Just to see Mr. Onyeabor at the end was freaking amazing!

Wow! documentary was a trip in nostalgia. William Onyeabor's electronic funk music was the backdrop to my childhood in the early 80s of Enugu, Nigeria. Constantly played on the radio, my dad playing Onyeabor's songs on the 8-track car stereo, my young Uncle Bart (rip) doing the moves from the video. Enugu was, and still very much is, a very creative city with an abundance of musical talent. Thanks guys for releasing such a great documentary PS: gotta big up *****, would have never found this if not for her 

I went to college in Enugu when Willie Onyeabor was all over the airwaves - but then as now - no one that I remember ever saw him in concert. Or even met him - and he lived less than two miles away. Thanks for the documentary. It is a fitting tribute to the mystery that was Willie.

Whoever was responsible for putting this up - thank you. This was an amazing documentary about a man I've heard of for nearly 30 years.

"...do the word of god and live a good life. I love you all, and bye for now." RIP

RIP Mr Onyeabor. The music is still making me smile !

Ahem. I heard William for the first time this weekend. I thought he was a brand new, fresh, up and coming artist. And I listen to a lot of electronic music. Turns out he made his music in the 80s. He's a music time lord. What a delight

Now I wish William Onyeabor had the resources to make films. Imagine the trippy afro-futurist films he would have made with his amazing score?! Get this man a movie deal!

Wow. Just Wow. Every part of the William Onyeabor renaissance story is nothing but a labor of love. Thanks to everyone that played a role in bringing this to the world. The best part is that the man himself, the riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma (as Churchill described Russia) was alive to, if not see, hear about the reawakening of the music we knew 40 years ago was futuristic and a cut above the rest. He was a mystery back in the late 70s and early 80s. While we never could figure out how this guy acquired state of the art gear that big established recording companies could only dream of (cost of one of those moog synthesizers could feed a village back in them days), we were forever in awe of the album liner notes that said "All instruments played by William Onyeabor". He really did it his way, from soup to nuts. Rest in peace great one. Thank you Luaka Bop, Uchenna Ikonne, Atomic Bomb band and the other good folks that embarked on this journey and seeing it through.

For anybody interested, the biblical scripture he offered at the end is James 1:22-25 "22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do."

My uncle was the lead singer of The Funkees

My mother's sister is married to Williams's brother. I had never heard the story about William until my cousins started posting links to his music a few months ago.

I love the aesthetic in Nigerian artists, especially Onyeabor. makes me feel close to home. AMAAAAZING documentary.

I had a chance meeting with a Polish Dj in Vienna city Austria,he asked me if I know William Onyeabor in 2017. Later I did a personal research and realised I remember the hit "when the going is smooth and good"...in the 1980s as a kid growing up in Lagos Nigeria!!! William Onyeabor was way ahead of his time!!!! He was very talented and unfortunately he had died some months earlier that year, talk about things going full circle!! RIP William Onyeabor!!!

Wow. The bit outside the house near the end sends a shiver up the spine. Fabulous.

I first heard Mr. Onyeabor's music while attending an art class in Mazeppa, MN about two years ago, specifically by overhearing it from someone's Bluetooth speaker. I had already taken a liking to musicians like Hailu Mergia and really hadn't dug too much deeper, but it's safe to say that William Onyeabor's music changed my life for the better.

This is a gem of documentary! We haven't learn nothing but I loved the effort of the crew, the people of Nigeria and the smile of William at the end was everything.

just discovered this legend! Nigeria we should be honoring our giants! thank you Noisey!

Great documentary. Loved it when you see William's synthesisers and then him at the end.

RIP Just heard Atomic Bomb in a bar two weeks ago. Thanks for the groovy tunes, man.

This was sooo beautiful, thanks for putting it together ❤️. Loved the simple words he left us with at the end

beautiful documentry Noisey. Thanks my friends. This guy was truly dedicating himself and doing it for the people. I love Nigeria, my African brothers and sisters as well as its culture a lot. Be blessed my friends

Spotify put a couple of his songs in my discover weekly and here we are.

Only just discovered Mr Onyeabor............wow, simply 'WOW'.

The lesson from this story is, William Onyeabor is one of the greatest African musicians that ever lived. His influence on modern music is permanent. Unfortunately, Nigerians will not benefit from the royalties of his work.

Loved this guy for a long time! Thanks for this amazing documentary/glimpse into this mysterious genius musician!

This is like the first actually interesting thing I've seen online in years, probably.

R.I.P. His great music makes me feel good!

thank you for this doc! rest in peace, mr. onyeabor!!! seeing oga at the end smiling and waving made me cry (such a nice surprise!)

Saw this documentary with my wife last week and we loved it!

I wish I could give this documentary a gigantic hug. I loved it so.

Many thanks to the team for the great work

Wow I’m honoured to have learnt some history about the legend. Thanks guys for putting this documentary together

He just cut away all inputs that lead to illusions and fogging of the creative vision... and just stayed loyal to his art. thanks for sharing!

One of the best music docs on KZfaq. Excellent work

is that him waving his hand at the end. wow

damn. RIP Mr Fantastic! It was a pleasure knowing you and your music

incredible work, my friends and I have been infatuated with the idea of William and his music since 2018, so grateful to have found this short film in 2022. I am happy to have a learned so much but still so little the question of Who Is William Onyeabor? still remains.

rip mr. onyeabor. his music for me will always be associated with beautiful and depressingly powerful places that i was lucky enough to visit and just be happening to listen to his music at or before. kalau beach, random city park in taiwan, visiting the killing fields in cambodia. he created this music for whatever reason, and for that i am grateful

Never heard of him before this documentary. Thanks for sharing. I will be listening to Onyeabor now...

Thanks for having made this.

Wow. That's good to know. I remember now. Growing up with his music. Though, never really knew who he was. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for the great music sir William Onyeabor.

Africa has always had some great funk groups/artists. I actually like African fuck more then the American version. If you enjoy William Onyeabor you might want to check out "Orchestre Poly- Rythmo Se Contonou"

This really is an incredible project. Love Mr Onyeabor

When the Going is Smooth & Good randomly come on after listening to my South African song playlist last week and I saved it to that knowing nothing about the man. He gets his own separate playlist now. Thanks for the film about this Fantastic Man.

This is absolutely brilliant

Rest In Power, Mr Onyeabor. Legends never die. It was very emotional seeing him at the end. Goodbye sir

Super job here Noisey. Top class.

If it wasn't for Apple's commercial that used "Fantastic Man" in it, I probably would have never known about William Onyeabor. Thank You Apple!!!

I randomly discovered his “Fantastic Man” very recently. Having read up on him what I could find, it’s even more impressive.

Thanks for this effort. Great job. Brother Onyeabor, I love you, man. R.I.P.

i love videos like this , being a record collector i always wait for that one find as soon as the needle hits the record it blows you away.

Does anyone know anything about Dr Adolf Ahanotu? I discovered his 1985 EP called 'Odejimjim' recently and it's really got a hold on me. Apart from him being Nigerian and the EP being released on Mirabel Records, there's absolutely zero info about him. The song 'Ijere' is hella funky/psychedelic and the whole EP is just out of this world. Great doc btw! Watched it a good few times now. I want to do one on Dr Adolf! ;)

so glad this guy is finally getting his due

Current theory: He was a time-traveler, got sent back to the 60's/70's, wanted to start electronic music. Got told off by the time-police for changing history and was forced to become a born-again-christian as an excuse not to ever talk about his past and reveal his true nature.

Exceptional documentary and an even more exceptional character in William.

Fire documentary. Really building up the mystery and the payoff is magic.

RIP William Onyeabor. Your music will forever be a part of my life.

Great piece! Very interesting documentary. The Myths and Synths of Mr Onyeabor.

Part of the mystery that has me baffled, is all the pictures of him with a cowboy hat on. He really was his own character...

Rest in peace you wonderful human being, thank you for the music and the beauty.

RIP Onyeabor! The man was a musical genius!!

Thanks for this awesome film!

Such a divine doc thanks for making it on a ethereal artist such as William

Fascinated by this man's musical and personal journey.

Rest in peace genius, you are making the Lord himself groove to your beats now

Omg when William came out at the end I literally couldn’t believe it!!

Desde Ecuador, aun escuchamos a William, gracias este gran documental. Siempre nos quedara ese sabor agridulce por saber "Who is William Onyeabor?"

hi, thanks for the exquisite piece a documentary here. I was wondering, was there a chance to see the original music video "When the going is smooth and good".

This is so amazing

r.i.p. fantastic man. thanks for the music

very cool, thanks for sharing

again, we love to see it!

Funny, I went to school with his son but never knew how great his dad was smh!

nicely done, Jake.

Brilliant documentary, fascinating guy. Great to see all the cast of people sharing their thoughts (and Damon too!). I'll get my vinyl copy out again soon for another listen. (Very pretty lady looking straight at the camera at 10:40 was another highlight).

"searching for sugar man" - nigerian style!

incredible history, big up from spain

I teared up a bit at the end

Fascinating. Thanks for that.

this is GOLD!!!!

Fantastic film..Thank you !!

What a fantastic man!

He looks so good...Fantastic Man

Ben fatto! Grazie mille per aver reso disponibile questo dolce piccolo documentario qui senza metterlo dietro un paywall. Mi è piaciuto molto seguire la ricerca di un contesto da cui vedere Mr. Onyeabor.

I just found gold!

Why am I fascinated by this?

So much talent!

Graet work! fantastic

I have that organ, it's a Yamaha Electone. Great sounds on it.

Rest in peace Mr. Onyeabor! ♡

I wanna see full length william onyeabor videos they showed segments of in this documentary. So, so funky.

The pioneer of Nigerian electronic music >>

More power to you willy! you are fantastic

SIMPLY FANTASTIC

We've lost a great pioneer. R.I.P Fantastic Man :(

This was so cool

Good stuff guys

Fantastic, man.

This is great!