Mixes: Rhythm Passport Vol.26 – DJ Khalab – William Onyeabor Tribute Mix

This is not just an exclusive mix by DJ Khalab, it is also a heartfelt tribute to one of the most brilliant, unpredictable and significant figures of West African music: William Onyeabor.

We have lost one of the grooviest psychedelic masters of African music

In his Nigerian hometown, they were calling him ‘The Chief’. In fact, William Onyeabor was an extraordinary artist, a true pioneer of electronic music in Africa, businessman, and visionary. To prove this, there are his nine self-recorded and self-produced albums. William Onyeabor played and released his albums all alone in his music workshop. In the 1970s, he set up a music company from scratch and gave many locals the opportunity to redeem themselves from poverty.

His figure has always been surrounded by mysticism, which has made it even more interesting to delve into his past. As a matter of fact, I’ve always been fascinated by his ability to be thorough and capable of looking back at his roots and ahead towards the future at the same time, without losing touch with the present and what was happening around him. The music scene was evolving around him and he constantly grasped the ongoing mood. All the people who met him described William Onyeabor as one of the smartest people they ever met.

I hope to be able to summarize his eclectic nature within this 30 minutes mix”.

(Raffaele Costantino – DJ Khalab)