24 May 2008(2008-05-24) (aged 61) Howard University Hospital, Washington DC
Genres
Highlife, reggae, gospel music
Occupation(s)
Musician
Instrument(s)
Electric guitar, flute, saxophone, electric piano, percussion, vocals
Years active
1960s–2000s
Labels
Ozzidi sound
Musical artist
Sonny Okosun (1 January 1947[1] – 24 May 2008) was a Nigerian musician, who was known as the leader of the Ozzidi band.[2] He named his band Ozzidi after a renowned Ijaw river god, but to Okosun the meaning was "there is a message". His surname is sometimes spelled Okosuns and his first name Sunny. He was one of the leading Nigerian musicians from the late 1970s to mid-1980s.[3]
Okosun's brand of African pop music, Ozzidi, is a synthesis of Afro-beat, reggae and funk music.[4] From 1977, he became known for protest songs about Pan-Africanism, freedom and a few other social and political issues affecting Africans.[citation needed]
^Oti, Sonny (2009). Highlife Music in West Africa. African Books Collective. p. 28. ISBN 978-978-8422-08-2.
^"Remembering Sunny Okosun, the Ozziddi exponent". Vanguard News. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
^The Independent, 24 June 2008: Sonny Okosun obituary.
^Cite error: The named reference Asobele was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
SonnyOkosun (1 January 1947 – 24 May 2008) was a Nigerian musician, who was known as the leader of the Ozzidi band. He named his band Ozzidi after a renowned...
(with Horns by Gary Barnacle/Luke Tunney) (album) 1980 Third World by SonnyOkosuns (Brass: Gary Barnacle/Luke Tunney) (album) 1980 Working on the Land...
31 December 2023. "The Death That Brings Life: Stella Okosun Saving Lives Through SonnyOkosun Colon Cancer Foundation By Bayo Oluwasanmi". Sahara Reporters...
Okojie, former executive secretary, National Universities Commission SonnyOkosun, musician Chris Oyakhilome, evangelist and president of Christ Embassy...
Moses Olaiya (Baba Sala) Prince Adekunle Segun Adewale Shina Peters SonnyOkosun Tunde King Tunde Nightingale List of Nigerian highlife musicians Omojola...
June 2008). "SonnyOkosuns, 61, Musician With Message, Is Dead". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 21 June 2021. "Okosuns, Sonny". www.encyclopedia...
(1984) Timmy Thomas – Gotta Give a Little Love (Ten Years After) (1984) SonnyOkosun – Which Way Nigeria? (1984) Philip Michael Thomas – Living the Book of...
parts of Africa also wrote songs to support the movement; Nigeria's SonnyOkosun drew attention to apartheid with songs such as "Fire in Soweto", described...
Stephen Osita Osadebe, Oliver De Coque, Celestine Ukwu, Oriental Brothers, SonnyOkosun, Victor Uwaifo, and Orlando "Dr. Ganja" Owoh, whose distinctive toye...
"Walking the Slidewalk" The Clash 2:34 14. "Where You Gonna Go (Soweto)" SonnyOkosun 4:05 15. "The Man in Me" Bob Dylan 3:57 16. "Remote Control" Strummer...
Tiko and Douala. Some prominent musicians with origins in Enugu include SonnyOkosun, an afrobeat musician who was born and raised in Enugu and joined his...
Kiki Mordi Ola Oni Olikoye Ransome-Kuti Olisa Agbakoba Omoyele Sowore SonnyOkosun Segun Awosanya Stephen Chukwumah Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi Priscilla Achapka...
past Presidents of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria: SonnyOkosun Tony Okoroji Mustapha Amego Christy Essien-Igbokwe Sunny Ade Charly Boy...
Mama's Boys - Mama's Boys - JIVE HIP 15 Whodini - Escape - JIVE HIP 16 SonnyOkosun - Which Way Nigeria? - JIVE HIP 18 Mama's Boys - Power and Passion -...
Jimmy McGriff, 72, American jazz and blues organist, multiple sclerosis. SonnyOkosun, 61, Nigerian musician, colon cancer. Nadia Arslan, 59, Lebanese actress...
produced by Berkley Jones. Her second album was Endless Life, produced by SonnyOkosun, and included another cover - the Everley Brothers' "Walk Right Back"...
African artist with distinct reggae qualities was "Fire In Soweto" by SonnyOkosun in 1978. More groups followed suit, and reggae was one of the most popular...
Global Information