Sonny Okosun, Olorun Mose Iyanu
Sonny Okosun is one of the most recognizable names in Nigerian popular culture and music over the past 20-30 years. He’s known for his fusion of western reggae & pop music stylings with Nigerian instrumentation and themes to create catchy tunes with wide appeal. Born in Benin City (Edo State, 1947), he sings in his native Edo language as well as Yoruba and English.
Some of his music is readily available from places like Amazon and many of the better record stores will have an album or two in the African music sections… and with some more digging in the right places, you can relatively easily pick up one of his old LPs for relatively cheap. (I bought the 1984 release Liberation [on Sanchie] for $5.50 last year at a SF record store)
Apart from the general appeal and catchiness of his tunes, I respect Okosun because he addresses political & social issues in his tunes… not on the direct, in-your-face, these-are-Nigerian-issues style of Fela Kuti, but more on a Pan-African “stop the wars, let’s progress” tempo with tracks like Revolution, Now or Never, Fire in Soweto, etc. Another prominent theme is religion, namely Christianity where he sings various praises to Oluwa. An example is in the 1983 release Sonny Okosun - Olorun Mose on the Togetherness 12″ [His Master's Voice/EMI Nigeria [Lagos] HMV(N)033].
As with most of Okosun’s music, the instrumentation on this track is almost entirely western, save for the talking drum in the very beginning. I love the melodies, baselines, guitar and the rhodes-esque electronic piano… a great track.
June 5th, 2005 at 7:21 pm
Please do you have Which Way Nigeria by Sonny Okosun? I’ve been looking for that forever..Anyways nice site u got..quite entertaining
June 5th, 2005 at 7:27 pm
Bebe, I do have that track, but only on LP… When I get some time, I’ll record & feature it.
August 21st, 2005 at 9:25 pm
he is the best musician africa ever will have .i love him so much
November 21st, 2005 at 10:22 am
Im a big fan of sonnny okosun, saw him a few weeks back and was really sad. The guy is looking terribly sick and gaunt. Peeps lets all pray for this African legend or better still find out whats wrong with him before its too late
November 21st, 2005 at 3:15 pm
Hello Ola,
I read your comment regarding Sonny Okosun and was saddened to hear
that he’s in poor health. I guess I hadn’t heard anything concerning
his health - do you mind providing an update? Please email us at naijajams@gmail.com
July 14th, 2006 at 3:50 pm
My grandfather Sonny Okosun is not sick. He’s just a hard worker and needs to rest.
July 14th, 2006 at 3:53 pm
Fellow Sonny Okosun fans thankyou for your concern. My pop-pop is a aawsome and religious man and just please keep him in your prayers.
August 3rd, 2007 at 1:41 am
Good jobs.Thanks.
August 5th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I was saying Rest In Peace to Sonny Okosun. why was my comment deleted?
August 6th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
well im related to him as my aunty is his wife i would like to say that sonny okosun did a lot in my family and in me i saw him as my dad because he was always there for me and my anuty dedicated 31 years in marriage to him she loved him with all her heart i wish that we can twist bak the hands of time and spend more time with him for i never knew that when he came to stay at my house here in london with my aunty it would be the last. i loved him with all my heart he was a great man i evn gave him the nickname bigdaddy and my anty other mama beacuse i saw them as mum and dad number 2 RIP i will always love you until we meet again xx