Oby Onyioha

Oby Onyioha is a Nigerian singer and songwriter best known for her smash debut single, I Want To Feel Your Love which was widely successful in the 1980s in Nigeria.

Oby Onyioha
Birth nameOby Onyioha
Also known asQueen of Atrado Rhythms
BornLagos State, Nigeria
OriginNkporo, Abia State, Nigeria
GenresPop, Atrado Rhythms (Originator)
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, performer
Years active1981 – present
Websiteobyonyioha.co.uk[1]

Years after the release of her debut and long hiatus, Onyioha announced her return to the music scene and plans for the release of her 3rd album, 'Break-It' being the second.

Early life

Oby was born in Lagos & brought up in the eastern part of Nigeria. Her father was K. O. K. Onyioha the Head of the Godian Religion. Onyioha began her education in St Stephens Primary School in Umuahia, Abia State from whence she went to Queen's School, Enugu for her high school education. She went on to attain a B.A, B.sc in History and Business Management respectively, she also attained a Masters and Doctorate in Social Anthropology.[2]

Music career

Onyioha first burst onto the Nigerian music scene in 1981 with the release of her first album ‘I Want To Feel Your Love’ which was named after her hugely successful single of the same title. The single, I Want To Feel Your Love is regarded as one of the greatest songs of her era in Nigeria.[3] She was the first artist to sign to Time Communication Limited. the album was written and produced by Lemmy Jackson for Time Communication Limited.[4] The album was a huge success and took the Nigerian music scene by storm in the 1980s and 90s, all this at a time when disco break-dance music was considered the exclusive domain of western artists. Onyioha played a big part in helping to break the perception that music was a vocation for academically challenged women.[5] Oby Onyioha's ‘I Want To Feel Your Love’ album was so successful that at an auction in Europe, the vinyl record sold for $700.[6]

Her second album ‘Break it’ was released in 1984. Her songs featured in different compilations including ‘Amixtape from Nigeria’ released in 2017 by DJ Mix Starfunkel; ‘Kin & Amir Present Off Track Volume 111: Brooklyn’ released in 2010 by Kon & Amir; ‘Brand New Wayo: Funk, Fast Times & Nigerian Boogie Badness 1979 – 1983’ released in 2011; ‘Doing It in Lagos: Boogie, Pop & Disco in 1980s Nigeria released in 2016 and ‘Return to the Mothers’ Garden (More Funky Sounds of Female Africa 1971 – 1982)’ released in 2019.[7][8]

More than 3 decades after the release of her debut album, she announced her return to the music scene and plan to release her 3rd album in 2015[9]

References
  1. "Oby Onyioha". Oby Onyioha official site.
  2. "My Biography". Oby Onyioha. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  3. "360 Listening EAR Independence Day Special – Nigeria's Top 50 Songs(1960-2010)". 360nobs.com. Oye AKD. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  4. https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/throwback-thursday-oby-onyioha-thrilled-our-fathers-with-i-want-to-feel-your-love/wttrhrc
  5. "On: The Quincy Jones of Nigeria, woman singers and the London Era of Nigerian music". Comb and Razor. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  6. "Oby Onyioha Thrilled Our Fathers With 'I Want To Feel Your Love'". Pulse. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  7. https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/oby_onyioha
  8. http://www.musicismysanctuary.com/forgotten-treasure-oby-onyioha-enjoy-life-1981
  9. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/oby-onyiohaundying-queen-of-atrado-rhythms/
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