"Complete the Palm Wine Music Trilogy"
★The two major trends in Nigerian guitar music are Yoruba Juju and Igbo guitar band Highlife.
A 51-song 2-CD set that traces its establishment and evolution with valuable sound sources and detailed explanations.
A 51-song 2-CD set that traces its establishment and evolution with valuable sound sources and detailed explanations.
Compiler Yoshiki Fukasawa sees this as the third volume of his "palm wine trilogy," released by El Sur Records of Shibuya, Tokyo. Based on his own collection of mainly 78 rpm discs and his extensive knowledge of African music, Fukasawa has traced the birth of modern popular music in Africa from the Kru people of the West coast as heard on the first set, Palm Wine Music of Ghana, to the Congo where it evolved into rumba with heavy influences from Latin music (heard on Early Congo Music 1946-62) and finally to the Nigerian music of the South-eastern Igbo people and the Yoruba in the West who created danceband highlife on the one hand and Juju music on the other. This two-disc set is therefore divided into Juju roots on disc one, and Highlife roots on disc two. Now, you are probably saying to yourself, I have Juju Roots, Chris Waterman's compilation which came out on Rounder Records in 1985. Well, Fukasawa has avoided duplicating tracks from there but quotes Waterman's writings to reinforce his points. He also notes that in the case of two of the best-known Nigerian bands of the early era, Rex Lawson has an obvious connection to Palm Wine music, while Celestine Ukwu shows the influence of Congolese rumba on his guitar sound. These musical bridges reinforce the idea of the continuum he has created with his trilogy. The many influences brought back from the New World by former enslaved people from Brasil, North America and the Caribbean is called "returnees music" by Fukasawa. Disc one track 10 is a good example of this, called "Lagos ilu afe" (My beloved town, Lagos): it is a cover of Lord Kitchener's calypso, "London is the place for me," from 1953. The group is called Ayinde Miranda Cuba Orchestra. Interestingly the guitar is picking a lead that recalls Arsenio Rodriguez' brittle tres solos. Kitchener also recorded in London with Ambrose Campbell's West African Rhythm Brothers, heard here performing "Omo Africa." It's percussion heavy with a pair of delicate guitars staying back to not overwhelm the singing and drumming. There is also a digression into a fine percussive piece of Agidigbo music: "A gve mi de" by Adeolu & his Rio Lindo Orchestra. Tony Allen, father of Afrobeat, got his start in the Rio Lindo Boys, a traditional group named for a cowboy movie. You can hear what we now call Afrobeat emerging in the later tracks of disc one where the recording is better. You will also hear I. K. Dairo, Tunde Western Nightingale, Fatayi Rolling Dollar, and two of the big hitters of Juju: Ebenezer Obey and Sunny Ade. As far as I can tell all this material is new to CD. Dele Ojo studied trumpet under Roy Chicago and later joined Victor Olaiya's band in 1961 before branching out on his own. Curiously his trumpet lead here is a military reveille, though there is no report of him being in the army. In the 60s, I. K. Dairo took over the Juju mainstream, according to Fukasawa, promoting it into a national musical style. In that era, Tunde Nightingale influenced Sunny Ade, while Fatai Rolling Dollar raised Ebenezer Obey. Rolling Dollar is featured on two tracks, the second one, "Obimi abami wi," has a more "Rock & roll" feeling. This leads into a track from Obey where the groove is pure Juju. Call and response vocals are backed with guitar and talking drum. As Yoshiki-san points out, the band developed a softer and "rounder," more spacey sound. That groove, with the floating guitar, is also exemplified in the work of Sunny Ade, who caps off the first disc.
Disc two sounds more familiar to me, with favorites Rex Lawson and Celestine Ukwu. A reader responded he was disappointed to hear "Jolly Papa" by Lawson as it is so well known. But it is an anchor and nicely positioned between what precedes and what follows it. It is such a fantastic track it demands to be heard here. It shows the balance achieved between brass and guitar and the evolution of Palm Wine music from Ghana into full-blown Highlife, with a sax solo replacing the trumpet, and the guitars high in the mix. The earlier Highlife bands even did a cover of the redoubtable "Wimoweh" which pops up as a surprise. It's the Three Night Wizards, singing "Friend today, enemy tomorrow," but more typically we get a cover of an old folk Mento, known as "Brown Skin Gal," here presented as "Esan iyon ikede" by Etim Henshaw, a Parlophone recording from 1936. Since "Brown Skin gal" was not recorded until a decade later it's clear evidence of its folkloric origins. After this we jump almost a decade and find the sound we recognize as modern Highlife, with Joe Nez performing "Ogadiama," where a mellow sax has replaced the brash kazoos in a very sophisticated arrangement. Trumpeter Charles Iwegbue tries hard not to play "El Manicero" during his recording of "River Jordan," a 1961 hit for the Archibogs. He studied with Bobby Benson and his band evolved into one of the first guitar-laden outfits. The post-1960 material is more likely to be familiar to deep vinyl collectors. You might have heard "Imarueghe" by Edo Orisiagbon Music Union, if you have the rare Philips LP Nigeria's Request Programme. While there are familiar artists on disc two, such as the Archibogs, Eddy Okonta, Michael Ejeagha and Sir Victor Uwaifo, we are treated to tracks we have not heard. In fact the previously known cuts by some of these artists that were gathered by John Storm Roberts for Money No Be Sand were novelty numbers and not really representative of the main thrust of their music, apparently. We are coasting on a cloud by the middle of the second disc. The Rex Lawson tracks are marvelous. A proponent of Biafran Independence, his career was put on hold during the civil war, which ended in 1970, and tragically he died in a car accident in 1971, aged 33. (It may seem odd for me, a teenage kid in England at the time, to take sides in the civil war, which was essentially over oil resources, but one of my college friends was a Nigerian whose family were massacred in Biafra. He too disappeared soon after: I recall he went home, but I never heard from him again.) We hear the influence of Lawson in the following tracks, by Inyang Henshaw & his Canaan Brothers and Charles Iwegbue & his Archibogs, with the sweet "Mama Odabor." A brief mid-60s track from Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe features his distinctive personal sound; this leads into "Akwete" by Victor Uwaifo which has a startling intro, that must be heard to be believed. Like Osadebe his vocals and style are familiar in Europe, Japan and the USA and he was perhaps the most "pop" of the Nigerian acts of the time, but again, his importance requires his presence here, flashy guitar tricks and all. The icing on this musical cake is four singles by the great Celestine Ukwu. His recording career only lasted five years and six albums before his tragic death in a car crash at 37. However he also issued 16 singles, only half of which were anthologized, so I am ever hopeful that more new music by him will appear, and Fukasawa does not disappoint. The four songs here were recorded by his band the Music Royals, before they became the Philosophers. "Asili" and "Okwu eji n'elo" have never been anthologized; the other two songs are earlier versions which contrast nicely with the more laid-back re-recordings of the later 70s. The CDs are available in Europe from Far Side Music, or check on EBay, since you will want hard copies with the 170-page booklet. -Muzikifan
Disc two sounds more familiar to me, with favorites Rex Lawson and Celestine Ukwu. A reader responded he was disappointed to hear "Jolly Papa" by Lawson as it is so well known. But it is an anchor and nicely positioned between what precedes and what follows it. It is such a fantastic track it demands to be heard here. It shows the balance achieved between brass and guitar and the evolution of Palm Wine music from Ghana into full-blown Highlife, with a sax solo replacing the trumpet, and the guitars high in the mix. The earlier Highlife bands even did a cover of the redoubtable "Wimoweh" which pops up as a surprise. It's the Three Night Wizards, singing "Friend today, enemy tomorrow," but more typically we get a cover of an old folk Mento, known as "Brown Skin Gal," here presented as "Esan iyon ikede" by Etim Henshaw, a Parlophone recording from 1936. Since "Brown Skin gal" was not recorded until a decade later it's clear evidence of its folkloric origins. After this we jump almost a decade and find the sound we recognize as modern Highlife, with Joe Nez performing "Ogadiama," where a mellow sax has replaced the brash kazoos in a very sophisticated arrangement. Trumpeter Charles Iwegbue tries hard not to play "El Manicero" during his recording of "River Jordan," a 1961 hit for the Archibogs. He studied with Bobby Benson and his band evolved into one of the first guitar-laden outfits. The post-1960 material is more likely to be familiar to deep vinyl collectors. You might have heard "Imarueghe" by Edo Orisiagbon Music Union, if you have the rare Philips LP Nigeria's Request Programme. While there are familiar artists on disc two, such as the Archibogs, Eddy Okonta, Michael Ejeagha and Sir Victor Uwaifo, we are treated to tracks we have not heard. In fact the previously known cuts by some of these artists that were gathered by John Storm Roberts for Money No Be Sand were novelty numbers and not really representative of the main thrust of their music, apparently. We are coasting on a cloud by the middle of the second disc. The Rex Lawson tracks are marvelous. A proponent of Biafran Independence, his career was put on hold during the civil war, which ended in 1970, and tragically he died in a car accident in 1971, aged 33. (It may seem odd for me, a teenage kid in England at the time, to take sides in the civil war, which was essentially over oil resources, but one of my college friends was a Nigerian whose family were massacred in Biafra. He too disappeared soon after: I recall he went home, but I never heard from him again.) We hear the influence of Lawson in the following tracks, by Inyang Henshaw & his Canaan Brothers and Charles Iwegbue & his Archibogs, with the sweet "Mama Odabor." A brief mid-60s track from Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe features his distinctive personal sound; this leads into "Akwete" by Victor Uwaifo which has a startling intro, that must be heard to be believed. Like Osadebe his vocals and style are familiar in Europe, Japan and the USA and he was perhaps the most "pop" of the Nigerian acts of the time, but again, his importance requires his presence here, flashy guitar tricks and all. The icing on this musical cake is four singles by the great Celestine Ukwu. His recording career only lasted five years and six albums before his tragic death in a car crash at 37. However he also issued 16 singles, only half of which were anthologized, so I am ever hopeful that more new music by him will appear, and Fukasawa does not disappoint. The four songs here were recorded by his band the Music Royals, before they became the Philosophers. "Asili" and "Okwu eji n'elo" have never been anthologized; the other two songs are earlier versions which contrast nicely with the more laid-back re-recordings of the later 70s. The CDs are available in Europe from Far Side Music, or check on EBay, since you will want hard copies with the 170-page booklet. -Muzikifan
NIGERIAN GUITAR ROOTS
JUJU, GUITAR BAND HIGHLIFE 1936-68
(EL SUR RECORDS; available outside Japan from Far Side Music)
Label: El Sur Records – 011
Format: 2 x CD, Compilation
Country: Japan
Released: 2024
Style: African, Jùjú, Highlife
Source: ttou
Juju (Disc 1) This is the first ever recording of Yoruba palm wine music, which is said to be the roots of juju, by Irewolede Denge in 1937, and is full of other rare recordings that have never been released on CD! Through the syncretism between Yoruba culture and the West, the relationship between Christianity and juju and the background of its formation are explained in detail, and the birth of juju is approached. In addition, the development of the strengthening of Yoruba-ness amidst the momentum for independence after the World War II is also introduced with actual sound sources, depicting the establishment of the juju format from Ayinde Bakare to I.K. Dyilo, who became a mainstream musician. The wide-ranging development of juju, including the “toy motion” movement of the late 50s, which caused a stir in the mainstream, and the modernity of Ambrose Campbell, who was active in the U.K. during the same period, are also worth listening to! The collection also includes the first works of Ebenezer Obey, who was a member of Fatai Rolling Dollar’s band, and the first Sunny Ade recording that is now known.It follows the birth of Juju right up to the 1960s, when it entered a new era.
Disc 1: Juju
1. Jolly Orchestra - Johnson Ologbe (Parlophone P0531)
2. Nigerian Jolly Boys Orchestra - V.A. Allen (HMV J.L.8)
3. Irewolede Denge - Oba Gbelegbuwa II (HMV J.Z.4)
4. Irewolede Denge - Okuipe Agbonmagbe (HMV J.Z.4)
5. Tunde King - Oba Oyinbo (Parlophone PO567)
6. Ojo Babajide & his Ibadan Juju Players - Afolabi Asuni (Parlophone PO501)
7. Eman David & his Group - Owa Ilesha (HMV J.L.8)
8. Akanbi Wright & his Rhythm Band (HMV J.L.12) - Emi Mi Lowo Re
9. Ayinde Bakare & his Group (Decca WA. 1514) - J. M. Tukuru
10. Ayinde Miranda Cuba Orchestra - Lagos Ilu Afe (Badejo's Sound Studios BA1156) 1953-54?
11. Adeolu & his Rio Lindo Orchestra - A Gve Mi De (Decca WA. 3090)
12. Ayinde Bakare & his Meranda Band - Kamila Mustapha (Melodisc 1492)
13. Tunde King - M.S. Adewale (Badejo's Sound Studios BA 1300) Mid 50's? (Recorded after 1954)
14. Ambrose Adekoya Campbell & his West African Rhythm Brothers - Omo Africa (S.A Jenkeo and Son S.A.J.502) Early 50's
15. C.A. Balogun & his Abalabi Orchestra - Sisi Agbele Pawo (Philips P82300H) 1959-60
16. J.O. Oyeshiku And His Rainbow Quintet - Eledumare Gbawa Lowo Ota (Philips P196)
17. J.O. Araba And His Rhythm Blues - Ma Gba Aya Alaya (Philips 420 000 PE)
18. Julius Araba & his Afro Skiffle Group - Zik (Decca NWA. 5018)
19. I.K. Dairo & his Blue Spots M.B.E. - Ka Sora (Alowonle Sound Studio 45AL-17)
20. I.K. Dairo And His Blue Spot Band - Ero Bami Dele (Alowonle Sound Studio 45AL-55 / HMV HNLX 5075) 1963-4
21. Tunde The Western Nightingale And His Band - J.O. Olajoyegbe Esq. (HMV 45-NH58) 1963-64
22. Dele Ojo And His Star Brothers Band - Kabiyesi Oba (Badejo's Sound Studios BBA228)
23. Fatayi Rolling Dollar & his Federal Rhythm Brothers - Okpara Wo West (HMV 45-NH130) 1964-65
24. Fatayi Rolling Dollar & his Fed. Rhythm Bros - Obimi Abami Wi (HMV 45-NH265)
25. Ebenezer Obey And His International Brothers Band - Teti Ko Gboro Kan (Decca NWA. 5247)
26. Sunny Ade & his Green Sport Band - Alanu L'oluwa (African Songs AS21)
2. Nigerian Jolly Boys Orchestra - V.A. Allen (HMV J.L.8)
3. Irewolede Denge - Oba Gbelegbuwa II (HMV J.Z.4)
4. Irewolede Denge - Okuipe Agbonmagbe (HMV J.Z.4)
5. Tunde King - Oba Oyinbo (Parlophone PO567)
6. Ojo Babajide & his Ibadan Juju Players - Afolabi Asuni (Parlophone PO501)
7. Eman David & his Group - Owa Ilesha (HMV J.L.8)
8. Akanbi Wright & his Rhythm Band (HMV J.L.12) - Emi Mi Lowo Re
9. Ayinde Bakare & his Group (Decca WA. 1514) - J. M. Tukuru
10. Ayinde Miranda Cuba Orchestra - Lagos Ilu Afe (Badejo's Sound Studios BA1156) 1953-54?
11. Adeolu & his Rio Lindo Orchestra - A Gve Mi De (Decca WA. 3090)
12. Ayinde Bakare & his Meranda Band - Kamila Mustapha (Melodisc 1492)
13. Tunde King - M.S. Adewale (Badejo's Sound Studios BA 1300) Mid 50's? (Recorded after 1954)
14. Ambrose Adekoya Campbell & his West African Rhythm Brothers - Omo Africa (S.A Jenkeo and Son S.A.J.502) Early 50's
15. C.A. Balogun & his Abalabi Orchestra - Sisi Agbele Pawo (Philips P82300H) 1959-60
16. J.O. Oyeshiku And His Rainbow Quintet - Eledumare Gbawa Lowo Ota (Philips P196)
17. J.O. Araba And His Rhythm Blues - Ma Gba Aya Alaya (Philips 420 000 PE)
18. Julius Araba & his Afro Skiffle Group - Zik (Decca NWA. 5018)
19. I.K. Dairo & his Blue Spots M.B.E. - Ka Sora (Alowonle Sound Studio 45AL-17)
20. I.K. Dairo And His Blue Spot Band - Ero Bami Dele (Alowonle Sound Studio 45AL-55 / HMV HNLX 5075) 1963-4
21. Tunde The Western Nightingale And His Band - J.O. Olajoyegbe Esq. (HMV 45-NH58) 1963-64
22. Dele Ojo And His Star Brothers Band - Kabiyesi Oba (Badejo's Sound Studios BBA228)
23. Fatayi Rolling Dollar & his Federal Rhythm Brothers - Okpara Wo West (HMV 45-NH130) 1964-65
24. Fatayi Rolling Dollar & his Fed. Rhythm Bros - Obimi Abami Wi (HMV 45-NH265)
25. Ebenezer Obey And His International Brothers Band - Teti Ko Gboro Kan (Decca NWA. 5247)
26. Sunny Ade & his Green Sport Band - Alanu L'oluwa (African Songs AS21)
Guitar Band High Life (Disc 2) This is a comprehensive overview of the guitar-based music of Ibo, Edo, Efik, and Ijo in the southeast, which, like Juju, was based on palm wine music, but developed differently from Yoruba music. It also includes as many rare and hard-to-find recordings of pre-war palm wine music, mainly from Ibo, as possible, and examines how modern guitar music emerged after the war, and the process in dance band highlife, elucidating it for the first time. The relationship between the brass ensemble and the guitar, and the various forms of early guitar bands in which both coexisted, are introduced, and the musicality of Mike Ejerga, Inyang Henshaw, Victor Uwifo, Osita Osadebe, and many others are compared and examined. It also presents Rex Lawson’s approach to palm wine music, which had a decisive influence on the formation of guitar bands in the 1960s, as well as the relationship between Celestine Uk and Congolese music.
Disc 2: Guitar Band Highlife
1. Ibo Youth Orchestra - Abinsi (Parlophone Po527) Igbo 1936
2. Ibo Youth Orchestra - Rag Time (Parlophone Po527) Igbo 1936
3. Onitsha Native Orchestra - Onyemfulunanya (Parlophone Po544) Igbo 1936
4. Mr. Etim Henshaw - Esan Lyon Ikede (Parlophone P0629) Efik 1936
5. S.K. Kariboh & His Boys - Ebiere-Biere (Decca WA. 1546) Ijaw 1950
6. Okonkwo Adigwe & His Musical Party - Nwaelengbo Ofu (Decca WA. 1687) Igbo 1952
7. The Three Night Wizards - Friend Today, Enemy Tomorrow (Decca WA. 1701) English 1954
8. Joe Nez & His Combo - Ogadinma (Philips 420003pe) Igbo 1963~64?
9. Charles Iwegbue And His Archibogs - River Jordan (Decca NWA. 5002) Pidgin English 1961
10. Jafabro Star Aces Led. By Eddy Okonta - Nkpali (Olutone OEP 102) Igbo 1961
11. E.C. Arinze & His Music - Adiakalu Ubosi (Decca Nwa.5098 /WAP. 23) Igbo 1962
12. Paradise Rhythm Band, Leader: Michael Ejeagha - Ilo Erike Uba (Nigerphone NXF 217) Igbo 1963
13. Steven Amechi & His Rhythm Skies - Wetin Mama De Do (Nigerphone Nxf234) Highlife / Pidgin English 1963
14. Cardinal Rex Lawson & His Mayor's Band Of Nigeria - Aye Le (Nigerphone NXF 310) Native Blues / Kalabari 1964?
15. Cardinal Rex Lawson & His Mayor's Band Of Nigeria - Jolly Papa (Nigerphone NXF 377) Asiko / Tema 1964-65?
16. Cardinal Rex Lawson & His Mayor's Band Of Nigeria - Abasi Ye Enye (Nigerphone NXF 377) Asiko / Efik 1964-65?
17. Inyang Henshaw & His Canaan Brothers - Ke Ntak Fo (Philips 382701) Highlife / Efik 1964
18. Edo Orisiagbon Music Union (Paul Ede) - Imarueghe (Philips 382797) Highlife / Benin 1964
19. Charles Iwegbue And His Archibogs - Mama Odabor (Decca NWA. 5208 / Dwaps. 2061) Igbo 1965
20. Commander In Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe And His Nigerian Sound Makers - Agadinwanyi Egbunam (Philips 382929) Highlife / Igbo 1965
21. Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestroes - Akwete / Edo 1967
22. Celestine Ukwu & The Nigercity Starlighters - No Condition Is Permanent (Philips 383025) Highlife / Pidgin English 1961-2
23. Celestine Ukwu & His Music Royals Of Nigeria - Asili (Nigerphone NXF 372) Highlife / Igbo 1964?
24. Celestine Ukwu & His Music Royals Of Nigeria - Okwu Eji N'elo (Nigerphone NXF 388) Egwe Obi / Igbo 1964-65?
2. Ibo Youth Orchestra - Rag Time (Parlophone Po527) Igbo 1936
3. Onitsha Native Orchestra - Onyemfulunanya (Parlophone Po544) Igbo 1936
4. Mr. Etim Henshaw - Esan Lyon Ikede (Parlophone P0629) Efik 1936
5. S.K. Kariboh & His Boys - Ebiere-Biere (Decca WA. 1546) Ijaw 1950
6. Okonkwo Adigwe & His Musical Party - Nwaelengbo Ofu (Decca WA. 1687) Igbo 1952
7. The Three Night Wizards - Friend Today, Enemy Tomorrow (Decca WA. 1701) English 1954
8. Joe Nez & His Combo - Ogadinma (Philips 420003pe) Igbo 1963~64?
9. Charles Iwegbue And His Archibogs - River Jordan (Decca NWA. 5002) Pidgin English 1961
10. Jafabro Star Aces Led. By Eddy Okonta - Nkpali (Olutone OEP 102) Igbo 1961
11. E.C. Arinze & His Music - Adiakalu Ubosi (Decca Nwa.5098 /WAP. 23) Igbo 1962
12. Paradise Rhythm Band, Leader: Michael Ejeagha - Ilo Erike Uba (Nigerphone NXF 217) Igbo 1963
13. Steven Amechi & His Rhythm Skies - Wetin Mama De Do (Nigerphone Nxf234) Highlife / Pidgin English 1963
14. Cardinal Rex Lawson & His Mayor's Band Of Nigeria - Aye Le (Nigerphone NXF 310) Native Blues / Kalabari 1964?
15. Cardinal Rex Lawson & His Mayor's Band Of Nigeria - Jolly Papa (Nigerphone NXF 377) Asiko / Tema 1964-65?
16. Cardinal Rex Lawson & His Mayor's Band Of Nigeria - Abasi Ye Enye (Nigerphone NXF 377) Asiko / Efik 1964-65?
17. Inyang Henshaw & His Canaan Brothers - Ke Ntak Fo (Philips 382701) Highlife / Efik 1964
18. Edo Orisiagbon Music Union (Paul Ede) - Imarueghe (Philips 382797) Highlife / Benin 1964
19. Charles Iwegbue And His Archibogs - Mama Odabor (Decca NWA. 5208 / Dwaps. 2061) Igbo 1965
20. Commander In Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe And His Nigerian Sound Makers - Agadinwanyi Egbunam (Philips 382929) Highlife / Igbo 1965
21. Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestroes - Akwete / Edo 1967
22. Celestine Ukwu & The Nigercity Starlighters - No Condition Is Permanent (Philips 383025) Highlife / Pidgin English 1961-2
23. Celestine Ukwu & His Music Royals Of Nigeria - Asili (Nigerphone NXF 372) Highlife / Igbo 1964?
24. Celestine Ukwu & His Music Royals Of Nigeria - Okwu Eji N'elo (Nigerphone NXF 388) Egwe Obi / Igbo 1964-65?
25. Celestine Ukwu & His Music Royals Of Nigeria - Man Proposes & God Disposes (Philips 383149) Highlife / English 1967
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