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Sonny Okosun

HighlifeNigeria

A pioneering Highlife guitarist and vocalist, Sonny Okosun revolutionized Nigerian popular music in the 1970s and 1980s by blending traditional Highlife guitar work with funk rhythms and socially conscious lyrics that spoke to pan-African liberation struggles. His infectious arrangements and charismatic performances made him a continental star, while albums like "Fire in Soweto" cemented his reputation as an artist willing to use his music as a vehicle for political change across the diaspora. Through his prolific career, Okosun demonstrated that Highlife could be both commercially vibrant and intellectually rigorous, influencing generations of African musicians who followed.

Discography

Albums

Iye Do

1971

Steady & Slow

1972

Ozidizm

1976

1[A] Adesua / Help / My Ancestors

2[B] Ozidizm / Don't Cry / Chinelo / O'Jesu

Living Music

1977

1[A] Living Music / Oduduwa

2[B] Odenigbo / Edo

Ozziddi for Sale

1977

1[A] Wait / Festival of the Hunters

2[B] Chant of the Slave / Let My People Go

Papa's Land

1977

1[A] Rain / Papa's Land

2[B] Jah Love / Jungle Beat

Meets Lord Superior

1977

1[A] Bleech People / Lagos High Cost of Living / Space Race to The Moon and Sun

2[B] Mercy / Lagos Taxi / Eselle

Papa's Land / For Sale

1977

Fire in Soweto

1977

1[A] Fire in Soweto / Liberation

2[B] Steady & Slow / Revolution

Fire in Soweto / Papa's Land

1977

Holy Wars

1978

1[A] Holy Wars / War of Nations

2[B] Weep Not Children / The Light of Jah

Meets Lord Superior

1978

1[A] Bleech People / Lagos High Cost of Living / Space Race To The Moon And Sun

2[B] Mercy / Lagos Taxi / Eselle

Power To The People

1978

1[A] Let THere Be Light / Power To The People

2[B] The Dance of The Elephants / The Struggle Continues

Sonny Okosun in 1980

1980

1[A] Papa's land / With Love

2[B] Fire in Soweto / Give Peace A Chance

Fire in Soweto / Papa's Land

1980

The Gospel of Ozziddi

1980

1[A] No More Wars / We're in Love

2[B] Carnival / O'Namibia

3rd World

1980

1[A] Third World / Tire Ni Oluwa

2[B] Tell Them / My Woman

Message

1980

1[A] ?

2[B] ?

Happy Days

1980

1[A] Holy Wars / War of Nations

2[B] Weep Not Children / The Light of Jah

Live in Varadero

1982

1[A] Mother & Child / I Remember

2[B] Amen / Wonderful Jah

Mother & Child

1982

1[A] Mother & Child / My Cherie Koko

2[B] Amen / Olu Ebube

Mother & Child / My Cherie Koko

1982

Togetherness

1983

1[A] Togetherness / Olorun Mose

2[B] Oba Erediauwa / Highlife

Black Star Liner: Reggae From Africa

1983

[A] Third World

1983

Which Way Nigeria?

1984

1[A] African Woman / Which Way Nigeria?

2[B] Tell My People / My Ancestors

Which Way Nigeria? / African Woman

1984

Liberation

1984

1[A] Tell Them / Highlife / Liberation

2[B] Amen / Olu Ebube / Tire Ni Oluwa

Revolution II

1985

1[A] Revolution / We Want a Leader

2[B] Nelson Mandela / Olusegun

Something Wild (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

1986

[A] Loco de Mer

1986

Africa Now or Never

1986

1[A] Now or Never / Man on the Run

2[B] Warrior / I've Got a Reason

Wind of Change

1990

Songs of Praise 2: Jesus is Lord

1990

Konkombe: The Nigerian Pop Music Scene

1991

African Soldiers

1991

Songs of Praise

1994

The Ultimate Collection

1996

Celebrate! & Worship in Caribbean Rhythms

2000

Be Glorified

2001

Revival

2002

S.O.S. Save Our Souls

2002

The Glory of God

2002

EPs

Highlife

1984

1[A] Highlife (Dance Version)

2[B] Highlife (Radio Version) / Highlife (Dub Version)