Only You – Nigeria’s Accidental Star: Steve Monite
Despite his recent cult following, Steve Monite remains something of a mystery – an unlikely icon whose fame came decades after his brief moment in the spotlight. Growing up in post-civil war Nigeria, he was a young man who related more with Michael Jackson and Barry White, yearning for something beyond Highlife, which young Nigerians saw as music of the past.
By the late ’70s and early ’80s, Lagos was buzzing with disco, boogie, and electro-funk, soundtracking Nigeria’s oil-fueled economic boom. In the midst of this, Steve landed a record deal with EMI after a failed attempt to secure one in London. At EMI, he teamed up with two heavyweights: producer Tony Okoroji and Nkono Teles, one of the most prolific studio musicians of the ’80s.
The result? Only You, a stellar, genre-bending album with sleek songwriting and lush arrangements. The title track is now a global underground classic, but tracks like “Things Fall Apart”, inspired by Chinua Achebe’s novel and reflecting Nigeria’s 1983 political turmoil, reveal a sharp, socially attuned lyricist. Still, upon release, the album made no impact. Steve disappeared.
Years later, Soundway Records included “Only You” on a compilation, and crate digger Frankie Francis put a spin on it. Then, in 2017, Frank Ocean performed the track at FYF Fest, triggering a wave of renewed interest. Theophilus London and Tame Impala followed with a cover and music video, pushing the song further into pop culture. All of this happened without Steve’s knowledge until his seven-year-old nephew alerted him.
Today, Steve Monite is a cult 1980s Nigerian star flying the flag globally. His story underscores the power of archival compilations in reviving lost gems. He’s the music ambassador Nigeria didn’t expect, but maybe always needed.