do you play?
I play pure pop, just like Michael. I have an album now in the market entitled African Heros. I don’t think people will want me to play anything less, since I look this way.
I don’t think I’ll be accepted if I do. Last year, I had to go back to the studio after I welcomed Marlon Jackson to the country. I consulted some of the best music producers like Dan Jigi, Nelson Brown, Big Dan and OJB to produce the songs, and instantly it became an international hit. I mean the song, Party the Night. Meeting Marlon took me to another level entirely. I realised that I had to use the opportunity well. Since I look like a pop star like Micheal, I knew I had to do a song that is up to standard. A pure pop just like Dennis O and Chris Okotie used to because they were Nigeria’s only pop musicians. With my song out now, I think I have to break their records. Luckily, feedbacks that I am getting reveal that it is the biggest and greatest pop song ever played by a Nigerian, and it sounds foreign.
How did you receive the news of Jackson’s death?
He died on a Thursday but I didn’t know until on Friday morning when I switched on my phone. In an hour, I received about 27 calls. The first caller asked where I was and I told him I was at home. He said: “Sorry for the death of your brother,” and I asked which one? When he mentioned Michael Jackson, my phone fell from my hand. I picked it up, assembled it back together and then called the person back. I started crying. People kept calling me as I felt that the world had ended. I felt useless. I felt that was the end of me but I never knew it was the beginning of my success because it was right after this that the press came after me. The press never really knew about me, so definitely, Michael opened a door for me.
Did Michael know you existed before he died? Did you try getting in touch with him?
No. That was a very big mistake on my part. People had advised me to post my picture on net, but then I thought it to be very childish. But after his death, I saw that I was wrong. In the whole world, I don’t think there is any physical resemblance between Michael and any other person the way we have it. A few weeks ago, I was front page news of a London newspaper and when Marlon saw me, he felt he was seeing his brother. He promised to show me his brother’s resting place, but I don’t know when. Even if he doesn’t, I know music will take me there. I must go see his graveside because he meant so much to me. He was a spiritual brother. The world knew him, but I knew him more. People see me and think they are looking at Micheal. Michael and I are so close spiritually.
That means you still communicate with him spiritually?
Everything about Michael is me. Michael died on Thursday. On the Tuesday before that day, I dreamt that my mother died and I was crying, but then I woke up and realised it was a dream. Michael died two days later and I cried bitterly.
Michael lives in me. Everywhere I go, people shout, “Michael!” He is in me as I am in him. We are spiritually connected, not just physically. We are one, we are brothers and I love him so much.
How did you learn his dance steps?
That was a natural thing, I didn’t have to learn it. Michael had very unique dance steps which he carved from James Brown and modernised it. Well, let’s just say I got it from him naturally.
How do you maintain yourself, because we know that Michael spent a lot on himself, especially in costumes. How do you manage it?
He had the money and all his costumes were designed by a company. I have not gotten to that level yet. But I make designs of what I want and give it to a tailor to make for me. I manage.
When you started mimicking Michael, how did people receive it?
Some saw it as a child’s play while others called me names like “fake Michael Jackson”. All I know is that it was after his death that people started respecting me– the London paper that interviewed me paid me to snap my picture. This had happened on three occasions.
Did you make much money while dancing?
Well, you can’t compare dancing with someone who has an album, especially if he has a hit.
Don’t you think some people may not want to take you too seriously?
People liked Michael and if they see that you mimic him perfectly, they’ll respect you. To me, he was the greatest guy that ever lived in this world. People take me serious, not just because I look like him, but because I am a professional dancer. Soon, I will be going on an Eastern tour being sponsored by a promoter called Sunshine Entertainment. I have told the world that what Michael wanted to do in London before he died, I will do it here. I know that because no other artiste in Africa has the kind of strength I have and display on stage. Anything concerning Michael is my family business. No one knows him more than me.
Many women were in love with Michael back then, does such luck rub off on you too?
They come after me, but I believe that if you are pursuing a career, you don’t need women around mostly. Sexually, women are not advised for growth-sake. I don’t think I need a woman now until I get to where I am going.
What will you miss most about Michael?
His person. He had given so much. He died and the whole world wept. He died and opened the door for me. Now I am in a fix regarding who to thank: Michael or God? I am not saying his being alive blocked my way, but maybe that’s how God wants it.