Ebenezer Obey
Background information
Birth nameEbenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Obey-Fabiyi
Also known asChief Commander
Born (1942-04-03) 3 April 1942 (age 82)
Idogo, Southern Region, British Nigeria (now Idogo, Ogun State, Nigeria)
OriginLagos, Nigeria
GenresJùjú music
Years active1950s–present

Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Obey-Fabiyi MFR (born 3 April 1942), known professionally as Ebenezer Obey, is a Nigerian jùjú musician.[1]

Early life

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Obey was born on 3 April 1942[2] to an EgbaYoruba ethnic background family. Obey, whose real names are Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Fabiyi, was born in Idogo, Ogun State, Nigeria of Egba-Yoruba ethnic background. He is of the Owu subgroup of the Egba.

Career

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Ebenezer Obey began his professional career in the mid-1950s after moving to Lagos. After tutelage under Fatai Rolling-Dollar's band, he formed a band called The International Brothers in 1964, playing highlifejùjú 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 Yoruba percussion style and expanding on the band by adding more drum kits, guitars and talking drums. Obey's musical strengths lie in weaving intricate Yoruba 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 during his 30 years on stage concert in Lagos.

Personal life

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Obey married Juliana Olaide Olufade in 1963.[3] 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.[4]

Partial discography

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Waterman, p. 120
  2. ^ "The Making of Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, By Toyin Falola". 2021-04-17. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  3. ^ Dayo Farore (24 August 2011). "Ebenezer Obey's Wife, Juliana Dies At 67". Nigerian Entertainment Today.
  4. ^ Ogbonna Amadi (24 August 2011). "Ebenezer Obey loses wife". Vanguard.

References

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Further reading

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