Recent Album Reviews

Bacilos - Sin Vergüenza class=

Bacilos - Sin Vergüenza

Los Delinqüentes - Recuerdos Garrapateros de la Flama y el Carril

Los Delinqüentes - "Recuerdos Garrapateros de la Flama y el Carril"

Ali Farka Touré - Savane

Ali Farka Touré - "Savane"

Macaco - Ingravitto

Macaco - "Ingravitto"

Various artists - Nigeria 70

Various artists - "Nigeria 70"

Amadou and Mariam - Dimanche a Bamako

Amadou & Mariam - "Dimanche a Bamako"

Various artists - "Nigeria 70"

Sunday, 29 October 2006

The now defunct British label, Strut Records (1999-2003), put together an excellent 3-disc compilation of Nigerian popular music of the 1970s. The compilation covers internationally recognized musicians Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade as well as more obscure artists who helped define a music scene on the heels of Nigeria’s independence in the early Sixties.

Nigeria 70 serves as both a historical documentary as well as a rich and funky collection of excellent, body-shakin’ grooves. The third disc consists of 60 minutes of commentary from many of the artists who were responsible for the music coming out of Lagos during the Seventies. They discuss which cultural paradigms led up to Highlife and what it evolved into. This third disc is the history lesson in words. To the interested listener, the previous 2 discs can be considered a history lesson in song as well. However, these initial 2 discs could easily be the soundtrack to a really good houseparty too.

Various artist - Nigeria 70 Artist: Various artists
Album: Nigeria 70
Label: Strut
Released: 2001

Buy this album from Amazon.com


Disc 1

  1. Ololufe Mi – Koola Lobitos
  2. Tire Loma Da Nigbehin – Monomono
  3. Chant To Mother Earth – Blo
  4. Jeun Ko Ku (Chop ‘N’ Quench) – Fela Ransome Kuti & The Africa 70
  5. Ifa – Tunji Oyelana & The Benders
  6. Ikon Allah – Bala Miller & The Great Music Pirameeds Of Afrika
  7. La La La – Segun Bucknor & His Revolution
  8. Shango – Peter King
  9. No Discrimination – Tony Allen & His Afro Messengers
  10. Akayan Ekassa – Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestroes
  11. Better Change Your Mind – William Onyeabor
  12. Woman Made The Devil – Bongos Ikwue

Disc 2

  1. Alo Mi Alo (Part 1 & 2) – Orlando Julius & The Afro Sounders
  2. Allah Wakbarr – Ofo The Black Company
  3. Enjoy Yourself – Sahara All Stars Band Jos.
  4. Dancing Time – The Funkees
  5. The Quest – Afro Cult Foundation
  6. Greetings – Joni Haastrup
  7. Kita Kita – Gasper Lawal
  8. Orere Elejigbo – Lijadu Sisters
  9. Upside Down – Fela Anikulapo Kuti & The Africa 70
  10. Agboju Logun – Shina Williams & His African Percussionists
  11. Ja Fun Mi (Instrumental) – Sunny Ade & His African Beats

Disc 3

  1. The Documentary – Nigeria 70
  2. The Documentary – Nigeria 70
  3. The Documentary – Nigeria 70
  4. The Documentary – Nigeria 70
  5. The Documentary – Nigeria 70
  6. The Documentary – Nigeria 70

tag Tagged as: , , , ,
Bookmark this article
Share your comments