VA - Nigeria 70 - The Definitive Story Of 1970's Funky Lagos (Strut 2001)

An Uncle Roddus Album Review

African Music Month

Cd1

01.Monomono - Tire Loma Da Nigbehin 04:46
02.Blo - Chant to Mother Earth 06:07
03.Fela Ransome Kuti & the Africa 70 - Jeun Ko Ku 07:14
04.Tunji Oyelana & the Benders - Ifa 05:00
05.Bala Miller & the Great Music Pirameeds of Africa - Ikon Allah 05:46
06.Segun Bucknor & His Revolution - La La La 03:29
07.Peter King - Shango 05:39
08.Tony Allen & His African Messengers - No Discrimination 08:19
09.Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestroes - Akayan Ekassa 03:10
10.William Onyeabor - Better Change Your Mind 08:24
11.Bongos Ikwue - Woman Made the Devil 04:10

Cd2

01.Orlando Julius & the Afro Sounders - Alo Mi Alo 08:04
02.Ofo the Black Company - Allah Wakbarr 03:30
03.Sahara All Stars Bandjos - Enjoy Yourself 05:59
04.The Funkees - Dancing Time 03:19
05.Afro Cult Foundation - the Quest 08:10
06.Joni Haastrup - Greetings 06:13
07.Gasper Lawal - Kita Kita 06:01
08.Lijadu Sisters - Orere Elejigbo 04:14
09.Fela Anikulapo Kuti & the Africa 70 with Sandra Akanke Isidore - Upside 14:42
Down
10.Shina Williams & His African Percussionists - Agboju Logun 11:34
11.Sunny Ade & His African Beats - Ja Fun Mi (Instrumental) 07:13

This totally awesome collection, being another brilliant release on on the exceptional Strut records, may be one of the earliest compilations in the latest  revival of  70s African music and one of the best. Dominated on both Discs by the mighty Fela Kuti, the rest of these tracks don't fail to inspire and impress even in the shadow of two Fela monsters. The Psychedelic guitar freak out of Blo's "Chant to Mother Earth" is unrivaled and is the cause of that track turning up on several other comps. This collection is where I first head "The Lijadu Sisters" and with the likes of "Sunny Ade & His African Beats", "The Funkees", "Orlando Julius", just to name a few, we have here the cream of funky 70s Lagos. As an early introduction, for me, to Afrofunk this collection is one of my favorites and along with Analog Africa's mighty  "African Scream Contest" essential listening and worthy of 5/5.

This Compilation has been reissued and you can buy it Here

If you want a listen first, check it out here