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Sonny Okosuns - Freedom Fighter and Musician

Sonny Okosuns Dies at 61

The Punch
Akeem Lasisi, Sunday Ojeme
& Abimbola Adelakun
26th May 2008

Renowned freedom fighter and musician, Evangelist Sonny Okosuns, is dead. He died on Saturday at University Hospital, United States of America, after battling with cancer of the colon for almost one year.

Okosuns, known for his brand of music against forces of apartheid in the 1970 and early 1980, was in the news recently as having been diagnosed of cancer, an ailment that took him to some major countries of the world, including India where he sought medical attention.

According to his son, Mr. Oseghale Okosuns, who broke the news of his health in Lagos on Sunday, the musician died around 7pm. on Saturday. He added that the family members were already meeting to decide when he would be buried.

He said that his father shuttled between Nigeria and the US between August 2007 and May this year. Okosuns added that last December, he ministered twice in Port Harcourt, and between March and May, he ministered in Benin and Lagos.

Okosuns‘ death came a few days after the demise of Chief Jossy Olajoyegbe, the main promoter of Yoruba popular music in the 50s and 60s.

Our correspondent, who visited his Ogba, Lagos residence in the early hours of Sunday, said a horde of sympathisers had been thronging the residence to commiserate with members of the family. Among the early callers was one of Okosuns‘ family members young musician, Ms. Stella Monye, and Harry Moscow.

A former President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, Chief Tony Okoroji, expressed shock at Okosun‘s death. He said Okosun would be remembered for his contributions to the industry. He said it was sad that his death occurred when the world was witnessing Nigeria‘s biggest music award.

Monye said Okosuns was a national hero. She said,” He did a lot for the entertainment industry. He used his music as a weapon to fight oppression and injustice. He was never a musician that had time to sing about mundane things. When the time called for it, he used his music to fight apartheid.

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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm