Legendary Nigerian Musician William Onyeabor is Dead

Legendary Nigerian musician William Onyeabor has passed away. According to reports, the "Atomic Bomb" singer died on Monday the 16th of January at his home in Enugu, Nigeria.

They report had his son Charles as saying, "Yea, my dad is dead. He died peacefully on Monday January 16, 2017 at his palace in Enugu."

Luaka Bop, the label behind the retrospective compilation Who Is William Onyeabor?, announced his death on Facebook, saying he died peacefully in his sleep following a brief illness at his home in Enugu, Nigeria.

“It is with incredibly heavy hearts that we have to announce that the great Nigerian business leader and mythic music pioneer William Onyeabor has passed away at the age of 70,” wrote the label, describing him as “an extraordinary artist, businessman and visionary”.

Onyeabor, who released nine albums between 1977 and 1985, before resurfacing with the release of Luaka Bop's seminal Who is William Onyeabor? compilation in 2013.

The release of that compilation led to a critical appraisal of his work, and worldwide fame. Onyeabor painted himself as a semi-mythical figure, courting mystery and intrigue.