Benin Highlife Singer,  Ambassador Osayomore Joseph has died  at the age 69 years.

Osayomore reportedly passed on Saturday, 11th June, 2022, in Benin City, from stroke-related ailment.

Confirming the sad development, his friend, Tony Erha, said, “I was on regular visits to him at his residence, located at the Gapuiba Area of GRA, Benin City.

“Joseph Osayomore was his usual self, talking about current happenings in the country, as a human rights activist, whose music is soul-lifting, philosophical and protests against human oppression.

“This was despite the fact that he was ridden with stroke associated with his incaceration in the hands of kidnappers, who for weeks held and released him after payment of ransom.

“He was a truthful and selfless man who came from grass to grace, with his music as comforter for the depressed and wretched of the earth. I will always miss his good company and counsel.”

Born October 29, 1952 in  Ugha near Benin, Edo State,  Osayomore Joseph was one of the early pioneers of Afro-pop.

The late singer, a well-known freedom fighter and activist musician, has a long history of criticizing local and national government corruption through music. 

His educational, anti-corruption, and anti-government lyrics in Edo and pidgin English  gained worldwide popularity. These include:  Efewedo, “Baba Na Wa,” “Leave us alone,” and “Evil days postponed.”

He combined contemporary popular music funk, Afrobeat, and highlife with Edo’s indigenous songs and rhythms, winning him supporters across Nigeria as well as among the burgeoning Edo populations in the United States and Europe.

Osayomore Joseph have released several albums with big music conglomerates, Polydor and Philips West Africa. With 104 album to his credit, some include: ‘Who Know Man,’ ‘Mother’s Day,’ ‘Ulele Queen,’ Ulele Power Sound vol 2′ ‘Edo Funk Explosion,’ Forever,  My Name is Money, Fire on the Mountain and several others.