Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe (March 17, 1936 – May 11, 2007), often referred to as just Osita Osadebe, was a Nigerian highlife musician from

Atani Atani is a city on the eastern bank of the Niger River in Anambra State, Nigeria.Atani is the headquarter of Ogbaru Local Government Area, a Local Government in the Northern Senatorial District of Anambra State. It is one of the communities in O ...

. During his career spanning over four decades, he became one of the best known musicians of

Igbo highlife Igbo highlife is a contemporary musical genre which combines highlife and Igbo traditional music. It first started off in the southeast region of Nigeria, during the 1920s in Lagos. The genre is primarily guitar-based music, with rare characteri ...

. His best-known hit was the 1984 single " Osondi Owendi", which established him as a leader in the highlife genre and was one of Nigeria's most popular records ever.

Biography

Osadebe was born in March 17, 1936, in the Igbo town of

in Southeastern Nigeria. He came from a line of singers and dancers in Igboland. His genre, Highlife, encompassed Igbo and traditional musical elements. Along with this, calypso, Samba,

bolero Bolero is a genre of song which originated in eastern Cuba in the late 19th century as part of the trova tradition. Unrelated to the older Spanish dance of the same name, bolero is characterized by sophisticated lyrics dealing with love. It has ...

rumba The term rumba may refer to a variety of unrelated music styles. Originally, "rumba" was used as a synonym for "party" in northern Cuba, and by the late 19th century it was used to denote the complex of secular music styles known as Cuban rumba. ...

Jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

and

waltz The waltz ( ), meaning "to roll or revolve") is a ballroom and folk dance, normally in triple ( time), performed primarily in closed position. History There are many references to a sliding or gliding dance that would evolve into the w ...

were also present in Osadebe's musical style. It was in his high school years in Onitsha, a major commercial city near Atani, that Osadebe grew interested in music. Osadebe started his career singing at nightclubs in

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 ...

in the southwestern region of Nigeria. He had been a part of The Empire Rhythm Orchestra, led by E. C. Arinze in which he had learned much of his music skills.Idonije, Benson. "Obituary" (May 2007) ''Nigerian Guardian'' A prolific composer, Osadebe released his first album in 1958, and went on to write over 500 songs; half of which were released commercially. After stints with the Stephen Amache Band and the Central Dance Band in around 1964, Osadebe struck out as a bandleader with his group the Sound Makers."Biography of Stephen Osita Osadebe"
Nigerian Biography As he became better established, Osadebe's style matured to include social commentary, similar to, but not as confrontational as Fela Kuti. Personal trials and tribulations were usually the main topics of his commentaries. He sang in English,

pidgin English Pidgin English is a non-specific name used to refer to any of the many pidgin languages derived from English. Pidgins that are spoken as first languages become creoles. English-based pidgins that became stable contact languages, and which have ...

and

Igbo Igbo may refer to: * Igbo people, an ethnic group of Nigeria * Igbo language, their language * anything related to Igboland, a cultural region in Nigeria See also * Ibo (disambiguation) * Igbo mythology * Igbo music * Igbo art * * Igbo-Ukwu, a ...

. Osadebe often extended his tracks for his audience's enjoyment, allowing room for 'people on the dance floor' to indulge in the songs. He earned the nickname "the Doctor of Hypertension" in reference to "the healing powers of his music". Following the

Nigerian Civil War The Nigerian Civil War (6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970), also known as the Nigerian–Biafran War or the Biafran War, was a civil war fought between Nigeria and the Republic of Biafra, a secessionist state which had declared its independence ...

in the late 1960s, the massive exodus of the eastern peoples of Nigeria (especially the Igbo) out of western Nigeria had caused the death of the Highlife's prominence in the then capital, Lagos. During the war and after the war Osadebe maintained his scheduled live performances.

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 ...

and later

Afrobeat Afrobeat is a Nigerian music genre that involves the combination of West African musical styles (such as traditional Yoruba music and highlife) and American funk, jazz, and soul influences, with a focus on chanted vocals, complex intersectin ...

took precedence in Lagos, and in the 1970s James Brown and various other music forms became popular in the city. In this same decade, Osadebe's career had reached its zenith. After turning 50 in 1986, Osadebe started to give priority to fatherhood and gave more of his time to his son Obiora and his other children from his wives. One of Osita Osadebe's last albums is '' Kedu America''. Osita Osadebe died in St. Mary's Hospital Waterbury, Connecticut on 11 May 2007 after suffering from severe respiratory difficulties.

Discography

;Singles *"United Nigeria" / "Okpaku Elieli" Stephen Osadebay and Nigerian Soundmakers, 1962-63 (HMV NH37) *"Sylvanu Olympio" / "Ifeayi Chukwu" Stephen Osadebay and Nigerian Soundmakers, 1962-63 (HMV NH41) *"Monkey De Work Baboon De Chop" / "Nwezigbo Omume" Commander In Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigeria Sound Makers, 1971 (6259085 PE)/"Egwu Amala"/"Ndubusi" * ;Albums *''Highlife Parade'' Commander-in-Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigerian Sound Makers, 1970 (PR 6386 009) *''Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigeria Sound Makers'' 1972 (PL 6361 024) *''Commander In Chief Stephen Osadebe & His Nigeria Sound Makers'' 1972 (PL 6361 015) *''Osadebe '75'' Commander-In-Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigerian Sound Makers International, 1975 (POLP 001) *''Osadebe In London'' Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigerian Sound Makers International, 1975 (POLP 003) *''Osadebe '76'' Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigeria Sound Makers International, 1975 (POLP 004) *''Osadebe '76'' Vol. 2 Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigerian Sound Makers International, 1976 (POLP 007) *''Chief Osadebe '77'' Vol.1 1977 (POLP 010) *''Osadebe '78'' 1977 (POLP 017) *''Osadebe '78'' Vol.2 1978 (POLP 024) *''Arum Achoro Nsogbu'' Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe And His Nigerian SoundMakers International, 1979 (POLP 032) *''Agbalu Aka Azo Ani'' 1980 (POLP 052) *''Osadebe In 80's - Oyolima'' Vol. 1 1980 (POLP 048) *''Onu Kwulunjo, Okwue Nma'' 1981 (POLP 056) *''Onye Bili - Ibeya Ebili'' 1981 (POLP 058) *''Nke Onye Diliya'' 1981 (POLP 060) *''Ogbahu Akwulugo'' 1982 (POLP 077) *''Onye Ije Anatago'' 1982 (POLP 074) *''Ndi Dum Tufu Dum Cho '83'' 1982 (SPOSA 002) *''Igakam Ogonogo'' 1982 (POLP 089) *''Onye Achonam'' 1982 (POLP 075) *''Ok'puzo Enweilo'' 1982 (POLP 092) *''Onye Kwusia Olieonuya'' Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe And His Nigerian Sound Makers International, 1982 (POLP 101) *''Unubi Top Special'' Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigerian Sound Makers International, 1984 (SPOSA 006) *''Makojo'' Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigerian Sound Makers International, 1985 (POLP 125) *''Nwanneka Special'' Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigerian Sound Makers International, 1986 (SPOSA 008) *''Peoples Club Of Nigeria Special'' Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigerian Sound Makers International, 1987 (SPOSA 010) *''Ife Onye Metalu'' Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigerian Sound Makers International, 1987 (POLP 165) *''Ana Masi Ife Uwa'' Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigerian Sound Makers International, 1988 (POLP 194) *''Nigeria Go Better'' Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigerian Sound Makers International, 1988 (POLP 184) *''Eji - Keme Uwa'' Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigerian Sound Makers International, 1992 (JNLP 009) *Late Sam Okwaraji olp 245 -Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe and his Nigerian Soundmakers International, 1990 * Ezi Oyi Amaka[Polp 232Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe and his Nigerian Soundmakers International, 1990 * Ndi Ochongonoko[Polp 144]-Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe and his Nigerian Soundmakers International, 1986 * Onyiewe Ewerato {Polp 008]-Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe and his Nigerian Soundmakers International, 1983 * Ofe Di Ufo [Agb 001]-Chief Osita Osadebe and his Nigerian Soundmakers International, 1981 *Akwa-Etiti social club POSA 005Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe and his Nigerian Soundmakers International, 1985 * Osondi Owendi olp 120Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe and his Nigerian Soundmakers International, 1984 * Onye Atumuna olp 058Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe and his Nigerian Soundmakers International, 1991 * Onye Amamife MCD 024Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe and his Nigerian Soundmakers International, 1994 * Kedu America ENO 4044Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe and his Nigerian Soundmakers International, 1996 * Ozonkemadu POSA 012Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe And his Nigerian Soundmakers International, 1987 * Ife Chukwu Kanma MLP 001Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe his Nigerian Soundmakers International, 1991 * Ndia na Ndia olp 233Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe and his Soundmakers International, 2004

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Osadebe, Chief Stephen Osita Musicians from Anambra State Igbo highlife musicians Igbo-language singers Igbo singer-songwriters Nigerian male singer-songwriters 1936 births 2007 deaths 20th-century Nigerian male singers