Osayomore Joseph dies
Ace musician, Ambassador Osayomore Joseph, who was kidnapped on October 3, shortly after he performed at the one-year coronation anniversary of the Oba of Benin, at the palace, has died.
The death of the music maestro was confirmed in a post by the chairman of COSON, chief Tony Okoroji.
Okoroji said: “I have just learnt of the passing on of the very vibrant and effervescent music maestro with his roots in the ancient Benin kingdom, the great Osayomore Joseph.”
“The late Ulele Power King as he was known by his many fans was my friend.
“There is no doubt that the unforgettable Osayomore Joseph came, saw and conquered.
“Osayomore may have travelled but his Ulele Power sound will continue to boom in the hearts of the many who love him. “
Who is Osayomore Joseph?
Osayomore Joseph was born on October 29, 1952, in Ugha village near Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
He has a reputation as a freedom fighter, an activist musician with a long history of criticizing local and national political corruption through his music.
Osayomore’s music chartbusters Efewedo, ‘Baba Na Wa,’ ‘Leave us alone,’ ‘Evil days postponed’ were all in pidgin English.
Early Life and Education
Osayomore Joseph moved to Lagos when he was 19 years old and began his musical career as a member of the Nigerian army officers mess band. It was in the band he developed his flute, and guitar skills. Inspired by Sir Victor Uwaifo, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and King Sunny Ade, Osayomore Joseph branched out and began releasing his own music in 1976.
After releasing albums from 1976 to 1979, he returned to Benin to continue his career which was picking up support amongst Edo people in Benin.
He used his musical training to combine contemporary popular music — funk, Afrobeat, and highlife with Edo’s indigenous songs and rhythms.
The funky, percussion-heavy grooves earned him fans across Nigeria and among the growing Edo communities in the U.S. and Europe.
With this sound, Osayomore had several regional hits in the early ’80s, including “Efewedo,” “Ororo No Dey Fade” and “Soja Go Soja Come.”
Osayomore returned to Benin and found success between 1980 and 1985 with a series of fan favorite hits. This success came as Nigeria was transitioning into a long period of military dictatorship.
Socio-political commentaries
The harsh austerity measures and political unrest disrupted the social and economic lives of the people to the point where even an artiste like Osayomore began to use his music to comment on the situation.
Osayomore responded to the political environment in the early 1990s with a series of critical songs, including “Truth” and “Teacher.”
Until Babangida invalidated the results of the democratic election of June 12, 1992, which should have brought popular politician M.K.O. Abiola to power, Osayomore had always kept his criticism primarily indirect.
However, he made a bold statement with his album, June 12 Is God’s Mandate. In his song called “Baba Na War,” Osayomore calls Babangida “evil,” the “original criminal,” and the “father of all disasters.”
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