Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Obey-Fabiyi (born 3 April 1942), known professionally as Ebenezer Obey, is a

Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jo ...

jùjú music Jùjú is a style of Yoruba popular music, derived from traditional Yoruba percussion. The name juju from the Yoruba word "juju" or "jiju" meaning "throwing" or "something being thrown". Juju music did not derive its name from juju, which is a ...

ian.

Early life

Obey was born on 3 April 1942 to an Egba–

Yoruba The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...

ethnic background family. Obey, whose real names are Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Fabiyi, was born in Idogo,

Ogun State Ogun State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. Ogun State borders Lagos State to the south, Oyo State and Osun State to the north, Ondo State to the east, and the Republic of Benin to th ...

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

of Egba-Yoruba ethnic background. He is of the Owu subgroup of the Egba.

Career

Ebenezer Obey began his professional career in the mid-1950s after moving to

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national capital of Nigeria until December 1991 fo ...

. After tutelage under Fatai Rolling-Dollar's band, he formed a band called The International Brothers in 1964, playing

highlife Highlife is a music genre that started in present-day Ghana in the 19th century, during its history as a colony of the British Empire and through its trade routes in coastal areas. It describes multiple local fusions of African metre and wester ...

– jùjú fusion. The band later metamorphosed into Inter-Reformers in the early-1970s, with a long list of Juju album hits on the West African Decca musical label. Obey began experimenting with

percussion A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Exc ...

style and expanding on the band by adding more drum kits, guitars and

talking drum The talking drum is an hourglass-shaped drum from West Africa, whose pitch can be regulated to mimic the tone and prosody of human speech. It has two drumheads connected by leather tension cords, which allow the player to change the pitc ...

s. Obey's musical strengths lie in weaving intricate

axioms into dance-floor compositions. As is characteristic of Nigerian Yoruba social-circle music, the Inter-Reformers band excel in praise-singing for rich Nigerian socialites and business tycoons. Obey, however, is also renowned for Christian spiritual themes in his music and has since the early-1990s retired into Nigerian gospel music ministry. It will be worthy of note to also say that Chief Commander just as he is fondly called by his fans, has played alongside popular gospel music veteran, Pastor

Kunle Ajayi Kunle Ajayi (June 16, 1964) is a Nigerian gospel singer, songwriter, saxophonist, televangelist and Director of Music at the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Early life He was born in June 1964 in Mushin, a local government area of Lagos Stat ...

during his 30 years on stage concert in

Personal life

Obey married Juliana Olaide Olufade in 1963. His wife, known as Lady Evangelist Juliana Obey-Fabiyi, died at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital on 23 August 2011, aged 67. They have several children and grand children.

Partial discography

*1964 Ewa Wo Ohun Ojuri *1965 Aiye Gba Jeje b/w Ifelodun*Gari Ti Won b/w Orin Adura *1966 Awolowo Babawa Tide b/w Oluwa Niagbara Emi Mi*Palongo b/w Teti Ko Gboro Kan*Oro Miko Lenso b/w Orin Ajinde*Late Justice Olumide Omololu b/w Iyawo Ti Mo Ko Fe *1967 Olomi Gbo Temi b/w Maria Odeku*To Keep Nigeria One b/w Awa Sope Odun Titun*Edumare Lon Pese b/w Omo Olomo*Ope Fun Oluwa b/w Paulina *1968 Ore Mi E Si Pelepele b/w Ajo Ni Mo wa*Ijebu L'ade b/w Lati Owolabi*Col. Ben Adekunle b/w Ori Bayemi*Lolade Wilkey b/w Adetunji Adeyi*Gbe Bemi Oluwa b/w Olowo Laiye Mo *1969 Ode To Nso Eledumare b/w Pegan Pegan*Sanu-olu b/w K'Oluwa So Pade Wa*London Lawa Yi b/w Oro Seniwo*Isokan Nigeria / etc.*Eni Mayo Ayo / etc1969/1970*Emi Yio Gbe Oluwa Ga b/w Ise Teni *1970 Lawyer Adewuyi*Ala Taja Bala b/w Ohun Toluwa Ose*Ogun Pari / etc.*In London*On The Town *1971 Ija Pari (Part One) b/w Ija Pari (Part Two)*Esa Ma Miliki b/w Awon Alhaji*Face to Face b/w Late Rex Lawson*Oro Nipa Lace b/w Yaro Malaika *1972 Late Oba Gbadelo II*Board Members*Vol.4: Aiye Wa A Toro*In London Vol. 3*Odun Keresimesi *1973 And His Miliki Sound*The Horse, The Man and His Son*E Je Ka Gbo T'Oluwa*Adeventure of Mr. Music*Mo Tun Gbe De *1974 Inter-Reformers A Tunde*Eko Ila*Around the World*Iwalka Ko Pe *1975 Mukulu Muke Maa Jo*Ota Mi Dehin Lehin Mi*Alo Mi Alo*Edumare Dari Jiwon *1976 Late Great Murtara Murtala Ramat Muhammed*Operation Feed The Nation *1977 Eda To Mose Okunkun*Immortal Sings for Travellers*Adam and Eve *1978 Igba Owuro Lawa*Oluwa Ni Olusa Aguntan Mi*No Place Be Like My Country Nigeria *1979 In the Sixties Vol.1*In the Sixties Vol.2*Igba Laiye*Sky*E Wa Kiye Soro Mi*Omo Mi Gbo Temi *1980 Leave Everything to God*Current Affairs*Sound of the Moment*Eyi Yato *1981 Joy of Salvation*What God Has Joined Together *1982 Celebration*Austerity*Precious Gift *1983 Ambition*Singing for the People*Greatest Hits Vol. 3*Je Ka Jo*Thank You (Ose) *1984 The Only Condition to Save Nigeria*Solution*Peace1985*Security*My Vision *1986 Gbeja Mi Eledumare*Satisfaction*Providence *1987 Aimasiko*Immortality*Victory*Patience *1988 Determination*Vanity *1989 Formula 0-1-0*Get Yer Jujus Out *1990 Count Your Blessing*On the Rock *1991 Womanhood *1993 Good News *1994 I Am a Winner*Walking Over (1994 ?) *1995 The Legend *1999 Millennial Blessings *2000 Promised Land *2002 Ase Oluwa

Notes

References

External links

Definitive Compilation of Ebenezer Obey's Discography by Toshiya Endo
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Obey, Ebenezer Nigerian male musicians Yoruba musicians Musicians from Ogun State Living people 1942 births 20th-century Nigerian musicians Yoruba-language singers 20th-century male musicians Provogue Records artists