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Sammie Okposo: Biography, Legacy, and Scandals

If Sammie Okposo should ask himself, ‘What would people be saying about me today if I had died yesterday?’ What would have been his answer?

Let’s put it another way. How would Sammie Okposo like to be remembered by those who knew him?

Some are remembered as philanthropists (Mobolaji Bank Anthony), martyrs of democracy (MKO Abiola), rebels with a course (Fela Anikulapo-Kuti), or for their accomplishments in business (Alhassan Dantata), science (Mohammed Bah Abba), sports (Dick Tiger), medicine (Nathaniel Thomas King), or other activities.

We now ask you: How would you like to remember Sammie Okposo? By his music? His stage performances? Or the challenges and controversies that dogged his life?

You are the judge. But before you give your verdict, let’s present the ‘evidence’!

Sammie-Okposo

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Sammie Okposo Songs

As the judge, let’s present the first piece of evidence – Sammie Okposo’s body of work.

Without an iota of doubt, Sammie Okposo was the most popular and longest-standing gospel artist in Nigeria. He was far from being a local player, as his fan base ranged across the continent and the world. His last major concert, held in London in October 2022, attests to the fact that he made an indelible mark in the music industry.

If you’re a Christian who’s expected to love gospel songs or an atheist who’s expected not to, the track Welu Welu must have lifted your spirit the first time you heard it. As well as the second time. Also, the third. As well as now.  

Welu Welu, rendered in Pidgin English, was in his debut album, Unconditional Love, released in 2000. It brought Okposo to reckoning. The song, with its catchy chorus “Jesus, I thank you, Welu Welu” has maintained its appeal among gospel music faithful 22 years after hitting the market.

Maybe the atheist ‘jumped and passed’ this track, but we reckon she didn’t do the same with Jump and Shout! Anyone who loves dancing will hit the floor once this upbeat praise song rents the air.

Jump and Shout, rendered partly in the Ghanaian Twi language, is another popular track from his maiden album, Unconditional Love. The track remains a favourite in church worship sessions or at any other place where two or more are gathered in His name!  

Sammie Okposo Naija Praise is a varied mixture of several praise songs in different languages of tribes in Nigeria, including Urhobo, Isoko, Efik, Edo, and the big trio of Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa.

Naija Praise is the ninth track on his second studio album, Addicted, released in 2004. Another memorable song from this album is Lift Him High.

Despite not being an original song because it’s a sample of the 1989 song Lord I Lift Your Name on High by the Maranatha Gospel band, Lift Him High remains evergreen.

Sammie Okposo showed his talent on the track, Na Only You I know. Surprisingly, this solemn song was a departure from the upbeat tempo Okposo was known for. The song, which featured musicians like Kefee, Essence, Ige Samsong, and Soji Israel, is the ninth track from his 2006 album, No more Drama.

Jehovah Idi Ebube, rendered in both English and Igbo and the 16th track on his album The Statement, is another solemn track by Sammie Okposo. The title of the song translates to Jehovah’s glorious. However, you will discover more meanings in the song if you allow it to connect with your soul and spirit.  

We saved the best for the last!

Baba Ye, the fourth track on his third studio album, No more Drama, delivered in the Yoruba language in collaboration with Mike Aremu, is our pick of the pack. You don’t have to take our word for it. Click here for Sammie Okposo’s songs mp3 download, where you can get a feel of Baba Ye and the others we listed above.  

Sammie-Okposo-Controversies

While at it, don’t forget to sample Sammie Okposo “Oluwa E Tobi and Sing hallelujah” .

Before we move to another piece of evidence that will shape your judgment, let’s talk about…

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Sammie Okposo Biography

Sammie Okposo was born into a religious family on May 30th, 1971, in the then Bendel state. The state was split into Delta state, where he hails from, and Edo state on August 27th, 1991. His father was an elder in a church, and his mother was a deaconess.

“I went to church every Sunday,” he said.

“I was part of the Sunday school and junior church.”

Despite his Christian upbringing, Sammie Okposo left home to experience the things of the world as a young adult.

“I did not do any of the unpredictable stuff like drugs, but I was stubborn and I moved with the wrong set of people who almost lured me into the wrong environment. I have been around guys who became highway robbers,” he said.

“My mother would tell me she did not like the guys I moved with. When we got out of school, one day I turned on the television only to see that my friends were wanted by law enforcement agents who later caught up with some of them and they were dead. It made me ask myself, what if I had followed those guys? I would probably have been dead by now.”

Like the prodigal son, Sammie Okposo retraced his steps home.

“When I returned home, my parents were happy because they had been praying for me,” he said.

“They were happy because they did not have to identify my body if anything had gone wrong. However, they were not thrilled that I ventured into music because my father wanted me to be an accountant.”

Sammie Okposo, however, stuck to keeping music scores than book-keeping.

He started his music career as a soundtrack producer for the Nigerian movie industry, Nollywood, in 1992. Sammie Okposo carved a niche doing this and was well-known among actors and producers.

His ‘Sammie Okposo Praise Party,’ a platform that brought new gospel singers into the scene, was a career flash point.

In 2000, he released his first album, Unconditional Love, with the hit single Welu Welu. Kevin Bond, a Grammy winner, produced his 2018 album, The Statement.

Sammie Okposo featured prominently in sold-out concerts worldwide and in Nigeria, especially at The Experience, with Pastor Paul Adefarasin of the House on The Rock church.

 

Sammie Okposo has shared stages with stars like Don Moen, Ron Kenoly, CeCe Winans, Donnie McClurkin, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Angelique Kidjo, John Legend, Israel Houghton, Deitrick Haddon, Jonathan Nelson, Micah Stampley, Maxi Priest, Shaggy, Missy Elliot, Koffi Olomide, Benjamin Dube, Judith Sephuma, Sonnie Badu, Uche Double-Double, Lionel Peterson, to name a few.

He has performed in notable events, including at the Martin Luther King Day celebration and July 4th Independence Day Celebration. He was a GLO Ambassador for 10 years and a United Nations Youth Ambassador for World Peace.

His music has won him a wide local and international audience and critical acclaim, and many awards.

READ: Who Is The Richest Igbo Gospel Musician In Nigeria?

Sammie Okposo Awards 

Sammie Okposo bagged multiple awards on local and international stages in his lifetime. He was named the Best Contemporary Gospel Artist for the Power of Music and Praise Awards in 2002. A year later, in South Africa, he bagged the Best Male Gospel Artiste in Africa for Kora Awards.

He additionally received the Trailblazer of the African Gospel Music Awards, in the United Kingdom, in 2012. Two years later, he won Male Artiste of the year for the African Gospel Music and Media Awards in the UK.

Sammie Okposo Wife

On July 1st, 2010, Sammie Okposo married Ozioma Okposo after three years of courtship. She was born on February 21, 1975. Ozioma is from Okpuno, Otolo, Nnewi in Anambra state. She has two degrees, one in psychology and the other in human resources.

Sammie Okposo Wife

Sammie Okposo Net worth

Sammie Okposo accumulated his wealth through his music around all streaming platforms, concerts, brand endorsement deals, and other ventures we are unaware of. He had an estimated net worth of 1.5 million dollars.

Sammie Okposo died on November 25th, 2022, at 51.

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Sammie Okposo Controversies

We know you’ve been itching for this aspect of his story. But have you ever read an obituary column or seen a lengthy report on a deceased person’s life and accomplishments devoid of controversies?

We present Sammie’s blunders!

On January 24, 2022, Sammie Okposo apologized to his wife, Ozioma, on his Instagram page for cheating on her. The apology came a day after a woman known as African Doll disclosed that Sammie Okposo got her pregnant and abandoned her.

During his bachelorhood days, Sammie Okposo was linked to several women in the entertainment industry. The media even tagged him as a Casanova.

The gospel singer was romantically linked to Gloria Ibru, Kate Henshaw, Stella Damasus, and Janet Fateye, among others.

House on the Rock Church Controversies

If you have a dirty mind, which you may call Creative, the word Rock can be a synonym for something else. Sammie Okposo was kicked out of the House of the Rock church choir. It was alleged he was preying on the women in the church.

In 2016, six years after walking down the aisle with Ozioma, Sammie Okposo said he had changed his ways and would no longer sleep with other women.

“You may be born again, but your hormones are not born again,” Sammy Okposo said in 2022 after his extramarital affair became public.

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Conclusion

Sammie Okposo Biography

November 25 was a black Friday for the Nigerian entertainment industry as it lost Sammie Okposo at the chilly hands of death. His last Instagram post was 22 hours before his demise.

SEE: Breaking: Nigerian Gospel Artist, Sammie Okposo Is Dead

Will the video of his be how you’ll remember Sammie Okposo? Or from all, we wrote above? Or you’ll ignore his music and focus on his controversies.

Before you decide, ask yourself, ‘if I had died yesterday, what would people say about me today?

This question might motivate all of us to improve how we act.

Rest in peace, Sammie Okposo.

Victor Akhidenor
Victor Akhidenor
I’m an award-winning journalist with over 10 years of experience in the industry. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Master’s degree in Media and Communication. I also have a certificate in Media Enterprise from Pan-Atlantic University as well as a D Diploma in football coaching. Aside from the media, I have work experience in insurance claims processing, marketing, credit analysis, and corporate communications in the banking sector. My hobbies are watching sports activities, reading and writing, carrying out research, traveling, and photography.