One of the funkiest, poppiest and most eclectic African artists
is without any doubt Victor Uwaifo. He used to have his own studio’s,
and art-house and was an allround artist. This LP which starts with
some reggaetunes and turns more African along the way is from 1977.
Victor Uwaifo’s guitar rocks as usual, check it yourself.

tracks;

1 Five days a week love
2 While the sun shines
3 Sagolomayo ( Titibiti beat )
4 You’re my fire extinguisher
5 Arabade
6 Ominigie
7 Omalingwo
8 Titibiti tide

Sunny Adé and his Green Spot Band made a series of 4 albums called
The Master Guitarist. They were recorded in the famous EMI Studio’s
at Abbey Road London and this LP is ‘The Best of Sunny Adé Master Guitarist’.
I am not sure but if we believe the text on the back, written by some former
owner, it could well be from 1973. Logically, we may conclude it is not from
after 1973. The 4 albums are a collection of his best songs in the first 5 years
of his fame. ( 1966 – 1971 ) Remarkable is the fact the LP contains 12 songs
that stand alone. We are used to find his albums with one or at most two tracks
on one LP-side. I read somewhere, the phenomenon develloped later and in the old
days the songs were much shorter. Also different from his later work is that the
music from this period is called Juju-Highlife instead of just Juju. These songs
are very fresh and expose a young Sunny Adé. Love the chorus.

tracks;

1 Ija pari
2 Challenge Cup 1967
3 Olalekan salami
4 O le ku
5 Afojudi
6 Ibi lekeleke ti nf’oso
7 Late Alao ( Baba Oja )
8 A nw’oba
9 Adura wa
10 Egbe igbimo
11 Sewele
12 Adeleke Oshinjinrin

This is a special album, Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & his
Nigeria Soundmakers on african, ‘the’ Congolese label. I have
become a fan of Stephen Osita since I discovered his music
hardly two years ago. It’s the most mellow feelgood sound.
Listen to this 1977 beauty and agree, good stuff.

tracks;

1 Uche chukwu geme
2 Ogo di nkpa
3 People’s club odogwu

Oriental Brothers albums always find their way to lovers
of Nigerian highlife. A band widely appreciated, that is led
by the brothers Opara. Sometimes by Warrior but this time
by his brother Dan-Satch. Both of them delivered great LP’s
and scored loads of hits during the seventies and eighties.
Sometimes separate and sometimes together, enjoy this 1984
LP of the Oriental Brothers International Band.

tracks;

1 Ihe eji aku eme
2 Ego ka nma nna okoro’bia

From the very first notes, the fast rolling subtle drums and the
more than funky guitars it becomes cristal clear ! This is one hell
of a juju record. Ever since the release of his hit album Eyi Yato
Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey followed this new way and focussed
on a younger public. Recorded in the Afrodisia Studio’s in Lagos,
this 1984 LP on the London Stern’s label stands out for it’s freshness.
A real treat for juju lovers that will surely rock Miami tonight.

tracks;

1 Gbebe mi
– Olupese
– Ma kuku sise
– Oluwa ni mo gbojule
2 To ba nwa i re
– Ibi ai ye feni de
– O dowo oluwa
– Kai ye ma bere pe olorun mi da
– Di ro mo
– WAI

here’s another scratchy old record, Admiral Dele Abiodun
and his Top Hitters Band Original Super 7. It’s a 1977 live
registration made in New York. Shame the quality is so poor,
fantastic to hear the crowd at the Manhattan Centre go
completely nuts.

tracks;

1 Alleluyah
– Opo enia
– Dami la re
– Aja oni gbagbe olore
– Salawe orokosu
– Egbe ogbomoso ( America )
2 Aringbere
– Are ije
– Kobiti kobiti
– Olowo la gba
– Alhaji Owolabi

A very popular Nigerian Highlife group is this one. We had two of
their albums before at the GG. The album cover aswell as the label
of this one speak of one track on the A side, I found two so I named
them A and B. Enjoy Super Negro Bantous’ 1977 album.

tracks;

1 People no fit understand A
2 People no fit understand B
3 Proudness
4 One suffer go finish

As usual in fuji music, one Chief honours the other on this
1982 album. I see a certain link between the Chiefs we know
from the New Orleans Mardi Gras, such as these,
and the Chiefs we see in fuji music. They both wear pink dresses..,
no but serieus, we better don’t compare Big Chief Jolly with
Chief Benjamin Famuyiwa. This LP was requested by
one of our visitors, enjoy it.

tracks;

1 E ku odun
– Chief Benjamin Famuyiwa
– Adebayo Ogundare
2 Inu bibi ma ya lodo mi
– Alhaji Chief M.K.O. Abiola
– Alhaji Olansile Shaf Awu
– Yegede Yegede a o yale yin

Are you into politics ? I am trying not to be but at the
moment there’s quite some turbulence in the Dutch
political situation. Leaders of party’s come and go and
major changes take place. There will be elections in june
and the papers are full of speculations and predictions.
Personally I am very happy with a fresh new wind blowing
in The Hague in the future, the old one brought us nothing
but shame. I welcome the former mayor of Amsterdam,
Job Cohen, to the political stage, the best of luck to him.

How was the political situation in Nigeria in the 70’s ?
I found us Adawa King, Admiral Dele Abiodun, on a 1977
Nigerian juju album. He can tell us some stories,
listen well. His style’s called adawa, a mixture of juju
and Afro-beat with highlife elements. Both sides of the LP
start quite noisy but during the number it gets a lot better.

tracks;

1 Ile ola
– Adupe lodo baba wa
– Bobo Doherty ( mama Koko )
– Oke ibadan prestige circle
2 Tewe tagba
– Ma se wa bi ko se wun wa
– Ore mi ko mi lofo kan
– Ma ta omi si mi lara
– Abiodun okunuga

Some Fuji for your sunday, and it’s about time. I received a few
comments concerning this music. A good moment to share some
of the stuff. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister is one of the heroes in the field,
he made lots of records. Check out ‘Iwa’ from 1982, rhythm sweetness.

tracks;

1 Iwa
2 Alhaji Rasaq Okoya ( eleganza )
3 Late Alhaja Sidikat Abeni
( Haruna Ishola Bello )
– Olabisi Ajala
– Owolabi Ilori
– Fuji Americano
– Singing roundabout