On yer bike!
William Onyeabor could be making music again
The Nigerian synth-funk pioneer may have released his first new song in three decades.
Well-known in West Africa during the 1970’s and 80’s for his forward-thinking synth-funk, William Onyeabor’s musical endeavours appeared to be resigned to the past after he gave up music to focus his life on God. Western audiences have enjoyed Onyeabor’s music again in recent years, though, with David Byrne’s Luaka Bop label re-issuing his work through a number of compilations, including a tribute album featuring covers and remixes from the likes of Hot Chip and Daphni for Record Store Day 2014.
The attention didn’t stop there, either. Carrying the collective thirst of thousands of new fans, Noisey delved further in to Onyeabor’s incredible story and were able to track down the man in their documentary ‘Fantastic Man’, only for him to affirm that he no longer wanted to be drawn on his musical past. Perhaps the tide is now turning.
Just last month Lauren Laverne featured a world exclusive muffled telephone interview with Onyeabor on her BBC 6 Music show, and now a track bearing Onyeabor’s name has been unearthed on YouTube. Could the new found attention have influenced Onyeabor into going back on his word somewhat?
It certainly seems that way, with the track holding clear sonic reference points to Onyeabor’s former output. Little is known about the 11-minute gospel track ‘Many Mansions’, which emerged online back in September, uploaded on the channel ‘Divine Praise’, but it brings together the familiar sound of Onyeabor’s past with the evangelical subject matter of his later life. Watch the video for ‘Many Mansions’ below:
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