VP Yemi Osinbajo, King Sunny Ade, Sir Shina Peters And Others Celebrates Veteran Singer Chief Ebenezer Obey At 80

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday the 3rd of April 2022, graced the 80th birthday celebration of veteran singer, Chief Ebenezer Obey Commander, in Agege, Lagos.

Also present at the event were singers, King Sunny Ade and Sir Shina Peters among other important personalities who came to honor the Juju music legend with their presence.

Commander as he’s popularly called is one man who is loved by many and has imparted the industry first, with his miliki sound before heeding to God’s call to sing his (Almighty’s) praises alone.

Below are his career journey so far..

‘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 highlife–jùjú 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.’