Sonny Okosun
Sonny Okosun | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Sunny Okosuns |
| Born | 1 January 1947 Edo State, Nigeria |
| Died | 24 May 2008 (aged 61) Howard University Hospital, Washington DC |
| Genres | Highlife, reggae, gospel music |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Electric guitar, flute, saxophone, electric piano, percussion, vocals |
| Years active | 1960s–2000s |
| Labels | Ozzidi sound |
Sonny Okosun (1 January 1947 – 24 May 2008) was a Nigerian musician, who was known as the leader of the Ozzidi band. He named his band Ozzidi after a renowned Ijaw river god, but to Okosun the meaning was "there is a message". His surname is sometimes spelled Okosuns and his first name Sunny. He was one of the leading Nigerian musicians from the late 1970s to mid-1980s.
Okosun's brand of African pop music, Ozzidi, is a synthesis of Afro-beat, reggae and funk music. From 1977, he became known for protest songs about Pan-Africanism, freedom and a few other social and political issues affecting Africans.