Yusufa Olatunji & His Group - Orin Tokotaya

This battered CD came from a stall on East Street Market in Southwark - a real treasure trove of Nigerian music if you ever get the chance to have a wander.

Yusufa Olatunji was one of the leading exponents of sakara music, a popular form of Yoruba music and a precurser to the percussion heavy fuji sounds of Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister or Alhaji (Chief) Kollington Ayinla. Yusufa was also known as Baba Legba, which got me wondering whether the nickname was related to the Yoruba loa, Papa Legba. Papa Legba is the first and last spirit to be called during Haitian Voodoo ceremonies as his presence is essential in any communication between mortals and the spirit world.

Just for kicks, here is the SUn City Girls playing Papa Legba:

and here is Baba Legba:

Tracklist:

01 Alhaji Adetunji Adenekan / Alhaja Lati Ladejobi / Sinotu Abeke / Egbe Egba Parapo (Oshodi)
02 Orin Tokotaya / Orin Asiko / Rasaki Adelakun / Egbe Faripo (Egba) / Egbe Irepolodun (Egba)

Get it HERE.

Ikenga Super Stars of Africa (1975)

I know this one has popped up on a number of other evil file-sharing blogs over the years, but it really is too good to miss. If you've never come across them before, the Ikenga Super Stars of Africa play the kind of dizzying, funky highlife that is sure to move both asses and minds. The interweaving guitars on these two long songs never fail to send me into a kaleidoscope hypno-trance, and that could never be a bad thing, could it?
And, just in case you're wondering, the file is hosted on mediafire. I've had a think about my options since all this megaupload kerfuffle started, and I've come to the conclusion that we humble muzak bloggers are but small fish. I'm really sorry to those (Moos at Global Groove, Owl at Holy Warbles, the team at Mutant Sounds amongst many others) who have had their files deleted - I can only imagine how upsetting this is - but I'm sure we're all going to be able to find ways to keep on keeping on.

Tracklist:

01 Ikenga Go Marry Me
02 Ikenga in Africa

Get it HERE (while you still can!).

Chief Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister - Fuji New Waves (1991)

It's been an awful long time since I posted any of that mindbending Fuji music so here is something else from the late, great Chief Doctor Barrister. Here the Chief Doctor urges us to dance to the new wave of Fuji and uses a non too subtle wall of percussion, slide guitar and incredibly wonky synth noise to coax us onto the dancefloor. Once there, you won't want to stop.


Tracklist:

01 Duka Hausawa
02 New Waves
03 Cinderella
04 Gbaa - e gwu
05 Alhaji Raheem Tejumola
06 Ori o Gbodo Fo
07 Owo Kilani
08 National Pledge
09 Late Alhaji Muniru Gbadamosi
10 Mr Dolapo Badru

Get it HERE.

Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey & His Inter-Reformers Band - Sound of the Moment (1980)

I'll start by apologising for the lack of recent posts - I've been rather busy with one thing or another and just haven't been able to make the time for music posts.

However, I'm returning with the sweet musical sunshine. I picked up this beautiful chunk of balmy Nigerian juju heat at a recent bootsale and it's helping to make up for the lack of sunshine here.
If you've never heard the juju, then this is as good a place as any to start your habit. If you have, then you'll know the score: gloriously woozy slide guitars, mesmeric talking drums and sublime vocal harmonising all blended up into a lazy psychedelic gumbo.

Previous Ebenezer Obey posts can be found here.

Tracklist:

Side One: Kaiye Mi Ko Dun Ko Dero / Aja Kole Ba Agbo Kan / Ewure Ile Komo Oyi Ode / Mo Mo Iyi Enia Mi / Omode Yi Nwo Mi Loju / Ade Komolafe

Side Two: Chief Muraina Adisa Makinde / Borikan Ba Sunwon / Folaranmi / Kenimani Sebi Ogun Ni

Get it HERE.

Homzy Trio Group - Green Eagles Special (1981)

Picked this oddity up in a flea market a couple of weeks ago, and it suits the incredibly good weather we're having here at the minute. This is some wonky highlife and native blues that was made in support of the Green Eagles, Nigeria's national football team who in 1981 were playing matches to qualify for the 1982 World Cup.

This is Rossanah Nwhere Obi Nwayo:


Tracklist:

01 Green Eagles Special
02 Jelly Leave Me
03 Onye Dara Ada
04 Rossanah Nwhere Obi Nwayo

Get it HERE.

Nkengas - Destruction (1973)

I've been a bit busy in recent weeks, hence the lack of music posts. However I hope to make up for this absence by presenting you with this bad boy of an album. Devastating, earth-shaking funk from Nigeria, this is as raw and hypnotic as it gets.

Tracklist:

01 Anyi Bundi Igbo
02 Obuna Alu
03 Anyi Buofu
04 Jungle Beat
05 Ube Frank Special
06 Ndu Bu Isi
07 Nkenga Special
08 London Special
09 Destruction

Get it HERE.
Nkengas in London can be found HERE.

Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey & His Inter-Reformers Band - What God Has Joined Together (1981)

Back in July last year I posted this album, which featured some great extracts from Ebenezer Obey's albums from the early '80s. The music on that album is all wonderful, but when the song fades I'm always left feeling a little disappointed, like I might have missed something important. This 1981 album from Obey's amazing band drifts the way juju should, the songs stretch out and subtly shift in pace and texture and you get the impression they could just groove on and on and on...

Tracklist:

Side 1: Eto Igbey Awo / What God Has Joined Together / Ile Oko Ile Eko

Side 2: Ore Oluwa Akari / Olusola Lumous

Get it HERE.

Nomades Du Niger: Musique des Touareg, Musique des Bororo (Ocora )

These great recordings were made in Niger in 1963 & '64 by Tolia Nikiprowetzki, who also wrote the notes in the accompanying booklet. Here's an extract:

The Tuareg are nomads of Berber origin, who live in the central Sahara and the steppes - or Sahel - to the south of the desert. They live in tents and raise livestock. They are estimated to be about 500,000 in number. There are some 300,000 in the Republic of Niger, scattered among the northern and middle-western regions.

The recordings presented here were collected among the Tuareg living in the Air of Niger, a mountainous massif stretching across the north-west of the country.

"The most secret and constant preoccupation of the Bororo" writes Henry Brandt "is to be beautiful. For several weeks each year they devote all their artistry and almost all their time to this end"

Thus every year in the rainy season, the Guerewol takes place; this is an important feast which is the occassion for a veritable beauty contest. The young men dress and make upwith great care, while the young women bring out there finest jewels.

The young men, in single file in groups of about thirty, perform an almost motionless dance, singing at the same time. Periodically, the songbreaks off while the dancers open their eyes as wide as they can to arouse admiration, and curl back their lipsto display the dazzling whiteness of their teeth. The young women mix with the spectators. Each girl will choose her fiance for his good looks.

Tracklist:

01 ouane-ouane
02 aboraki
03 ahayalla-ahane
04 henne-amhee
05 tikichkichene
06 tekalelt
07 tailalt
08 ouankalanine
09 musique bororo

Get it HERE.

Akeem Ayinla Omowura & His Apala Modernizer Band - 1985 Challenge Cup (Afrodisia 1985)

Akeem Ayinla Omawura is the son of famous Nigerian Fuji bandleader, Alhaji Ayinla Omowura. Omowura Sr. died in 1980 and his son released this, his only album that I can find, on the legendary Afrodisia record label in 1985. Can't find any information about the younger Omowura on the internet, so I'm afraid there's nothing more to say other than enjoy this beautiful music.

Side 1:

01 Challenge Cup 1985
02 Alhaji Rasaki Kolawole
03 Alhaji Mosudi Ogunsanya Enkalow
04 Ode Totori Ategun Lo Gbe Ibon

Side 2:

01 Tuntun Lo Ma Je Jade
02 Alhaji Ajasa Sansaliu
03 Baiye Se Nyi
04 Aditu Ede Mo Gbere De
05 Omowunmi Tony Adegboyega

Get the Fuji goodness HERE.

Chief Ebenezer Obey - Miliki Plus (1983)

Excellent compilation of songs from 4 of Obey's early '80s albums. I'm loving the juju sound...Obey's voice is sweet and strong like honey and his band are just incredible. Miliki means enjoyment in the Yoruban language and that just about sums up these perfect summer sounds.

Tracklist:

01 Ere Oloyin Momo
02 Singing for the People
03 What God Has Joined Together
04 Happy Birthday (Celebration)
05 Eiye To Ma Ba Kowe Ke
06 Eyi Yato
07 Oro Mi Ti Dayo
08 Ore Oluwa a Kari

Get It Over HERE.

Imole Ayo Christina Singers (led by Akin Adebayo) - Nigerian Gospel Sounds of the '80s

Gorgeous, gentle music from Nigeria. It's Yoruban gospel music, but don't let that put you off if you're strictly secular...you'll get some really beautiful gospel harmonies and slightly psychedelic guitar all wrapped up with not quite reggae rhythms.

Tracklist:

01 Late Rev. S.B.J. Oshoffa
02 Ema Besin Je
03 Aiye Nreti Eleya

Get it HERE.

Sunny Ade & His Green Spot Band - Master Guitarist Vol. 5

Well, its been too long, so here's another phenomenal album from the juju maestro, the Minister of Enjoyment, King Sunny Ade. This one was released in the very early '70s and has a lovely organic sound that I've been enjoying immensely.

Tracklist:
o1 Late Dr Nkrumah
02 Ka Ma Buni Lole
03 I. S. Adewale
04 Olulade Wilkey

05 Sunny Special
06 Owo Ko Nife
07 Awon Ti Won Yo
08 Alhaja Bintu

Get it HERE.

Chief Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister - Barry Wonder (1987)

Chief Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and his African International Music Ambassadors were one of the leading Fuji groups in Nigeria. They played a style that came to rival Juju in popularity amongst the country's Yoruban speakers, although fuji is a much tougher sound that is more connected with the music and arts of pre-Christian and pre-Islamic Africa. Barry Wonder is a frantic listen...frenetic percussion, wonky brass, some amazing one finger casio playing and the Doctor's urgent calls make for a great time.

Tracklist:

Side 1 Subu-Ana-Lahi / Barry Wonder / Ruru Fun Mi Gangan / Alhaja Mulika Da Silva / Alhaji Mufutau-Olanihun / Bobaje-Tolorin

Side 2 Bafefe Nfe / Akola Orin / Opon Tanke / Alhaji Shittu Sanni / Lefe Lawa / Mesonu

Get the zip HERE.

Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey & His Inter-Reformers Band - Womanhood (1991)

I picked up a handful of African records at a flea market yesterday, so here's the first of them, it's some gloriously cosmic juju from Chief Commader Ebenezer Obey. Along with King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey was Nigeria's most famous and successful juju musician and this album from the early '90s is just beautiful...exquisite vocal harmonies, intricate layers of mesmerising guitars, a chorus of talking drums, all these things work together in the construction of some really wonderful melodies. The whole thing sends me into raptures! Each side of the album is dedicated to a famous or powerful public figure, so side 1 goes to Mrs Maryam Babangida who was Nigeria's first lady at the time of the record's release. Here, Mrs Babangida is praised by Obey for her involvement in efforts to alleviate poverty through the introduction of the Better-Life Programme (I don't know much about this, presumably it involved the redistribution of some of Nigeria's oil money...get in touch if you know more).

Tracklist:

Side 1 Iba Lo Ye Ka Se / Woman Deserve Better Treatment / Better Life For Women / Happiness Of Mothers / I Love You For Ever

Side 2 Ori Lafi'N Meran Lawo / Bashorun M. K. Abiola (14th Aare Onakakanfo) / Orun I'Osupa Ti Muyi Wa / Ologbo To Fe Peja Ninu Omi / In The Continent of Africa

Get it HERE.

Peter Effiom & His Rabalac Messengers

Don't know much about this one I'm afraid, other than to say that its some fantastic Nigerian Igbo highlife, with great guitar playing and lots of percussion. Peter Effiom looks like a Major in some rock 'n' roll guitar army. I suspect that the album was released in the 1980s, but thats really just a guess. Any info would be much appreciated. In the meantime, enjoy....

Tracklist:

01 Mbre Ewangsi
02 Anie Ata Inva Inwang
03 Enyen Kusonge Enyin Ye Ami
04 Ayama Mbana Idem
05 Ita Edi Ama Mi
06 Obob Eyen Owo

Taste the goodness HERE.

King Sunny Ade & His African Beats - Conscience (Eri Okun) 1983

My next door neighbour found this great slice of '80s electro-juju in a second hand record shop in London. Being a very kind man, he's let me borrow the album to share with anyone with an interest and an internet connection:

Tracklist:

01 Eri Okan / Semi Lasepe
02 Odele Alaga / Igbehin Loju
03 Atiro Gbon Orin Da / Ojumo Oni Tunmo
04 Ebawa Jo / Prince 'Beyo Ade Goke

You can download the zip here.

King Sunny Ade - Ijinle Odu (1982)

Another glorious album of light, airy but totally insistent grooves from King Sunny Ade. Ijinle Odu came out in 1982 on Sunny Alade Records of Ikeja, but is quite different from his Island Records releases from around this time, Synchro System and Aura, both of which blend the juju sound with synths, syn drums and dub effects. Ijinle Odu is an altogether more organic affair that just meanders along, languishing in its own beauty. Great, shifting rhythms, some fantastic guitar work and really amazing xylophone playing all combine to make this well worth some of your time.

Track Listing:

A1 Oro Oko Ati Irawo
A2 Aya To Pawo
A3 Ife Ki Ibinu
A4 Alhadji Jide Okunnu

B1 Aja Ngbo Nigbo
B2 Ika O Dara
B3 Ata Wewe
B4 Maje Nbi Were Lomo
B5 E Saiye Re

Although the sleeve and labels say there are 9 tracks, I've posted the album as two separate mp3s because each side works best as a cotinuous piece rather than as a collection of discrete songs. Like I said, the music just makes a subtle shift and you find yourself dancing to a different tune.

Get it over here.

King Sunny Ade - Private Line (1978)

African music seems to be enjoying something of a resurgence in popularity lately. Interest and imaginations have been sparked as a number of young bands like the Dirty Projectors, Extra Golden, Yeasayer or Vampire Weekend have tried to introduce something of an 'African' guitar sound into their music, evoking the rhythms and sounds of highlife or afrobeat. Some fantastic compilations and reissues, and some great blogs, have also helped bring some beautiful, vintage music to listening ears and draw attention to the richness and diversity of this huge continent's recent musical history. So, from the deep and mystical sounding '60s and '70s afro-jazz of Ethiopia's Mulatu Astatke, or the wild, guitar workouts of Sir Victor Uwaifo, we get to catch a glimpse of the Africa that lies behind official representations of a continent and people in need of Europe's paternal presence, first in the name of the colonial civilising mission, then in the name of development.

Today's musical offering is from one of Africa's most popular musicians, The Minister of Enjoyment, King Sunny Ade. I picked up a battered copy of this wonderful example of juju music at a car boot sale.



It's a Nigerian pressing from the Sunny Alade label and I don't think this music has had any kind of European or American release, although the track 365 is my Number was rerecorded and shortened for one of Sunny Ade's Island releases. This really is beautiful music, with gorgeous recurring phrases and melodies that play around the intricate rhythms of the many percussion instruments, and some fantastic, understated guitar playing. Maybe I'm easily pleased, but this stuff just seems to put me in a good mood. We've not had much of a summer here in England, but this stuff has been providing me with plenty of musical sunshine.

Tracklisting:

A		365 Is My Number-Dial
B1		Kale Sanwa Jowuro Lo
B2		Omo Nigeria Ti Mbe Lehin Odi
B3		Ajo Ki Dun Ki Odida Ma Rewo
B4		Alhaji Kola Wole Olokodana

The zip is here or here. Enjoy the sunshine...