William Onyeabor

𝘼 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙’𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙮 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙚, *Who Is William Onyeabor?* gathers together the finest work of Nigeria’s elusive synth-funk pioneer, whose self-released albums from the late 70s and early 80s became the stuff of legend.

Onyeabor’s music blends hypnotic drum machine patterns, cosmic synthesizers, Afrobeat grooves and socially conscious lyrics, creating a futuristic sound that feels as visionary today as it did four decades ago. Tracks like “Atomic Bomb” and “Fantastic Man” are irresistible, blending minimal repetition with joyous funk energy, equal parts spiritual and playful.

Long shrouded in mystery, Onyeabor rarely gave interviews and retreated from the public eye, which only deepened the fascination around his music. This Luaka Bop anthology not only introduced his work to new generations of listeners but also cemented his status as one of Africa’s most innovative and idiosyncratic musicians, whose influence can be felt across electronic, funk and dance music worldwide.