interesting facts about Sonny Okosun

Here are some interesting facts about Sonny Okosun

Pioneered the “Ozzidi” Sound Okosun developed a unique musical style called “Ozzidi,” which was a synthesis of Afro-beat, reggae, and funk music. He named his band Ozzidi after a renowned Ijaw river god, but to him the name meant “there is a message”.
A “Protest” Musician From the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, Okosun was a leading voice for Pan-Africanism and freedom. His songs, such as the international hit “Fire in Soweto” (1977), “Papa’s Land,” and “Which Way Nigeria?”, became anthems for the anti-apartheid movement and other liberation struggles across the continent.

International Recognition His music resonated globally. His song “Highlife” was featured on the soundtrack of the 1986 film Something Wild, and he was the only African artist to contribute to the all-star anti-apartheid album Sun City in 1985.

Transition to Gospel In the early 1990s, Okosun’s career took a significant turn when he became an evangelist and transitioned exclusively to gospel music. He released the successful album Songs of Praise in 1994 and founded his own Christian church, the House of Prayer Ministry, in Lagos in 1998.
Multi-Instrumentalist Beyond his powerful vocals, Okosun was a talented musician who played several instruments, including the electric guitar, flute, saxophone, electric piano, and percussion.
Early Acting Career Before focusing on music, Okosun pursued a career in acting, taking drama lessons in Lagos and participating in theatrical productions and TV skits in Enugu. His drama group even represented Nigeria at the 1965 Commonwealth Arts Festival in London.

Collaboration with Legends In the early part of his music career, he worked with the acclaimed Nigerian musician Victor Uwaifo’s Maestros band and jammed with Fela Kuti’s Koola Lobitos. Jamaican reggae legends Jimmy Cliff and Peter Tosh stayed at his home during their visits to Nigeria.

Linguistic Diversity He recorded music in multiple languages, including Esan, Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, and English, contributing to his broad appeal across Nigeria and beyond.