With Nigerian Afrobeat music currently enjoying a resurgence with the likes of Seun Kuti harking back to it’s heyday and his father’s extensive discography being re released, not to mention the increasing focus on Africa as the last bastion of rare groove these kind of compilations have become a dime a dozen. What makes this compilation, subtitled Modern Highlife and Nigerian Blues 1970 – 76 stand out is its focus on a specific period of time. In the early 70′s highlife was all the rage in Nigeria, a unique blend of Africa roots music and Western jazz sounds, in fact this was the style that Fela Kuti himself first played with his band Koola Lobitos. These 19 tracks compiled here were culled from obscure vinyl and have never been reissued before, Soundway sending their detectives into Nigeria to dig through dusty crates and find a mixture of highlife, juju and jazzy blues sung in numerous native languages. What this compilation demonstrates is how the social conditions were intrinsically linked to the music, how post Biafran War Nigeria enjoyed a creative prosperity, and within the various styles there was much experimentation. Just listen to Joy Nwoso’s almost operatic vocals on Egwo Umu Agbogho or how about Emperor Dele Ojo & HIs Africana Internationals, Commander In Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His NIgerian Sound Makers or Fidel Sax Bateke & THe Voices of Darkness as some of the greatest band names ever. It’s a collection brimming with energy and a sense of possibility, some pretty amazing jams characterised by the presence of horns and the relentless African percussion.
Bob Baker Fish
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