Moses Kwaku Oppong, the leader of Kakaiku’s Guitar Band,
was born in 1916 in Acra. He quitt elementary school aged
fourteen just to be able to play his guitar. The Nigerian tenant
that worked at his parent’s house used to shout at him; ‘Kai ku’
meaning; ‘look here’ or ‘hi Kwaku’, this became his nickname.
He worked as blacksmith, winch greaser and driver of engines
at Aboso Gold Mines and played his guitar at parties, wake-
keepings and funerals. He named his band after his childhood
nickname and made over 500 records, an enormous amount.
Listen to this ‘Adadam Paa Nie, vol. 2, with it’s funny cover.
( …if anyone could explain this sleeve illustration..? )
P.S. soundquality is a bit poor, unfortunately…
volume one is here

tracks;

1   Ose ye marima mra
2   Aboa apatupre
3   Wo kyiri me
4   Abrabo ye bona
5   If you love me
6   You too go grow
7   Wonfa bone ntua ka
8   Saboa
9   M’sem yi
10  Ayeko na adofo
11  Dora
12  Eno m’ani awu

Have you ever seen this before ? The woman on the frontcover
of this lp is the producer who arranged this lp to be released on
Makossa records. Quite extraordinary and modest not to place
your own picture on the sleeve. Nana Ampadu I is such a modest
person. He dedicated this album to Miss Comfort Boateng ( above ).
I think this is one of their better albums, I am fond of the bass
parts by Guy Emmanuel Opah. Get it now and listen to
the African Brothers Band International, sweeet…

tracks;

1   Mede wo ka a
2   Ase ye do wo
3   Woyoo woyoo
4   Obi do ba

Not so long ago I told you it was getting harder all the
time, finding their albums. I think I should say things like
that a bit more often. Straight away I got lucky and stumbled
upon another lp, and not the least I would say. It’s from 1975
and it’s nice to find the tracks divided in eight seperate songs.
On most later albums the songs are way longer. If you use to
deejay sometimes, the shorter songs are much more accessible.
I am very happy to be able to bring this one, pure dynamite..

tracks;

1   Nwa ada di nma
2   Onye si nani biri
3   Anam ele chi
4   Onwetarani nye ibe efe
5   Akwa uwa
6   Onye oma
7   Nwayi di ya bu eze
8   Chi awu otu

It’s time for Nigerian highlife. I walked into our little
village about a week ago and found the annual record-
market in the centre of town. Somehow they always
neglect to announce this in a proper way so it has
become an annual surprise. Anyway, it is a very
welcome surprise and especially this year. I got
lucky again walking against some rare records.
This is one of my finds. Peacock’s Guiter Band
led by Raphael Amarabem comes in at the GG
with this EMI release, don’t know from what
year, if you do please tell us.
now listen..

tracks;

1   Eddie quansa
2   Okpa aku erieri
3   Dan njemanze
4   Egwu mgbashiriko
5   Jiji
6   Uba awuu nwa
7   Jesus christ
8   This girl
9   Iwa anya
10  Abasi o. mokop

It must be four years ago that I first found this lp at Afroslabs website.
Especially track #1 drew my attention and I still think it is one
of his better songs. Since then I found three of his other albums
and posted them here. I am happy to inform you they all have
working links. If you hadn’t before, I suggest you listen
to Atakora Manu’s Afro highlife.

tracks;

1   Super otete mpomamu
2   Osebo onyame ankye me
3   Bebo me nkomo
4   Meka a ensa

From the very East, tonight we move over to the very West.
It was not very original of me to put together a collector of singles.
Take a look at this one, Decca West Africa came with this
collection of six ten-inch singles in 1963. Imagine that in
one year, the record will be 50 years old. Snatch this
swell compilation of Ghanaian and Nigerian
highlife and juju from the early 60’s.

tracks;

1   Odus & his Morning Star Orchestra – Omo laso
2   E.C. Arinze & his Music – Adiakalu ubosi
3   J.O. Araba & his Afro Skiffle – Kelegbe megbe
4   Haruna Ishola & his Group – Pariboto riboto
5   I.K. Dairo & his Blue Spots – Omo alaro
6   I.K. Dairo & his Blue Spots – Aye wa kale
7   E.T. Mensah & his Tempos Band – Odo anigyina
8   E.T. Mensah & his Tempos Band – Abele
9   Melody Aces – Emase puro o
10  Melody Aces – Brigitta
11  Globemasters Dance Band – Maya menya aye
12  Globemasters Dance Band – Oda nsuadze
13  Ramblers Dance Band – Womma wonko
14  Ramblers Dance Band – Wegya saman

Oh yes my musical friends, Chief Sammy Kofi is back at the GG
with a truly splendid album. The more I hear from him, the more I like
it. On Nigeria’s ‘Rogers All Stars’ comes another lp by this Ghanaian
highlife group that thrilled loads of visitors already, don’t miss.
Being a fanatic heretic I am very glad with title number three
Awurade yesu wich means, life’s much
better without jesus !

tracks;

1   Take time
2   Onyame na oye
3   Awurade yesu
4   Odo bye-bye
5   San bra
6   Obra

It’s getting harder to find them all the time. I can hardly remember
the last one, it was in july 2010. One way or another, their lp’s
always find a happy listening ear on this guy, this one makes
no exception. Found it shortly and am lucky to share,
..jus’ a bit crispy,
wannit..?

tracks;

1   Hapum mebiri
2   Gi nyem ugwum mu enye gi nke gi

Some requests came in for the music of this fine artist. Prince
Nico Mbarga and his Rocafil Jazz appeared here with over 10
albums. I shall re-up them in the near future, most of the links
are still dead. This is the ‘Best of Nico Mbarga’ which, among
others, contains his biggest worldwide hit, ‘Sweet Mother’. I
never really understood why it was such a huge succes,
it has probably everything to do with the fact Prince
Nico worships his parents and family life. On this
‘best of’ album all titles point in the same direction.
Maybe not my favourite Nico Mbarga tracks but
a fair representative of his oeuvre.

tracks;

1   Sweet mother
2   Good father
3   Family movement
4   Na my choice

tracks;

1 Odo yewu
2 Okwantuni mmoboro
3 You de find me trouble
4 Aunty lucy
5 Mensu