Nigeria 70: Lagos Jump
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Various Artists As elsewhere in the waning British empire, Nigerian independence made for a musical breakout, and the 1970s produced a rollicking, influential legacy. Open to a world of influences-R&B, funk, reggae, English rock, Afro-Cuban music-working-class Nigerian music fused these and more with popular dockside, highlife, juju, and palm wine sounds. This compilation probes beyond such well-known figures as Fela and King Sunny Ade, introducing listeners to bands whose inventive names reflect the joyous mélange documented here, among them Ashanti Afrika Jah, Sir Shina Peters & His International Stars (Listen), Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestros, Bola Johnson & His Easy Life Top Beats (Listen), and Tony Tete Harbor & The Star Heaters of Nigeria. Journalist-musician John Collins penned the notes, reflecting a history of performing with E.T. Mensah, Fela Kuti, and Victor Uwaifo, running a recording studio, and teaching in the University of Ghana Department of Music. - Michael Stone CD available from cdroots
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