Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey
Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Obey-Fabiyi aka Ebenezer ObeyMFR
Ebenezer Obey
Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Obey-Fabiyi, professionally known as Ebenezer Obey, is a legendary Nigerian jùjú musician, songwriter, bandleader, and gospel minister. He was born on April 3, 1942, in Idogo, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria, into an Egba-Yoruba family of the Owu subgroup. He is widely regarded as one of the architects of modern jùjú music and one of the most influential musicians in African music history.
Ebenezer Obey began his professional music career in the mid-1950s after relocating to Lagos, where he trained under the renowned jùjú musician Fatai Rolling Dollar. In 1964, he established his own band, The International Brothers, which later evolved into the legendary Inter-Reformers Band in the early 1970s. Together, they recorded numerous classic albums under the West African Decca label and helped redefine jùjú music by blending traditional Yoruba percussion, talking drums, guitars, and highlife influences.
Throughout his career, Obey became celebrated for incorporating Yoruba proverbs, philosophy, and moral teachings into danceable compositions. His music often reflected themes of culture, family, hard work, gratitude, and spirituality, while also serving as praise music for prominent Nigerians. During the early 1990s, he gradually shifted his focus toward Christian gospel ministry, producing inspirational albums while continuing to perform selected jùjú classics.
Fondly known by fans as the “Chief Commander”, Ebenezer Obey remains one of Nigeria’s most decorated indigenous musicians. His decades-long contribution to jùjú music has inspired generations of artists and helped preserve Yoruba musical traditions on the global stage.
