224:. 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
257:
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
343:
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.
208:. 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
312:'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.
266:. 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
308:
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
320:
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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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
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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
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676:
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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274:, an Eastern Nigeria Television variety show where he was able to showcase his guitar playing abilities.
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340:. His early Ozzidi sound combined the highlife roots of his Edo heritage with a touch of guitar riffs.
678:"Predictors of Intern Pharmacists Job Satisfaction in Federal Teaching Hospitals in Southeast Nigeria"
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Hospital, Washington DC. He was buried at his residence on Yaya Abatan Street, Ogba, Lagos, Nigeria.
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musician, who was known as the leader of the Ozzidi band. He named his band Ozzidi after a renowned
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872:
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river god, but to Okosun the meaning was "there is a message". His surname is sometimes spelled
414:. In 1998, he started the House of Prayer Ministry, a Christian church located at Ogba area in
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Music-records: Okosun blasts jive diskery for alleged South
African ties (4 September 1985).
578:
734:
Trends in
African Popular Music: Socio-cultural Interactions and the Reggae Genre in Nigeria
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353:
390:
His mainstream success started to fade in the late 1980s, but he continued his career as a
879:
820:
Pareles, J. (13 May 1984). "WITH THE TRADITIONAL AND THE EXOTIC, AFRICA INVIGORATES POP".
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767:
800:"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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153:. He was one of the leading Nigerian musicians from the late 1970s to mid-1980s.
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453:, 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
184:, freedom and a few other social and political issues affecting Africans.
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985:"Remembering our musical icons: What would have become of them today!"
383:, 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
85:
848:"Why I'm writing biography to honour Sunny Okosun— Charles, brother"
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209:
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357:, and his song "Highlife" was on the soundtrack of the 1986 film
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663:
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
933:"Ozzidi Song… Eight years after Sonny Okosuns' exit"
281:
as a rhythm guitarist. The band played the music of
375:He released his first American album in 1984 under
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95:
77:
60:
40:
30:
23:
937:The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News
605:"Remembering Sunny Okosun, the Ozziddi exponent"
367:, followed with a tour in some Nigerian cities.
665:. Lagos: Rothmed International. pp. 25–27.
270:. When he returned, Okosun joined the cast of
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216:, he took drama lessons at a drama school in
8:
959:"Sonny Okosun: a Pan-African Reggae Maestro"
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402:By 1993, Okosun had started moving towards
410:, followed by another gospel piece tagged
300:, Okosun and his family who were from the
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220:but left after a few months returning to
1071:. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
583:. African Books Collective. p. 28.
394:under the name Evangelist Sonny Okosun.
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761:
759:
757:
755:
569:
1125:Deaths from cancer in Washington, D.C.
891:"Music Icon, Sonny Okosun, Dies At 61"
798:Olumuyiwa, Okuseinde (December 2011).
212:to further his interest in acting. In
176:music. From 1977, he became known for
137:(1 January 1947 – 24 May 2008) was a
7:
1040:"Okosuns, Sonny | Encyclopedia.com"
908:"Okosuns, Sonny | Encyclopedia.com"
226:Eastern Nigeria Television Station
14:
873:World Music Central, 28 May 2008
363:. He released another LP album,
1135:20th-century Nigerian musicians
406:, he released the gospel album
837:(Archive: 1905–2000), 320, 79.
387:for international promotions.
1:
1130:Deaths from colorectal cancer
736:. Xlibris. p. Chapter 5.
580:Highlife Music in West Africa
18:Nigerian musician (1947–2008)
441:His musical styles included
379:. His next American record,
277:In 1966, he joined the band
241:Okwerri was a member of the
206:Nigerian Railway Corporation
768:Discography of Sonny Okosun
732:Onwuegbuna, Ikenna (2015).
1156:
245:, the movement started by
200:. Thereafter, he moved to
71:Howard University Hospital
1095:Nigerian reggae musicians
963:African And Black History
661:Timothy, Asobele (2002).
1140:Musicians from Edo State
878:15 October 2008 at the
694:10.52768/2993-1142/1114
430:Okosun died aged 61 of
1069:West African Pop Roots
637:Sonny Okosun obituary.
1115:Nigerian saxophonists
788:Collins 2002, p. 134.
749:Collins 2002, p. 137.
717:Collins 2002, p. 135.
1067:Collins, J. (1992).
1044:www.encyclopedia.com
912:www.encyclopedia.com
804:Thought and Practice
773:19 December 2012 at
296:At the onset of the
1100:Nigerian guitarists
577:Oti, Sonny (2009).
545:Africa Now Or Never
529:(Jive Afrika, 1983)
365:Power to the People
316:1970s: Ozzidi sound
149:and his first name
1110:Nigerian flautists
854:. 8 September 2019
822:The New York Times
527:Which Way Nigeria?
434:on 24 May 2008 at
237:1960s: Early years
156:Okosun's brand of
1120:Nigerian pianists
1011:"Fire in Soweto!"
991:. 17 January 2013
590:978-978-8422-08-2
535:(Shanachie, 1984)
436:Howard University
381:Which Way Nigeria
377:Shanachie Records
158:African pop music
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1105:Nigerian singers
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559:(Profile, 1991)
557:African Soldier
485:Ozzidi For Sale
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469:, and English.
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408:Songs of Praise
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392:gospel musician
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338:Ozzidi for Sale
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306:Eastern Nigeria
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160:, Ozzidi, is a
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73:, Washington DC
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1017:. 15 June 2010
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611:. 10 July 2015
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360:Something Wild
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262:and Okwerri's
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131:Musical artist
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36:Sunny Okosuns
35:
32:Also known as
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1068:
1047:. Retrieved
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1019:. Retrieved
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993:. Retrieved
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967:. Retrieved
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915:. Retrieved
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613:. Retrieved
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551:Ozzidi/Ozone
550:
544:
538:
532:
526:
520:
517:(NEMI, 1981)
514:
511:(NEMI, 1978)
508:
502:
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491:Living Music
490:
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440:
432:colon cancer
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411:
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404:gospel music
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385:Jive Records
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334:Living Music
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272:Ukonu's Club
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255:Wole Soyinka
240:
191:
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150:
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135:Sonny Okosun
134:
133:
125:Ozzidi sound
113:Years active
90:gospel music
66:(2008-05-24)
25:Sonny Okosun
15:
1090:2008 deaths
1085:1947 births
810:(2): 49–73.
547:(HMV, 1986)
541:(HMV, 1985)
523:(OTI, 1982)
505:(OTI, 1978)
499:(NCC, 1977)
497:Papa's Land
493:(NCC, 1977)
473:Discography
420:Lagos state
291:the Beatles
279:the Postmen
264:Masquerades
251:J. P. Clark
117:1960s–2000s
64:24 May 2008
1079:Categories
895:Leadership
564:References
533:Liberation
426:Later life
247:Ulli Beier
243:Mbari Club
188:Early life
96:Occupation
47:1947-01-01
702:2993-1142
515:3rd World
509:Holy Wars
451:Afro-funk
298:civil war
198:Edo State
166:Afro-beat
162:synthesis
56:, Nigeria
54:Edo State
876:Archived
771:Archived
447:highlife
354:Sun City
349:Afro-pop
302:Mid-West
218:Surulere
139:Nigerian
99:Musician
82:Highlife
1062:Sources
1049:12 July
1021:12 July
995:12 July
969:12 July
943:12 July
917:11 July
858:11 July
835:Variety
615:12 July
412:Revival
249:, with
147:Okosuns
700:
587:
553:(1989)
487:(1976)
481:(1976)
479:Ozzidi
463:Yoruba
443:reggae
330:Ozzidi
232:Career
180:about
170:reggae
122:Labels
86:reggae
78:Genres
688:(2).
467:Hausa
416:Ikeja
398:1990s
371:1980s
222:Enugu
214:Lagos
210:Lagos
202:Enugu
194:Irrua
151:Sunny
1051:2021
1023:2021
997:2021
971:2021
945:2021
919:2021
860:2021
698:ISSN
617:2021
585:ISBN
459:Igbo
455:Esan
336:and
326:Yaba
322:Fela
289:and
253:and
174:funk
172:and
143:Ijaw
61:Died
41:Born
690:doi
196:in
164:of
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