Chief Commander as he’s fondly called is of an Egba–Yoruba ethnic background. He is of the Ake subgroup of the Egba.
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.
The ‘Miliki’ singer 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.
Obey married Juliana Olaide Olufade in 1963. His wife, known as Lady Evangelist Juliana Obey-Fabiyi, died at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital on 23 August 2011, aged 67. They have several children and grand children.
Join us in wishing him happy birthday…
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