Luaka Bop have shared a statement on his official Facebook page.

“It is with incredibly heavy hearts that we have to announce that the great Nigerian business leader and mythic music pioneer William Onyeabor has passed away at the age of 70.”

Born in 1946, the artist was a pioneering force in African electronic funk music in the 70s/80s, and more recently his music was opened up to a much younger audience.

The release of ‘Fantastic Man’, a documentary by Vice’s Noisey channel, plus the pressing of the ‘Who Is William Oneyeabor?’ record.

“He died peacefully in his sleep following a brief illness, at his home in Enugu, Nigeria.”