Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has visited the family of late Sonny Okosuns, in Ogba, Lagos ahead of the tenth anniversary of the musician’s death.
Known for his protest songs and pan-Africanism, Okosuns combined Afrobeat, highlife, reggae and funk music to create what he dubbed Ozzidi music.
He died aged 61 of colon cancer on May 24, 2008 at Howard University Hospital, Washington DC, USA.
Writing in a Facebook post on Saturday, Adesina, a former editor of the tabloid Daily Sun, described the Ozzidi King as “my good friend”.
On his visit to the family, he said: “I was warmly received by Omono, the widow, Charles and Iwa, the brothers. It was a poignant time, as they unfolded plans to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of the music maestro/evangelist.”
Before moving towards gospel music and founding the House of Prayer Ministry in 1998, Okosuns blessed the world with songs like ‘Papa’s Land’, ‘Fire in Soweto’, ‘Mother and Child’, ‘Which Way Nigeria?’ and ‘African Soldier’.
