The always exentric Oliver de Coque started out in 1976,
with this LP if I’m correct. He was one of the first to use
Congolese guitarstyle in Nigerian Highlife. I posted a couple
of his albums last year, check the highlife section on this page.
( below on the left ) here‘s one to start with.
Track one starts out a little bumpy, sorry.

tracks;

1 Messiah messiah/Mbanese ayi ekene
2 My cherry
3 Ekeoha fire disaster ( Aba )
4 Kaduna special

One of my favourite Nigerian groups is this fine band,
Ikenga Super Stars of Africa. Early eighties I bought
one of my first African LP’s by them. This one I found at
that Recordfair in Utrecht last weekend. The cover looks
quite worn out but the vinyl is still in good shape.
Enjoy this rare piece of Nigerian Highlife.

tracks;

1 Anyi anu ukwu mu nka
– Ikengas in search of peace
2 Austerity
3 Okamma na ama

Victor Uwaifo had quite an impressive career, built his first
guitar age 12, became a professional wrestler, poet, sculptor,
painter. As a musician he was the most amazing figure, check out
this article at With_comb_and_razor.
This one was contributed by one of the French record dealers
I use to meet at the Utrecht Recordfair, thank you Aiden,
on behalf of the Global Groovers community.

tracks;

1 Ekassa 28 Ebibi
2 Ekassa 34 Igiodo giodo
3 Ekassa 31 Isede
4 Ekassa 32 Votumamuoga
5 Ekassa 25 Aiworo
6 Ekassa 36 Ame’sihion-segbe
7 Ekassa 24 Kirikisi
8 Ekassa 26 Akhuankhuan
9 Ekassa 35 Sumwensowa
10 Ekassa 29 Osulelemule

Juju lovers, Pay Attention ! I have heard a couple juju albums
but this is the most Funky Juju I have ever heard.
I now quote the backsleeve notes; “The tracks on this
album are a complete departure from the mainstream of juju format,
although Obey’s style and grace of delivery is very distinct.
Obey has attempted and achieved in this album a very high level
of sophistication through his powerful guitar fireworks, beautiful
lyrics and masterly instrumentation. As Obey himself said on one
of the tracks on the album, “THIS IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT” or to put
it in proper Yoruba language, “EYI YATO”.”

tracks;

1 Ere wa di oloyin momo
– Kosi eni ti o mo ojo ola
– Tepa mose
– Chief George Oyedele
2 Eyi yato
– Elere ni wa
– E je ka jo

Last year I posted three different albums by ‘le Fantastic Pambou Tchicaya
Tchico’ with more or less the same cover as this one. Our friend and collegue
of Worldservice told me these are the Nigeria recordings. This is the last
one in my posession, does anyone know if there are more of them ?
There is something funny about the black and white picture of Tchico
on horseback. At first it looks kinda tough but if you look better
you notice they must have hoisted Tchico on the back of that poor mule.
With his freshly ironed white shirt and trousers he doesn’t really look
like he’s been riding, the immense shoes he’s wearing don’t even fit
in the horse’s stirrups. Maybe not a horseman but a truly great musician,
demonstrated by for one, the Cuban classic El Manicero, the Peanut vender.

tracks;

1 Brothers and sisters
2 Amie Clara
3 El manicero se va

I received a request some time ago for more Sir Shina Adewale, this
is Segun Adewale without Sir Shina Peters. I am not so sure I understand
the lyrics, the music however answers exactly to my critical taste.
On special request, this
is Segun Adewale.

tracks;

1 Nigeria
– Kenimani
– Emi igberaga
– Jesu loba iye
– Halleluya
2 Owo ni gbongbo ese
– Eleyo e yo
– Ase
– Omo oba lo ndade

From the Nigerian Yoruba tradition, this music is called ‘Apala’.
It is based on drums and voice, I can’t seem to figure out
the difference between ‘Fuji’ and ‘Apala’. To me it sounds more
or less the same. Ayinla has a great voice, combined with smooth
talking drums this is awesome music. Enjoy Ayinla Omowura.

tracks;

1 Ire wole de
– Egbe ewenla maduguri
– Egberun asa ni Nigeria
– Alhaji Raufu Adeola
– Ona da ki ikan wo nu apata
– Buari oloto
2 Agbo ma ye’ti l’orin tiwa
– Egbe basiri ni sango
– Fari kini iwofa o se
– Rgbe ifelodun Lagos State
– Mo tun de pelu adidun orin

Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey is back. He brings us a swell 1977
album, on which we see the same stadium in the background as we
saw in the last post by Oriental Brothers. And also on Chief Stephen
Osita Osadebe’s ‘the People Star in London’. I think it’s Probably not
existing anymore because I could not find anything about it.
This LP is delightful as all the Ebenezer Obey albums I heard
before, sweet Juju.

tracks;

1 Adam and Eve
2 Awa dupe, Odomode e ma se se ole,
— Aiye yi faji ni, Chief M.K.O. Abiola,
— I love my darling, Kolawole olokodana

Another Lp by the great Ikenga, some time ago we had an album
by them without title too. These guys are completely cool, such
hypnotic highlife. The Ikenga Super Stars of Africa, led by Victor
Okoroego, weigh in here with a funky slice of Ikwokilikwo. The
Ikengas were born in 1973 as “The Nkengas” when they split from
bandleader Osita Osadebe, in the process read_more

tracks;

1 Ikenga go marry me
2 Ikenga in Africa

It’s been a while since we had Nigerian music. This is a tremendous
group that plays a very relaxed highlife. The cover of the LP does
not give us any useful information, please feel free to comment
on this sweet highlife album by the Super Negro Bantous.

tracks;

1 Professional Super Bantous
2 Life responsibility
3 Take time
4 Judgment