Sonny Okosun
Biography
Sonny Okosun, born January 7 1947 in Enugu, Enugu State, was a Nigerian musician who pioneered a powerful fusion of African rock and Afrobeat he called Ozzidi music. He began his career in the early 1970s, drawing inspiration from his Urhobo heritage and incorporating elements of highlife, reggae, and funk into a sound that was unmistakably Nigerian yet globally resonant. His music carried deep pan-African and politically conscious messages that made him a cultural spokesperson for African independence and liberation. Okosun released a series of influential albums including Highlife (1973), Help (1976), and Fire in Soweto (1978), the latter of which became an anthem of the anti-apartheid movement. His 1979 recording Which Way Nigeria was a prescient commentary on the country's political direction and became one of the best-selling Nigerian albums of that era. He performed at major international festivals and toured widely in Europe, the United States, and across Africa, building a substantial global following. In his later years Okosun became a born-again Christian and redirected his musical talent toward gospel, recording several praised spiritual albums. He was celebrated by the Nigerian government with multiple honours, including the National Merit Award. Sonny Okosun passed away on May 24 2008 in Lagos after a prolonged illness. His recordings remain touchstones of the politically charged African music of the 1970s and 1980s, and his legacy as a voice for African dignity and liberation continues to be honoured.
