January 21, 2009

William Onyeabor//Better Change Your Mind

Alright, after all that optimism, it's time to get our feet back on the ground.

My friend Travis put this AMAZING song on a recent mix. I'm totally obsessed.

I did a little research on Onyeabor, and this was about all I could find:

William Onyeabor studied cinematography in Russia for many years, returning to Nigeria in the mid-70s to start his own Wilfilms music label and to set up a music and film production studio. He recorded a number of hit songs in Nigeria during the 70s, the biggest of which was “Atomic Bomb” in 1978. William has now been crowned a High Chief in Enugu, where he lives today as a successful businessman working on government contracts and running his own flour mill.

Sounds like a pretty interesting guy, right?

A LastFM user commented:

I have wet dreams about william onyeabor's music. I've read somewhere that this guy wound up selling out and becoming a banker somewhere in nigeria, and he still lives there as a big man. That is kind of saddening, because the message of better change your mind was some intensely anti-imperialist stuff, and he was right on. I guess he wound up changing his own mind. Sad times.

Hear, hear. If yesterday was about unbridled hope for the future, then today should be a reality check. Onyeabor reminds us that no one's on top forever, and that arrogance will always lead to demise.



Better Change Your Mind.mp3

Leaders, you ever think this world is yours?
***
If you're thinking so,
better change your mind.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

that doesn't mean he sold out...one would hope that someone who wrote the lyrics to "better change your mind" would be in a position of power. The world needs more people with that type of mindset to lead the way. peace.

g said...

Well, I guess it depends what kind of banker he is.