Solo Hit (Nigeria/1981)

I discovered this Solo Hit on Analog Africa label and I can't help sharing it

"Solo Hit's real name is Ohieirme, which means 'God gave me'. He was born in 1954 in Avbiosi, Western Nigeria. His father, Igbuan, was a popular guitar player and his mother composed and sang songs in the local idioms, while she worked at home. Legend has it the people of Avbiosi were known for their ability to soothsay.

After college Solo Hit went to the North to pursue a career playing rock music, but was lured back to play in Waziri Oshomah's highlife band before joining Sir Victor Uwaifo's Titibitis band in 1978 as the 2nd Rhythm guitarist. He stayed with the band for 5 years, before forming his own, which went under the names Solo Hits and his Ododo Soundz International. The word Ododo refers to the Edo people and is sometimes translated as the word 'rare truth' or 'beautiful flower'. He then began recording LP's with several of the top record labels in the area including: Iroube Records in Eruere, Atose records based in Sabongidda-Ora and Akpolla Records in Benin City.

Most of the music on these LP's is listed as Owan Native Blues or Luleha Native Highlife. The two tracks presented here were released on an earlier LP he did in 1981 when he was still a member of the Titibitis. Recorded at the Victor Uwaifo's Joromi studio, ths unique sound was dubbed Oba Afro Funk. According to Professor Victor Uwaifo it was a mixture of Ekassa music and pop sung in the Ora dialect of the Edo language. The sound on all his recordings reflects the way Solo Hit mined the local Edo folklore for rhythms and stories to use in his songs."

Segun Bucknor & His Assembly (Nigeria)

I love this afrobeat tune "Adebo" of Nigerian pianist an guitarist Segun Bucknor.

Segun Bucknor (29 March 1946 – 11 August 2017) was a Nigerian musician and journalist active during the 1960s and 1970s. He was a pianist and guitarist specializing in genres ranging from soul music to pop music and to funk. Through their brief career, Segun Bucknor and the Assembly released a variety of music dealing with Nigerian culture or political influence.

J'adore ce "Adebo", morceau afrobeat "Adebo" du pianiste et guitariste nigérian Segun Bucknor.

Segun Bucknor (29 Mars 1946 - 11 aout 2017) était un musicien et journaliste actif durant les années 60s et 70s. Ses genres musicaux allaient de la soul à la pop an passant par la funk. A travers leur courte carrière, Segun Bucknor & The Assembly ont sorti beaucoup de titres engagés culturellement et politiquement.

MARY AFI USUAH & the South Eastern State Cultural Band - Led by DAN SATCH (Nigeria/1975)

MARY AFI USUAH

Having attended one of the most prestigious music conservatories in Rome in the ’60’s to study opera singing, Afi Usuah forged ties with a notable array of artists which included the likes of Duke Ellington and Led Zepellin. She forsook a budding and promising career abroad to return home to serve country and flag. Over the years, she mentored and paved the way for a remarkable number of Nigerian female singers.

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DAN SATCH

Dan Satch Joseph leader of his The Atomic "8" Dance Band is a pure tone trumpeter and arranger. Dan Satch started playing the trumpet in 1959 and was the trumpeter leader of Bobby Benson & his Jam Session Band until 1961. In 1962 he moved to Aba and formed the Atomic "8" Dance Band.

DEMOS DENIRAN (Nigeria/1980)

Chers auditeurs, pardon pour cette longue période de mutisme. J'ai travaillé tout l'été sur des documentaires, l'un sur la Guadeloupe et l'autre sur la Namibie. Je ne peux pas vous dire le plaisir que j'ai pris. Je vous tiendrai au courant des dates de diffusion télé.
Je vous fais découvrir aujourd'hui la musique afrobeat de Demos Deniran, un artiste Nigerian très respecté pas des compagnons de routes tels que Sonny Okosun ou Ebenezer Obey qui lui consacreront un album en son hommage intitulé "Final Race".

Dear listeners  sorry for this long period without music. I have been working all summer on very interesting documentaries about Guadalupe and Namibia.

I invite you to discover Demos Deniran's music (Real name Moses Adeniran). Great afrobeat from Nigeria. Deniran passed on in 1995 but remains highly respected in Nigerian musical and religious circles with stars such as Sonny Okosun and Ebenezer Obey coming out to perform tributes to him, including recording an album called "Final Race".

Demos Deniran a participé au fameux festival culturel africain organisé au Nigeria en 1977. J'ai trouvé un morceau tiré de cet album que je voudrais partager avec vous. Le titre est "FESTAC (Ariya)".

FESTAC (Ariya)

Demos Deniran participated to FESTAC's famous african cultural event in 1977. I found a track taken from the album that I want to share with you. It is called "FESTAC (Ariya)".

L'autre album que je vous présente a été enregistré en 1980 avec l'orchestre The Luko Resurgento. Un album afrobeat profond et hypnotique. J'adore, tous les morceaux sont excellents.

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The other LP was recorded in 1980 with The Luko Resurgento band. It is deep and hypnotic afrobeat music. I love it, every tracks are particularly great.

Super Doeths (Nigeria/1985)

Je voudrais remercier Domantas pour le partage de ce disque hyper funky des Super Doeths du Nigeria. J'espère que vous apprécierez car je ne poste pas souvent des disques funk.

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I would like to thank Domantas for sharing this funky record from the Super Doeths of Nigeria. I hope you will enjoy because I do not post often funk music records.

The duo Super Doeths described their sound as “Afro-funk,” but showed a keen interest in the burgeoning hip-hop scene, quoting Whodini’ “Five Minutes of Funk” and namechecking Run-DMC in the “Sucker MCs”-inspired eponymous theme song. Produced by legendary rock guitarist Felix “Feladey” Odey.

African All Stars & Sam Mangwana (Congo/1979)

This record from the congolese African All Stars band was recorded in Nigeria under beninese Albarika Store label. Some members of the band have recorded many albums with different orchestras from Benin, like malian saxophonist Tidiane Kone (Poly-Rythmo) or guitarist Dizzi Mandjekou (Stan Tohon).

This album was really inspired by whole west Africa, from Ivory-Coast to Nigeria through Benin. Compositions are sometimes afrobeat, sometimes highlife, pure happiness.

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Cet album du groupe congolais "African All Stars" a été enregistré au Nigeria sous le label béninois Albarika Store. Certains musiciens de l'orchestre ont enregistré de nombreux albums avec des orchestres béninois tels que le saxophoniste malien Tidiani Kone (orchestre Poly-Rythmo) ou encore le guitariste Dizzi Mandjekou (Stan Tohon). Cet album a vraiment été inspiré par toute l'Afrique de l'Ouest, de la côte d'Ivoire jusqu'au Nigeria, en passant par le Bénin. Cela se ressent à travers des compositions parfois afrobeat, parfois highlife, sublime.

Chief Fasco Dagama & His Super Performers (Nigeria/1979)

Chief Fasco Dagama may be from Nigeria or Benin his juju music album edited on Beninese Albarika Store label remains excellent. Gangan or talking-drum lovers will be delighted.
I think comment from Reservatory resumes perfectly this album:

"This one's still on rotation. I hear bits of Alhadji Haruna Ishola and gamelan in the rhythm, but the guitars really take it somewhere else. Polytonality, microtonality or faulty tuning, I can't get enough whatever it is. And does his name reference Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama? Thanks again for this treasure."

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Chief Fasco Dagama peut être Nigerian ou Béninois, son album de Juju music édité sur le label Béninois Albarika Store reste excellent. Les amateurs de tambour Gangan ou "talking drum" seront enchantés.
Je pense que ce commentaire de Resevatory résume parfaitement cet album:

"This one's still on rotation. I hear bits of Alhadji Haruna Ishola and gamelan in the rhythm, but the guitars really take it somewhere else. Polytonality, microtonality or faulty tuning, I can't get enough whatever it is. And does his name reference Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama? Thanks again for this treasure."

Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe (1970)

Je suis un fan absolu de Stephen Osita Osadebe. J'ai lu quelque part qu'il aurait enregistré plus 500 morceaux. Je pense qu'on ne connait pas encore toute sa musique.
En attendant voici un 33 tours de 1970.

Le commandant en chef Stepen Osita Osadebe et ses NIgerian Sound Makers sont des vétérans de la scène musicale Nigeriane. Leur musique a souvent fait sensation. Le succès d'Osadebe en tant que compositeur et musicien est due à son originalité mais aussi à son grand sens de l'humour. Avant de former les Nigerian Sound Makers, Osadebe a joué pendant longtemps en tant que compositeur et chanteur avec le légendaire Zeal Onyia.   Alex Peters

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I am an absolute fan of Stephen Osita Osadebe. I read somewhere that he recorded over 500 songs. I think we still do not know all his music yet. Until that here is an LP recorded in 1970.

The Commander-in-chief, Stephen Osita Osadebe and His Nigerian Sound Makers are veterans of the Nigerian musical scene. Their music has several times been the sensation of the musical panorama. Osadebe's success as a composer and musician has been due not only to his purely musical fantasy, but also to his down-to-earth sense of humour. Osadebe played music with the legendary Zeal Onyia for many years as a composer/vocalist before he formed the Nigerian Sound Makers.   Alex Peters

SONNY OKOSUNS OZIDIZM (Nigeria/1972)

  

  Sonny Okosuns was born on 1st January 1947 in Enugu. He entered showbiz in 1964 as a sole actor/singer In 1965, he attended the 1st Commonwealth Arts Festival in Great Britain. In 1966, Sonny attended the first All-Negroes Arts Festival in Dakar, Senegal. Later the same year, he formed his first amateur group The Postmen in Enugu.

    In 1968, he worked in the design Section of NBC/TV. Lagos. In 1969, he joined Victor Uwaifo'band as second guitarist. In the same year, he attended the 1st All African Cultural Arts Festival in Algeria. In 1970, ha acted in a films shot in London entitled "The Cinemas of Ramond Fark" or "Mau Mau Strike at down."

    In 1971, he formed his first professional band called Paperback Ltd. which later disbanded to form OZZIDI.

    This is Sonny Okosun's first album called OZIDIZM containing the music of the ancient Ishan Folklore re-orientated.

                                                                                                                    FESTUS RUPEE

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Yedenou Adjahoui (1981)

I have not posted Yedenou Adahoui's music for a long time. As before, I grew in time and suggest two LP's recorded in 1981 at Lagos, Nigeria. Adjahoui recorded dozens of albums, he was the most popular and prolific traditional singer of his time. He was part of Goun community, as Danialou Sagbohan, highly represented in the region of Badagri, Ogoun State, Nigeria...

SMRLP 38

Il y a longtemps que je n'ai pas posté de la musique de Yedenou Adjahoui. Comme précédemment, je progresse dans le temps et je vous propose deux 33 tours enregistrés en 1981 au Nigeria, sur le label nigérian S.M. Record. Adjahoui a enregistré plusieurs dizaines d'albums, il était le chanteur le plus populaire et prolifique de son temps. Il faisait parti de la communauté Goun, comme Danialou Sagbohan, très représentée dans la région de Badagre au Nigeria...

SMRLP 51

Seven Brothers Egun Band (Nigeria - 1978)

I think "Seven Brothers Egun Band" is a traditional music band of Badagry, Nigeria. This region was occupied by Dahomey (Benin) until the 19th century. It is largely populated by Gun community, a community deeply rooted in Benin. This album recorded in Nigeria in 1978 is therefore in the tradition of Beninese music. The music of Seven Brothers sounds like Yedenou Adjahoui's of Benin but with more binary arrangements and closer to Yourba music.

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Je pense que Seven Brothers Egun Band est un orchestre traditionnel de Badagry, Nigeria. Cette région du Nigeria était occupée par le Dahomey jusqu'au 19ème siècle. Elle est peuplée en grande partie par la communauté Goun, une communauté très ancrée au Bénin. Cet album enregistré au Nigeria en 1978 s'inscrit donc dans la grande tradition de la musique Béninoise. La musique des Seven Brothers ressemble à celle de Yedenou Adjahoui du Bénin mais avec des arrangements plus binaires et plus proches de la musique Yorouba.

Segun Adewale (Nigeria, 1983)

juju

Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe (1972)

Depuis très longtemps je voulais partager les remèdes du plus grand docteur musical, Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe. On dit qu'il a composé plus de 500 titres, je pense donc que vous n'avez pas fini d'entendre parler du Doc sur Oro. Des extraits de l'album ont été postés sur le génial blog Likembe il y a 3 ans. Je propose l'album en entier dont voici les titres sous forme de medley:

[A] Egbunam / Ezi Oyi / Matador Special  / Ozo Emezina

[B] Ezi Ogelidi  / Obi Enwe Igodi  / Okalianjo

For a very long time I wanted to share the remedies of the greatest doctor of music,Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe. They say he has composed over 500 songs, so I think you will herad more about Osadebe on Oro. Excerpts from the album wereposted on the awesome blog Likembe blog 3 years ago. Today, I propose the whole album. For those who don't know the doctor yet, here is a biography take from the Biochem Nagoya blog.

"Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe is one of the few bandleaders from the 1960s' "Golden Age" of Nigerian danceband highlife still active on the music scene. He was born in March 1936 in Atani, near the Igbo trading city of Onitsha. According to the liner notes by Chuzzy Udenwa of the compilation CD, "Sound Time," Osadebe's musical apprenticeship began with E.C. Arinze's Empire Rhythm Orchestra in the 1950's, and he soon made a mark with his first record, "Adamma," in 1958. Another source (Yahoo! Music Australia & NZ) claims that Osadebe got his start with Stephen Ameche's band in 1958 and that his first recording was "Lagos Life Na So So Enjoyment" with trumpeter Zeal Onyiya's band in 1959.

Regardless of the exact date of his musical debut, Osadebe's career dates to the 1950's there are many 45s, EP's, etc. releeased prior to 1972 which are not listed here. One or two LPs issued after 1972 may also not be listed. Nonetheless, this is the most complete discography of Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe currently available. Occasionally LPs do not have a formal "title". In such cases they are identified by the lead track on side 1. "Philips" & "Polydor" refer to the Nigerian affiliates of those labels. -- John Beadle.

Addition: Stephen Osita Osadebe passed away in US at the age of 73 on the 11th of May, 2007. According to Benson Idonije's obituary article in the Guardian Newspaper, 

"Osadebe succeeded in breaking away from the conventional big band format established by the pioneers of the music, a format that favoured melodic progressions that were in the common meter, church hymnal tradition. He succeeded in completely transforming highlife into the call-and-response pattern of African music.

Osadebe was only a singer who also played claves, but his role manifested itself in all the areas of highlife, composing, arranging and providing band leadership. He began his career from Empire Hotel, Idioro, Lagos, a club owned by Chief Kanu; which provided employment and residency for almost all the early highlife musicians. Osadebe was a sideman with Stephen Amechi and his Rhythm Skies."

He describes the points of his music as

"Two personalities were greatly respected and sought-after during those highlife days - the vocalist and the guitar player. The guitarist provided palm wine chords which held the orchestra together and also indulged in interminably long guitar solos that kept dancers on the floor for long periods of time. The vocalist projected the entire band and remained the main focus. Osadebe was one of the leading singers on the scene - along with Joe Mensah, Tunde Osofisan, Godwin Omabuwa. But the edge Osadebe had over all of them was that he was a prolific composer; and for this reason, he was in great demand."

His carrier shifted from the Empre Hotel to Central Hotel. "He moved from Empire Hotel under the leadership of Stephen Amechi to Central Hotel, Yaba. Even though he was not the leader of the band there was a special arrangement between him and Chief Osuala, the proprietor of the club to concede this position to trumpet player. Eric Onugha, a much older musician who could read music. Osadebe did all the singing and composing."

Idonije continues: "The situation which however elevated Osadebe musically in terms of giving him the confidence that he needed as a musician was his collaboration with trumpet player Zeal Onyiia of Vic Yem Ofum fame.

Zeal was one of the pioneers of highlife who had fruitful stints with Bobby Benson and even E.T. Mensal and his Tempos Band. He also co-led the Rhythm Aces with Spike Ayanko upon leaving the Tempos Band. Besides, Zeal was the strongest trumpeter in West Africa. Playing with zeal was an eye opener and a landmark in Osadebe's musical career. He learnt all about the essence of melodic progressions, poise, dynamics and big band arrangement technique - qualities, which manifested themselves in the band's hit single oyin lotan, which was composed and vocally projected by Osadebe himself."

He broke away from being a sideman and went his separate way around 1964 with the release of One pound, no balance, which was a big hit. Quite significant in his career, this song dictated for him the way in which his music should go."

Dossou Isaac & Ebenezer Obey & his International Brothers (1971)

Once again, i have no informations about Isaac Dossou, aka Doslak, author and singer from Benin who made himself known with Poly-Rythmo. But we all know Chief Ebenezer Obey and His International Brothers band, formed in 1964.

This EP from Decca label, recorded in 1971, reveals the close ties between Benin and Nigeria for ages. The language of Benin and Nigerian music are obviously feeting together. The two highlife tunes treat of the politic aspirations from this period: "Liberation" and "Fraternité".

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Une fois de plus, je n'ai pas d'informations sur Isaac Dossou, auteur et chanteur Béninois qui a notamment enregistré avec l'orchestre Poly-Rythmo. Par contre, nous connaissons tous Chief Ebenezer Obey et ses International Brothers, orchestre formé en 1964.

Ce 45 Tours du label Decca, enregistré en 1971, révèle les liens étroits qui unissent le Bénin et le Nigeria depuis une éternité. La langue du Bénin et la musique Nigeriane ne font qu'un, une évidence. Les deux titres highlife trêtents des aspirations politique de cette époque: "Liberation" et "Fraternité".

Obiajulum Super Sound (Nigeria)

Dolf Motz from Makossa Original blog speculated the this album would be from Stephen Osadebe's son: Obiajulum Osadebe. Music truely sounds like Osadebe's but I am not sure because Obiajulum was born in 1966 and this record has probably been released in the late 70s. A little young, so, for this second volume. Also, the discography of Obiajulum Osadebe began in 1990. The enigma persists so if you have some informations, please let us know.

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Dolf Motz du blog Makossa Original a émis l'hypothèse que l'album serait celui du fils de Stephen Osadebe: Obiajulum Osadebe. Effectivement la musique fait veritablement penser à celle du "docteur" Osadebe. Mais, je ne suis pas sûr car Obiajulum est né en 1966 et cet album a vraisemblablement être enregistré vers la fin des années 70s, un peu jeune, donc, pour ce deuxième volume. Par ailleurs la discographie d'Obiajulum Osadebe commençerait en 1990. L'enigme persisite... Si vous avez des informations, faite le savoir.

Sonny Okosun: "Papa's Land" (Nigeria/1977)

Sonny Okosun was born in 1947. He was one of the leading Nigerian musicians from the late 1970s to mid '80s. His first band, The Postmen, was formed in Enugu in 1965. In 1969 he joined Melody Maestros, a band led by Victor Uwaifo from 1972 to 1974 he led a group known as Paperback Limited and then formed a new band, Ozziddi. From then on, he released several albums either with Ozziddi, or solo recordings.

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His 1977 song, "Fire in Soweto", became a major international hit. He was featured in the anti-apartheid album Sun City and his song "Highlife" was in the soundtrack of 1986 film Something Wild His mainstream success started to fade in the late 1980s, but he continued his career as a gospel musician under the name Evangelist Sonny Okosun.
He died aged 61 on 24 May 2008 at  Washington DC.

Sonny Okosun: "Holy Wars" (Nigeria/1978)

In 1976, Okosun created Ozziddi band (Ozziddi means message) channeling influenses like afro-funk, soul and reggae. About this period, Okosun said: "I was trying to talk about what was happening to black people." This second album with Ozziddi was recorded in London in 1978.

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En 1976, Okosun crée l'orchestre Ozziddi qui veut dire "message", mélangeant des influenses telles que l'afro funk, la soul et le reggae. A propos de cette période, Okosun dit: "J’essayais de parler de ce qui arrivait au peuple noir". Ce deuxième album avec Ozziddi a été enregistré en 1978 à Londres.

Femi Kuti (Nigeria/1989)

The first and for me the best album of afrobeat's prince Femi Kuti.

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Le premier et pour moi le meilleur album du prince de l'afrobeat Femi Kuti.

AFRO SPOT

Fantastic live from Fela at the Afro Spot, recorded between 1966 and 1969. The afrobeat is about to born and Tony Allen is totally possessed on the drums, espcially in Moti Gnrokan.

Fela Kuti: "Everyday I got my blues"

Fela Kuti: "Moti Gnrokan"

"It was so fucking strange to them you know. It took us 5 years to establish that music properly in the country (Nigeria). At first it was only the jazz lovers who got it.But later people started to pick up because now we started to do this afternoon jump thing at the Afro-Spot. They would come in early to the club to enjoy themselves, and then this music started to enter them".

Tony Allen

Fela Kuti: "Waka Waka"

Fela Kuti: "Lai Se"

ENGLAND IS THE PLACE FOR ME

Painting from Ghariokwu Lemi

Ambrose Campbell led what have been the first band of British based black musicians. He formed his West African Brothers in London during the Second World War, two decades before the first Notting Hill carnival and more than 40 years before the term "world music" was invented.

Campbell was born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1919 and given the Yoruba name Oladipupo Adekoya. He died on June 2006.

Nigerian Union Brothers: "The wind in a frolic"

West African Brothers: "Iku Koni Payin"

West African Brothers: "Ibikunle Alakija"

West African Brothers: "The memorial of Chief J.K Randle"