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Inspiration
A Mysterious Pioneer from the Golden Era of Nigerian Funk
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Record label Luaka Bop partly unraveled the mystery with 2021's aptly-titled compilation Who is William Onyeabor? as part of their World Psychedelic Classic series (Os Mutantes, Shuggie Otis, Tim Maia, and West-African Funk). According to the label, Onyeabor was "Nigeria's answer to synth-pop and New Wave."
"The stinging Afro-funk; tickly wah-wah; searing jazz synth keyboard; runs suggesting spaceships leading into helium-voiced choruses singing in a jingle-jangle; and that particular nostalgic sound found when the first electronic drum machines arrived to tantalize drummers everywhere."
—Luaka Bop (liner notes for 'World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who is William Onyeabor?')
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Because the late William Onyeabor never performed his music live, Luaka Bop even put together a supergroup to bring his electro-afro-funk to life. The group was called Atomic Bomb! Band (named after Onyeabor's 1978 album, Atomic Bomb) featuring Damon Albarn (of Blur), David Byrne (of Talking Heads), Kele Okereke (of Bloc Party), and Beastie Boys collaborator Money Mark, among others, and a range of special guests. The mind-blowing line-up is a testament to the legacy of William Onyeabor, a man of mystery who unintentionally turned into a true legend.
"He melded Nigerian folk forms with nods to Afro-beat and American R&B, disco, and funk, weaving them together in a spacy, futuristic brew that no one was making at the time; that style has influenced and been sampled and emulated by many."
—Thom Jurek (AllMusic)
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