Nigeria’s father of Funk music, Chief William Onyeabor has bid the world farewell at the age of 70. The late musician died in his home in Enugu this week.
Onyeabor started his career in 1977 and had 9 albums to his credit including synth-funk albums such as ‘Good name’ and ‘Fantastic man’. He later on in his life distanced himself from music after finding a new calling: God.
In 2013, David Byrne’s Luaka Bop record label released Who Is William Onyeabor?, the first compilation of his work authorized in America. One of his records ‘Fantastic man’ featuring The Atomic Bomb and David Byrne was featured on The Jimmy Fallon show.
Onyeabor was given the honorary title justice of the peace in the 1980s. In the early 1990s, he became the president of Enugu’s Musician’s Union and chairman of the city’s local football team, the Enugu Rangers.
He is survived by his wife, four children and four grandchildren.
May his soul rest in peace.
Listen to his hit ‘Fantastic man’ below: