World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who Is William Onyeabor? cover

World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who Is William Onyeabor?

Recorded
1977-1985
Released

As the first official reissue of this enigmatic figure’s music, Who is William Onyeabor? asks all  the right questions. While it may not quite answer them — very little is known about him to this day — the Luaka Pop record, compiled by Uchenna Ikonne, underscores just how ahead of his time Onyeabor really was: while clearly influenced by the the era’s juju music, Onyeabor used drum machines and Moog synthesizers to weave psychedelic, electro-funk tracks that still sounded futuristic when they were “rediscovered” decades later.

Megan Iacobini de Fazio

Recommended by

Suggestions
Horizon Unlimited cover

Horizon Unlimited

The Lijadu Sisters
S.O.B. cover

S.O.B.

Shades of Brown
Jo Tongo cover

Jo Tongo

Jo Tongo
Electricity cover

Electricity

Ibibio Sound Machine
Resistance cover

Resistance

The Souljazz Orchestra
Noir et Blanc cover

Noir et Blanc

Bony Bikaye, Hector Zazou, CY1
La Clave cover

La Clave

La Clave
Umoja cover

Umoja

Skinshape
Harlem River Drive cover

Harlem River Drive

Harlem River Drive