Nigeria Afrobeat Special: The New Explosive Sound in 1970s Nigeria

One of the great things to happen musically in the post–civil war Nigeria of the 1970s was the birth and subsequent explosion of Afro–beat. Fela Kuti, whose political ideals formed Afro– beat’s central message, fused highlife, jazz, funk and Yoruba music to create a sound that changed the shape of West African music forever. The ‘Nigeria Special’ series compiles lost and forgotten tracks from the early 1970s, and this stupendous collection of Afro–beat tracks charts the rise of the sound. Once Fela and Afro–beat became popular, every big– band in Nigeria had to learn to keep up with audiences’ tastes: big, brassy sounds, nagging repetitive rhythms and dizzying tunes with heavy–duty, witty and cutting lyrics were always in demand.

Starting with ‘Who’re You?’, an early Fela track that feels clean and uncomplicated compared to his later work, the collection moves on to some soulful sounds including Saxon Lee & The Shadows International’s ‘Mind Your Busi ness ’ which sets a grating lead guitar against the singer’s beautifully expressive voice and some deep saxophone solos. ‘Ole’, by The Black Santiagos, combines powerful organ, explosive vocals and an undeniable feel for funk. Featuring extensive liner notes and boasting impressive artwork, it’s also available on triple vinyl. This is such a rare and valuable choice of music that it feels like a privilege to be able to just go out and buy it.