Jide Obi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jide Obi Ibo (born 1962) is a notable Black British music star of the 1980s.
Jide Obi was born in England to a Nigerian barrister of England's Lincoln Inn and a teacher. While he is a qualified lawyer himself, having graduated from the University of Nigeria in Nsukka, he is better known for his music, with institutional hits like Tonight, Kill Me With Love, Front Page News, Time, Paperback Superstar, At The Disco, and Forever and Everlasting. He has made numerous memorable performances on Nigerian radio and television, some in front of state governors and senators, and even once in front of Nigeria's iconic first President, Doctor Nnamdi Azikiwe.
In November 1981, his record label, Tabansi Records, gave him his first gold disc award at the National Theatre, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria. In 1983, he toured eastern Nigeria with Sierra Leone's Bunny Mack, backed mostly by the Comrades of Enugu, Nigeria.
He has had several well-known bands backing him, including Guyanese great Eddy Grant's Coach House Band, the Dukes of Freetown Sierra Leone, and the Apostles of Aba. Furthermore, he has been backed by Ethiopian and Somalian performers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His first two albums, Front Page News and Kill Me With Love, were both giant romantic hits produced by Barbados native Bill Cambell. Ex-Osibisa and Funkees guitarist Jake Solo performed on both recordings.
Jide Obi is known to give press interviews critical of aspects of religion. The most notable instance occurred in 1989 and 1990, when he declared religion as frequently a victimising factor. The story made the cover of Nigerian billionaire Bashorun MKO Abiola's National Concord magazine.
In recent years, Jide Obi has been seen living in both Britain and the United States, though he is a recluse seldom seen in public. He is nevertheless extremely well-loved by his fans, even during a shocking 20-year break from recording and performing.
