235:. In Enugu, Okosun found an opportunity in small roles where he participated in a few dramatic productions; he also worked with a notable Enugu drama studies teacher, professor John Okwerri. His participation in Okwerri's group and his determination to succeed in entertainment led him to be featured in some radio and TV skits with the
268:
was a meeting spot for artists and writers. It was there that Okosun began to develop an interest in music. Appearances at the
Eastern regional television station gained him notice from Mariam Okagbue, who bought him a guitar and encouraged him to continue working on music. In 1965, he was a
354:
He had his first break with the single "Help", which sold close to a hundred thousand copies in
Nigeria. The lineup of the Ozzidi band was headed by Okosun as lead vocalist, supported by three backup dancers, a trombone player, keyboardist, bass and trap drums.
219:. Okosun attended various training schools starting with St Brigid's School, Asata, Enugu before enrolling at a government trade centre in Enugu. He left the training centre before completing his studies. Excited by a career in entertainment, he traveled to
323:'s Maestros. Uwaifo, still riding on his hit, "Joromi", took his band to a tour in Japan and Europe. While, he was with Uwaifo, he honed his skills in musical composition by experimenting with a fusion of African and rock rhythms.
277:. As the winning group they represented Nigeria in the 1965 Commonwealth Arts Festival held in London. He used the opportunity to tour England attending concerts by the Rolling Stones, The Who, and
319:
had to flee the region and move to Lagos. In Lagos, he worked as a stagehand for a television station and jammed with a number of groups. In 1969, he found steady work as a second guitarist in
236:
331:
From 1972 to 1974, he led a band that was originally called
Paperback Limited but later regrouped as Ozzidi. Prior to regrouping as Ozzidi, he and some members of his group teamed with
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886:
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music. His 1977 song "Fire in Soweto" became a major international hit and his first gold album. He was featured on the anti-apartheid album
995:
269:
participant in a drama group that won the first prize at a competition, the group's winning play was a dramatic version of J. P. Clark's
687:
CJ, Eruchalu; BO, Ogbonna; CI, Okafor; C, Onodugo; JC, Ogbonna; O, Okpi; NR, Nnamani; S, Okezie; AC, Ani; CM, Agu (7 February 2024).
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area of Lagos. On forming Ozzidi, Okosun released several albums either with the band or as a solo artist. The albums included
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285:, an Eastern Nigeria Television variety show where he was able to showcase his guitar playing abilities.
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351:. His early Ozzidi sound combined the highlife roots of his Edo heritage with a touch of guitar riffs.
81:
689:"Predictors of Intern Pharmacists Job Satisfaction in Federal Teaching Hospitals in Southeast Nigeria"
1115:
449:
Hospital, Washington DC. He was buried at his residence on Yaya Abatan Street, Ogba, Lagos, Nigeria.
152:
musician, who was known as the leader of the Ozzidi band. He named his band Ozzidi after a renowned
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river god, but to Okosun the meaning was "there is a message". His surname is sometimes spelled
425:. In 1998, he started the House of Prayer Ministry, a Christian church located at Ogba area in
810:
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Music-records: Okosun blasts jive diskery for alleged South
African ties (4 September 1985).
589:
359:
745:
Trends in
African Popular Music: Socio-cultural Interactions and the Reggae Genre in Nigeria
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1095:
401:
His mainstream success started to fade in the late 1980s, but he continued his career as a
831:
Pareles, J. (13 May 1984). "WITH THE TRADITIONAL AND THE EXOTIC, AFRICA INVIGORATES POP".
8:
778:
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811:"Music Artistes and their Contribution to the Idea of Development in Africa, 1974–1987"
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As a young boy, Okosun spent his early childhood with his grandmother at Ibore, near
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164:. He was one of the leading Nigerian musicians from the late 1970s to mid-1980s.
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464:, and gospel, among others. He made music in a number of languages, including
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Towards the late 1970s, Okosun began to release a string of reggae infused
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996:"Remembering our musical icons: What would have become of them today!"
394:, was released in 1985 under the EMI label in Nigeria and licensed to
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Electric guitar, flute, saxophone, electric piano, percussion, vocals
64:
859:"Why I'm writing biography to honour Sunny Okosun— Charles, brother"
457:
228:
149:
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368:, and his song "Highlife" was on the soundtrack of the 1986 film
674:
Historical Trends of
Nigerian Indigenous and Contemporary Music
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to live with his parents, where his father worked with the
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and his group, the Koola
Lobitos, to play gigs in the
944:"Ozzidi Song… Eight years after Sonny Okosuns' exit"
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as a rhythm guitarist. The band played the music of
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386:He released his first American album in 1984 under
948:The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News
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616:"Remembering Sunny Okosun, the Ozziddi exponent"
378:, followed with a tour in some Nigerian cities.
676:. Lagos: Rothmed International. pp. 25–27.
281:. When he returned, Okosun joined the cast of
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637:
227:, he took drama lessons at a drama school in
970:"Sonny Okosun: a Pan-African Reggae Maestro"
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413:By 1993, Okosun had started moving towards
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421:, followed by another gospel piece tagged
311:, Okosun and his family who were from the
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231:but left after a few months returning to
1082:. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
594:. African Books Collective. p. 28.
405:under the name Evangelist Sonny Okosun.
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768:
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686:
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14:
1136:Deaths from cancer in Washington, D.C.
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902:"Music Icon, Sonny Okosun, Dies At 61"
809:Olumuyiwa, Okuseinde (December 2011).
652:
326:
223:to further his interest in acting. In
187:music. From 1977, he became known for
247:
148:(1 January 1947 – 24 May 2008) was a
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1051:"Okosuns, Sonny | Encyclopedia.com"
919:"Okosuns, Sonny | Encyclopedia.com"
587:
24:
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237:Eastern Nigeria Television Station
25:
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884:World Music Central, 28 May 2008
374:. He released another LP album,
1146:20th-century Nigerian musicians
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988:
962:
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911:
895:
877:
851:
838:
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417:, he released the gospel album
848:(Archive: 1905–2000), 320, 79.
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608:
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398:for international promotions.
13:
1:
1141:Deaths from colorectal cancer
747:. Xlibris. p. Chapter 5.
591:Highlife Music in West Africa
574:
436:
198:
29:Nigerian musician (1947–2008)
452:His musical styles included
390:. His next American record,
288:In 1966, he joined the band
252:Okwerri was a member of the
217:Nigerian Railway Corporation
7:
779:Discography of Sonny Okosun
743:Onwuegbuna, Ikenna (2015).
10:
1167:
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256:, the movement started by
211:. Thereafter, he moved to
82:Howard University Hospital
1106:Nigerian reggae musicians
974:African And Black History
672:Timothy, Asobele (2002).
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132:
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71:
51:
41:
34:
1151:Musicians from Edo State
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381:
889:15 October 2008 at the
705:10.52768/2993-1142/1114
441:Okosun died aged 61 of
1080:West African Pop Roots
648:Sonny Okosun obituary.
1126:Nigerian saxophonists
799:Collins 2002, p. 134.
760:Collins 2002, p. 137.
728:Collins 2002, p. 135.
1078:Collins, J. (1992).
1055:www.encyclopedia.com
923:www.encyclopedia.com
815:Thought and Practice
784:19 December 2012 at
307:At the onset of the
1111:Nigerian guitarists
588:Oti, Sonny (2009).
556:Africa Now Or Never
540:(Jive Afrika, 1983)
376:Power to the People
327:1970s: Ozzidi sound
160:and his first name
1121:Nigerian flautists
865:. 8 September 2019
833:The New York Times
538:Which Way Nigeria?
445:on 24 May 2008 at
248:1960s: Early years
167:Okosun's brand of
1131:Nigerian pianists
1022:"Fire in Soweto!"
1002:. 17 January 2013
601:978-978-8422-08-2
546:(Shanachie, 1984)
447:Howard University
392:Which Way Nigeria
388:Shanachie Records
169:African pop music
140:
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16:(Redirected from
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1116:Nigerian singers
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644:The Independent
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570:(Profile, 1991)
568:African Soldier
496:Ozzidi For Sale
486:
480:, and English.
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419:Songs of Praise
411:
403:gospel musician
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349:Ozzidi for Sale
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317:Eastern Nigeria
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171:, Ozzidi, is a
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1028:. 15 June 2010
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908:, 26 May 2008.
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622:. 10 July 2015
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371:Something Wild
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273:and Okwerri's
271:Song of a Goat
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193:Pan-Africanism
142:Musical artist
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79:(aged 61)
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62:1 January 1947
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315:and not from
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47:Sunny Okosuns
46:
43:Also known as
40:
33:
27:
19:
18:Sonny Okosuns
1079:
1058:. Retrieved
1054:
1030:. Retrieved
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1016:
1004:. Retrieved
999:
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978:. Retrieved
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952:. Retrieved
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926:. Retrieved
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867:. Retrieved
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624:. Retrieved
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562:Ozzidi/Ozone
561:
555:
549:
543:
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528:(NEMI, 1981)
525:
522:(NEMI, 1978)
519:
513:
507:
502:Living Music
501:
495:
489:
451:
443:colon cancer
440:
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415:gospel music
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396:Jive Records
391:
385:
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348:
345:Living Music
344:
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287:
283:Ukonu's Club
282:
274:
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266:Wole Soyinka
251:
202:
166:
161:
157:
146:Sonny Okosun
145:
144:
136:Ozzidi sound
124:Years active
101:gospel music
77:(2008-05-24)
36:Sonny Okosun
26:
1101:2008 deaths
1096:1947 births
821:(2): 49–73.
558:(HMV, 1986)
552:(HMV, 1985)
534:(OTI, 1982)
516:(OTI, 1978)
510:(NCC, 1977)
508:Papa's Land
504:(NCC, 1977)
484:Discography
431:Lagos state
302:the Beatles
290:the Postmen
275:Masquerades
262:J. P. Clark
128:1960s–2000s
75:24 May 2008
1090:Categories
906:Leadership
575:References
544:Liberation
437:Later life
258:Ulli Beier
254:Mbari Club
199:Early life
107:Occupation
58:1947-01-01
713:2993-1142
526:3rd World
520:Holy Wars
462:Afro-funk
309:civil war
209:Edo State
177:Afro-beat
173:synthesis
67:, Nigeria
65:Edo State
887:Archived
782:Archived
458:highlife
365:Sun City
360:Afro-pop
313:Mid-West
229:Surulere
150:Nigerian
110:Musician
93:Highlife
1073:Sources
1060:12 July
1032:12 July
1006:12 July
980:12 July
954:12 July
928:11 July
869:11 July
846:Variety
626:12 July
423:Revival
260:, with
158:Okosuns
711:
598:
564:(1989)
498:(1976)
492:(1976)
490:Ozzidi
474:Yoruba
454:reggae
341:Ozzidi
243:Career
191:about
181:reggae
133:Labels
97:reggae
89:Genres
699:(2).
478:Hausa
427:Ikeja
409:1990s
382:1980s
233:Enugu
225:Lagos
221:Lagos
213:Enugu
205:Irrua
162:Sunny
1062:2021
1034:2021
1008:2021
982:2021
956:2021
930:2021
871:2021
709:ISSN
628:2021
596:ISBN
470:Igbo
466:Esan
347:and
337:Yaba
333:Fela
300:and
264:and
185:funk
183:and
154:Ijaw
72:Died
52:Born
701:doi
207:in
175:of
1092::
1053:.
1042:^
1024:.
998:.
972:.
946:.
921:.
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691:.
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56:(
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