Jide Obi
Encyclopedia
Jide Obi Ibo is a Nigeria
n music star of the 1980s.
Jide Obi was born in England
to a Nigeria
n barrister
of England's Lincoln Inn, and a teacher.
In the late 1970s he studied law at Enugu campus of the University of Nigeria, where he became friends with fellow student Chris Okotie
.
Following Okotie's success, in the early 1980s he released his debut album Tonight under the Tabansi Records label. Other hits included Kill Me With Love, and Front Page News. He made numerous performances on Nigerian radio and television, some in front of state governors and senators, and even once in front of Nigeria's first President, Nnamdi Azikiwe
.
In November 1981, his record label, Tabansi Records, gave him his first gold disc award at the National Theatre
, Surulere. Two years later, he toured Eastern Nigeria with Sierra Leone
's Bunny Mack, backed mostly by the Comrades of Enugu, Nigeria.
He has had several bands backing him, including Guyanese
musician Eddy Grant
's Coach House Band, the Dukes of Freetown Sierra Leone, and the Apostles of Aba. His albums, Front Page News and Kill Me With Love, were both produced by Barbados
native Bill Campbell. Ex-Osibisa and Funkees guitarist Jake Solo performed on both recordings.
With Dizzy K Falola
, Chris Okotie, and Felix Liberty he stimulated the emerging music industry of Nigeria. He sang modern pop gospel, also described as pop/blues. He was seen as part of a movement devoted to change and opposing inequality in Nigeria.
Jide Obi is known to give press interviews critical of aspects of religion. The most notable instance occurred in 1989 and 1990, when he declared religion as frequently a victimising factor. The story made the cover of Nigerian billionaire MKO Abiola's National Concord magazine.
In recent years, Jide Obi has been seen living in both Britain
and the United States
, though he is a recluse
seldom seen in public.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n music star of the 1980s.
Jide Obi was born in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to a Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
of England's Lincoln Inn, and a teacher.
In the late 1970s he studied law at Enugu campus of the University of Nigeria, where he became friends with fellow student Chris Okotie
Chris Okotie
Chris Okotie is a leading Nigerian televangelist and the pastor of the Household of God Church International Ministries, a Pentecostal congregation in Lagos, Nigeria since February 1987.- Education and career:...
.
Following Okotie's success, in the early 1980s he released his debut album Tonight under the Tabansi Records label. Other hits included Kill Me With Love, and Front Page News. He made numerous performances on Nigerian radio and television, some in front of state governors and senators, and even once in front of Nigeria's first President, Nnamdi Azikiwe
Nnamdi Azikiwe
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe , usually referred to as Nnamdi Azikiwe and popularly known as "Zik", was one of the leading figures of modern Nigerian nationalism who became the first President of Nigeria after Nigeria secured its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960; holding the...
.
In November 1981, his record label, Tabansi Records, gave him his first gold disc award at the National Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
, Surulere. Two years later, he toured Eastern Nigeria with Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
's Bunny Mack, backed mostly by the Comrades of Enugu, Nigeria.
He has had several bands backing him, including Guyanese
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
musician Eddy Grant
Eddy Grant
Edmond Montague "Eddy" Grant is a musician, born in Plaisance, Guyana.- Life and career :When he was still a young boy, his parents emigrated to London, UK, where he settled. He lived in Kentish Town and went to school at the Acland Burghley Secondary Modern at Tufnell Park...
's Coach House Band, the Dukes of Freetown Sierra Leone, and the Apostles of Aba. His albums, Front Page News and Kill Me With Love, were both produced by Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
native Bill Campbell. Ex-Osibisa and Funkees guitarist Jake Solo performed on both recordings.
With Dizzy K Falola
Dizzy K Falola
Dizzy K Falola is a London-based Nigerian singer, currently performing as a gospel artiste, but is perhaps best known as a former eighties pop star, famed for the hit "Baby Kilode".-Early life and pop career:...
, Chris Okotie, and Felix Liberty he stimulated the emerging music industry of Nigeria. He sang modern pop gospel, also described as pop/blues. He was seen as part of a movement devoted to change and opposing inequality in Nigeria.
Jide Obi is known to give press interviews critical of aspects of religion. The most notable instance occurred in 1989 and 1990, when he declared religion as frequently a victimising factor. The story made the cover of Nigerian billionaire MKO Abiola's National Concord magazine.
In recent years, Jide Obi has been seen living in both Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, though he is a recluse
Recluse
A recluse is a person who lives in voluntary seclusion from the public and society, often close to nature. The word is from the Latin recludere, which means "shut up" or "sequester." There are many potential reasons for becoming a recluse: a personal philosophy that rejects consumer society; a...
seldom seen in public.