Atomic Bomb! The Music of William Onyeabor at BAM Howard Gilman Opera House

Post Author: , Eric Groom

On Friday, May 2nd and Saturday, May 3rd, Red Bull Music Academy entered its second day with an event called “Atomic Bomb! The Music of William Onyeabor” at the Brooklyn Music Academy of Music's Howard Gilman Opera House. William Onyeabor is a Nigeria-born, synth-funk pioneer and World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who is William Onyeabor was released by Luaka Bop last year. Onyeabor self released 8 albums up until 1985 when he became a born again Christian and elusive. Musicians such as David Byrne, Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip), Luke Jenner (The Rapture), Pat Mahoney (LCD Soundsystem), Devonte Hynes (Blood Orange), The Lijadu Sisters (who performed live for the first time in three decades) and Joshua Redman performed the songs of Onyeabor for the first time to a US audience. The event's musical direction was by Ahmed Gallab (Sinkane) and Money Mark. The photos that appear in this gallery courtesy of photographer Eric Groom were taken on the first night of Friday, May 2nd.

Celebrating the music of Nigerian musician William Onyeabor thanks to Red Bull Music Academy.