Sonny Okosun poster : Sonny Okosun
Object
Poster
Production date
1987
Object number
1988.31
Physical Description
Black poster with two white triangles top and bottom. In red writing across the middle it says 'Sonny Okosun' and in white text below it 'The 15 piece Ozziddi band'. Event information in the top white triangle in red text and in the bottom white triangle in blue text.
Object history
Poster promoting performance of the Nigerian singer, guitarist and composer Sonny Okosun at the Hackney Empire.
Okosun found fame across Africa with his socio-political "liberation" lyrics. He achieved global success in the 1970s and 80s with the reggae song Fire in Soweto, which is listed on this poster.
He named his band (as seen on this poster) and his style of music ‘Ozzidi’, from the Igbo word for "message", and was associated with Okosun's personal pan-African philosophy of liberation.
Okosun found fame across Africa with his socio-political "liberation" lyrics. He achieved global success in the 1970s and 80s with the reggae song Fire in Soweto, which is listed on this poster.
He named his band (as seen on this poster) and his style of music ‘Ozzidi’, from the Igbo word for "message", and was associated with Okosun's personal pan-African philosophy of liberation.
Associated Organisation
Hackney Empire (Produced for)
Associated Person
Okosun, Sonny (Subject of)
Material
Card
Dimension
Height: 730mm
Width: 500mm
Width: 500mm
Exhibition Label
Sonny Okosun, 1987
African musicians like Nigerian Sonny Okosun influenced European artists like The Clash. Okosun’s song Fire in Soweto, which is listed on this poster, documented the 1976 uprisings in Soweto, South Africa. In 1979, The Clash covered the song and recorded Where You Gonna Go (Soweto) during preliminary sessions for their 1979 album London Calling.
Okosun named his band and his style of music ‘Ozzidi’, from the Igbo word for ‘message’, which he associated with his own pan-African philosophy of liberation.
Being African in Hackney: 1960s-2020s
14 September 2021 to 14 February 2022
African musicians like Nigerian Sonny Okosun influenced European artists like The Clash. Okosun’s song Fire in Soweto, which is listed on this poster, documented the 1976 uprisings in Soweto, South Africa. In 1979, The Clash covered the song and recorded Where You Gonna Go (Soweto) during preliminary sessions for their 1979 album London Calling.
Okosun named his band and his style of music ‘Ozzidi’, from the Igbo word for ‘message’, which he associated with his own pan-African philosophy of liberation.
Being African in Hackney: 1960s-2020s
14 September 2021 to 14 February 2022
On display?
No
Inscription
Mankind Worldwide Promotions
proudly presents
The Music for Freedom Tour
Featuring
The first ever appearance, direct from Nigeria, of the sensational
Sonny Okosun
“fire in Soweto” “tell them papa’s land”
And
The 15 piece Ozziddi band
Friday 4th September
Hackney Empire
Mare Street Hackney.
Box Office: 985 2424
Tickets: £6. & £5 concs. £1 reduction
Doors open 7.30 Show 8.00
Presented in association with City Limits Magazine
Design and Logowork: Visual Image
Enquiries: Contact Mankind Club
Printed by Capital Print & Display Ltd.
proudly presents
The Music for Freedom Tour
Featuring
The first ever appearance, direct from Nigeria, of the sensational
Sonny Okosun
“fire in Soweto” “tell them papa’s land”
And
The 15 piece Ozziddi band
Friday 4th September
Hackney Empire
Mare Street Hackney.
Box Office: 985 2424
Tickets: £6. & £5 concs. £1 reduction
Doors open 7.30 Show 8.00
Presented in association with City Limits Magazine
Design and Logowork: Visual Image
Enquiries: Contact Mankind Club
Printed by Capital Print & Display Ltd.