The synthesisers sound like they came from the future. The grooves are long, hypnotic and funky. The lyrics talk about atomic bombs, love and the good things in life. William Onyeabor made these records in Nigeria between the late 1970s and the mid-1980s, released them on his own label and then stopped. For decades, almost no one outside Nigeria knew his name. Then, in 2013, a compilation called Who Is William Onyeabor? turned him into a global cult figure.
The mystery and the albums
Onyeabor gave few interviews and refused to talk about his music in later life. Much about his early years remains uncertain. He was based in Enugu, where he ran businesses and recorded music in his own studio. He released eight albums between 1977 and 1985 on his label, Wilfilms. Songs include Atomic Bomb, Fantastic Man and When the Going Is Smooth and Good.
His music used synthesisers and drum machines at a time when few African musicians did, mixing funk, disco and electronic sounds.
Turning away and Luaka Bop
In the late 1980s, he stopped making music and became a devout Christian. He later said he only wanted to talk about God. The label Luaka Bop, founded by David Byrne, spent years tracking him down and released the compilation in 2013. A tribute group of musicians, including David Byrne and members of other famous bands, performed his songs in concerts in Europe and America.
His music became popular with DJs, producers and collectors worldwide. Onyeabor was also a businessman and community leader in Enugu. He died in 2017. He is now seen as a pioneer of African electronic music.
Listening and equipment
His albums have been reissued and are available on streaming platforms. Luaka Bop’s staff spent years trying to contact Onyeabor and win his permission to reissue the music. When the compilation came out, critics around the world were surprised that such forward-looking electronic music had been made in Nigeria in the 1970s, and the story of the search became part of his legend.
He reportedly bought synthesisers and recording equipment abroad, which was rare and expensive for a Nigerian musician at the time. William Onyeabor walked away from his own music. The world found it anyway, and it still sounds ahead of its time.
