Obi Original’s New Single Is a Pan-African Call to Reconnect
Nigerian-American artist and producer Obi Original has released “Who Man Dem? (We Never Reconcile),” a bold musical affirmation of identity, ancestral pride, and the complex truths of the diaspora.
On a mission to bridge cultural gaps through sound, Nigerian-American artist and producer Obiora Obikwelu, better known as Obi Original, released his latest single, “Who Man Dem? (We Never Reconcile),” July 11; a fiery declaration of identity, pride, and pan-African truth.
Rooted in the rhythmic richness of highlife music and shaped by the complexities of diasporic belonging, Obi’s music is more than entertainment: It’s testimony.
“This isn’t just a track. It’s an affirmation,” Obi told MSR. “A confirmation of my purpose. A refusal to let the disconnection in the diaspora go unnamed.”
Raised in a Nigerian household where highlife and Fela Kuti played on repeat, Obi’s earliest influences were ancestral. While many of his peers were just discovering Afrobeats, he was already tuned into its origins. It wasn’t until college at St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN, that his musical curiosity shifted into action.
“I came home from school one weekend, my mom was out of town, and I turned the house into a studio,” he recalled. “That night, I recorded Ndidi. That was over a decade ago, and I knew right then, this is what I’m meant to do.”
A soundtrack to the diaspora
Known for his layered production and genre-blending artistry, Obi Original co-founded Ozone Creations, an Afrocentric media collective turned LLC in 2019. Through its recording division, Ozone Sound Labs, he engineers and produces for local and international artists across genres, Afrobeats, R&B, hip hop and soul, but always with an Afro-rooted base.
His live band, Black Atlantics, is the physical manifestation of that philosophy, channeling the power of African music through live instrumentation, ancestral homage, and contemporary sonic exploration.
“Think Prince and the Revolution,” he explained. “Black Atlantics is, to me, what the Revolution was to Prince: a vessel. When I play live, I’m playing both original compositions and covers of foundational African tracks. It’s a way of passing on the legacy.”
With past projects like “Tsunami,” “No Talkin’,” and “Melindago,” Obi has built a discography that swings from modern Afrobeats to deep-rooted highlife and Afro-jazz. But in 2025, he’s stepping further into the griot role — prioritizing heritage, healing, and truth-telling over algorithmic trends.
“Who Man Dem?” and the call for reconnection
His single “Who Man Dem? (We Never Reconcile)” is bold and intentional, born out of frustration with performative unity across the diaspora.
“There’s still tension, still misunderstanding. We’ve had surface-level connections, but no true reconciliation,” he said. “This song is about asking, ‘Who are the ones who doubt my belonging, my purpose, my place?’ And then answering them, with rhythm and clarity.”
Drawing on British slang, pan-African philosophy, and sonic elements of classic highlife, the song is both a critique and a celebration. It’s not a diss track. It’s a mirror, one that urges listeners to look deeper into their lineage and re-examine their conditioning around identity.
“If you say you’re not African because you’ve been here for generations, what happens when your descendants say the same about you? When we forget who we are, we disrespect those who came before us.”
More than music: A mission
What keeps Obi Original grounded and energetic isn’t just music: It’s “knowledge of self.” Raised with a deep reverence for his heritage, he has long understood the importance of honoring his ancestors not just in ritual, but in rhythm.
“My guitar is my chalkboard,” he said. “I could lecture, or I could play. When I play, people feel something ancient move through them. That’s spiritual. That’s ancestral.”
Obi sees music as the original African social media. Before likes and shares, there were drums and voices, carrying messages and gathering communities.
“Music was how we organized, how we healed, how we told our stories. That’s why I don’t separate my artistry from myself. I am the message.”
Catch him live
Obi Original’s next single “Who Man Dem? (We Never Reconcile)” drops ahead of his upcoming project set to release in August 2025. He’ll headline a major show at The Hook and Ladder Theater in Minneapolis on August 15, featuring DJ Kwey of Samambo, and poet Brandyn Lee Tulloch.
You can also catch him performing with Black Atlantics at Aquatennial Minneapolis on July 26.
To connect with Obi, visit www.ozonecreationsmn.com/obioriginal, or follow him on Instagram @obioriginal.
Jasmine McBride is welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@spokesman-recorder.com.