One of the most notable musical forces during Nigeria’s thriving funk era was Fabomo Edoleyi and His Supersonic Sound of Nigeria, who carved out a special place for themselves in the nation’s diverse musical landscape. Edoleyi, who was mostly active in the 1970s and 1980s, became a trailblazer in the creation of Edo funk, a style that masterfully combined modern musical advancements with traditional Edo cultural components. Fabomo Edoleyi, a native of southern Nigeria’s Edo State, joined notable musicians Sir Victor Uwaifo and Osayomore Joseph in a groundbreaking musical movement. Together, these trailblazers kept strong ties to their ancestry while transforming traditional Edo music by adding contemporary elements. During a pivotal moment in Nigerian music history, this musical revolution—known as Edo funk—became a potent expression of artistic inventiveness and cultural identity. The unique signature of Edo funk, and Edoleyi’s music specifically, set it apart. Complex, syncopated rhythms that produced an enticing groove were supported by heavy, hypnotic basslines. Ekassa rhythms were skilfully combined with traditional Edo percussion instruments like agogo bells and akuba drums to create a distinctively Nigerian kind of funk music. While lyrics frequently drew from the rich wells of Edo folklore, proverbs, and social commentary, electric guitar riffs and synthesisers gave the sound psychedelic aspects. The self-titled record, which Fabomo Edoleyi and his Supersonic Sound Makers of Nigeria published in 1979, would go on to become a pivotal document in the Edo funk genre. This ground-breaking record demonstrated Edoleyi’s extraordinary ability to combine modern highlife grooves with Edo musical traditions, creating a model that would impact other performers. Further showcasing his flexibility, his 1984 record “Fabomo at Cross Road” blended many Nigerian musical styles in ways that captured the vibrant spirit of the Edo funk era. Among his most well-known songs, “Itendo” is a masterwork of hypnotic groove construction, with rich, evocative rhythms that perfectly capture the texture of Edo funk. Likewise, “Aro-Ayaronka-Nomao” demonstrates Edoleyi’s extraordinary ability to work with melody and rhythm to produce music that cuts across time and cultural boundaries. Fabomo Edoleyi’s music has seen a resurgence among foreign collectors and fans of classic Afro-funk and highlife, much like that of many of his peers from this fruitful era in Nigerian music. His recordings are undiscovered treasures from a time when Edo musicians were actively changing African music’s sound while respecting their cultural heritage. His contributions to Nigerian highlife and Edo funk constitute a significant chapter in a musical legacy that still influences modern Afrobeat and highlife musicians in Nigeria and abroad. The Supersonic Sound Makers contributed to the establishment of fundamental aspects that would impact future generations of Nigerian musicians, proving that Edo music has a timeless appeal that appeals to listeners everywhere.