William Onyeabor

William Onyeabor was born in Enugu, Nigeria, in 1946. In the early 1970s, he started his own record label called Wilfilms and began putting out music that mixed traditional African rhythms with Western soul. He called this blend Afrobeat, though his version had its own distinct flavor.

His 1977 album 'Who Is William Onyeabor?' included the track 'Fantastic Man,' which became his best-known song. The album's reissue in 2013 helped introduce his work to new listeners. He also released other albums like 'Supernatural' in 1978 and 'C.O.D.' in 1980.

Onyeabor's music career was affected by Nigeria's political situation at the time, which made it difficult to distribute his records. He remained a somewhat private figure, and details about his later life are sparse. His recordings from the 1970s and early 1980s are what he's remembered for.