Onstage company
Documented collaborators
Orlando Julius, born September 22, 1943 in Ikole, Nigeria, stands as a towering figure in the development of Afrobeat and Afro-soul. A trailblazer who fused traditional Nigerian rhythms with US R&B, soul, and jazz, Julius helped lay the groundwork for a sound that would influence generations, including Fela Kuti. From his first single Igbehin Adara in 1960 to Jagua Nana in 1965, his music electrified West Africa and set a path for global recognition.