Description

Children of the World is an album by the Nigerian-born, British based singer and songwriter Ben Okafor, released in the UK on Ears & Eyes Records in 1985, manufactured, marketed, and distributed and Ears & Eyes Production Company. The album was recorded and mixed October 1984 by Bob Lamb at Bob Lamb Studios in Birmingham, England; with Lamb and Ben Okafor producing. All songs written by Ben Okafor.

Featuring Ben Okafor on lead and backing vocals as well as acoustic and electric guitars, percussion, and keyboards (on track B4); backed by a session band consisting of Neville King on keyboards, Paul Poulton on rhythm and lead guitar (as well as percussion and backing vocals on track A1), Anthony Bartley on bass, and Conrad Kelly on drums and percussion.

Ben Okafor (Benedict Chukwudebelu Okafor) was born in Enugu, eastern Nigeria as 1 of 8 children, his music and early life were shaped by his experiences as a child as Ben was a victim of the civil war in Nigeria and at the age of 13, fought as a boy soldier. Ben moved to the UK in 1979 and settled in the Midlands.

Recorded shortly after Nigerian-born Benedict Chukwudebelu Okafor moved to the UK and released in 1985 by the short-lived Leeds-based Ears & Eyes label. Ben teamed up with Birmingham-based producer Bob Lamb (whose production credits include UB40 & Garth Hewitt) and the album also features guitar work from a young Paul Poulton. Okafor’s debut sees him exploring themes that would recur across his entire recorded career – faith, justice, humanitarian issues. Standouts include the lilting «Why?» and the dramatic «Messiah Man». Musically this is very influenced by Okafor’s early love of Bob Marley and it sees him beginning to define what would become his own style. At the time of release there wasn’t anything else that sounded remotely like it in the whole of the Christian music scene. A groundbreaking album. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, October 2010]

Ben Okafor is fairly well-known in many music circles. If you haven’t heard of him, well… that is your fault. From what I can tell, this is possibly his first album that he recorded, which was not too long after he moved from Nigeria to the UK. He is a fan of Bob Marley, and Marley’s influence shows on this tape. Okafor continued to develop his own style after this. This tape was produced by early UB40 producer Bob Lamb, so you can hear that influence as well. This was also released on vinyl (and that version seems to be easier to find). This is African roots reggae at its finest. Okafor went on to have albums released by Plankton Records, R.E.X. Music, and many others. [Christian Tape Underground, Cross Rhythms, June 28, 2019]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “What Could It Be” – 4:44
A2. “Why?” – 6:38
A3. “Children Of The World” – 5:12
A4. “Who Is Jesus?” – 4:20

Side Two
B1. “I Love You” – 5:13
B2. “Just As I Am” – 4:17
B3. “Messiah Man” – 6:11
B4. “Jah Man” – 5:18

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Ears & Eyes Records.