Forgotten Prophet of Freedom: Why Sony Okosun Deserves the Same Reverence as Bob Marley

By Dr. Michael Omoruyi | iNewsAfrica Op-Ed

When we speak of music as a weapon for freedom, one name dominates the global imagination: Bob Marley. His dreadlocked image and anthems of liberation have become immortal symbols of resistance. Yet, in Nigeria—and across Africa—there was another prophet of rhythm and rebellion whose name should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Marley’s: Sony Okosun, the Ozzidi King.

Okosun was more than a musician; he was a freedom fighter armed with a guitar and a voice that pierced through oppression. His songs—Fire in Soweto, Papa’s Land, Which Way Nigeria?—were not entertainment but urgent calls to action. He sang against apartheid when it was dangerous to do so. He questioned Nigeria’s direction when silence would have been safer. He embodied the boldness of an artist who refused to let music exist without meaning.

The Sound of Defiance

In the 1970s and 1980s, while Marley’s Zimbabwe rang out across Southern Africa, Okosun’s Fire in Soweto became a rallying cry for the oppressed under apartheid. His fusion of Afrobeat, reggae, and highlife carried the pulse of African resistance. To countless Africans, Okosun’s voice was not just a melody—it was a torch in the dark.

He asked questions few dared to ask: Which Way Nigeria? A question that still echoes in today’s Nigeria, where corruption, poverty, and disunity persist despite decades of independence.

Why Has History Forgotten Him?

Yet despite his influence, Okosun’s name has not been canonized globally in the way Marley’s has. Why?

• Cultural Export: Jamaica made reggae its cultural identity and successfully exported it. Nigeria, despite Okosun’s genius, never branded his liberation sound on the world stage.

• Political Rejection: His bold criticisms of African leaders meant he was often celebrated abroad more than at home.

• Generational Overshadowing: Fela’s Afrobeat revolution and today’s Afrobeats wave overshadowed Okosun’s genre-bending activism.

The result? His global recognition dimmed, even as his message remained timeless.

From Protest to Praise

In his later years, Okosun transitioned into gospel music, channeling his fire into faith. Some saw this as a retreat, but in truth it was the completion of his mission—healing not only the body politic but also the human spirit. His artistry remained rooted in transformation.

The Unfinished Work of Memory

Sony Okosun’s story is a reminder of Africa’s tendency to forget its prophets until the world validates them. He deserves more than fading memories and dusty records. He deserves to be enshrined in the same pantheon as Bob Marley: a freedom singer, a cultural warrior, a prophet who dared to dream of an Africa united.

His question remains our challenge: Which Way Nigeria? Which Way Africa? Until his name is restored, we risk losing not just a man’s legacy but a powerful chapter of our collective story.

About the Author

✍️ Dr. Michael Omoruyi is an author, technologist, and cultural commentator. His upcoming memoir, “From Grit to Grace,” explores the intersections of resilience, identity, and reinvention across Africa and the diaspora.

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