Customer Reviews

Afro Baby: Evolution of the Afro Sound

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This is one of the best afro funk compilations to come out since Nigeria 70. The godfather of afrobeat Fela Kuti represents with one of his early more obscure tracks Fogofogo (ghanaian sland for "bottle breakers"). It's kind of coincidental fogo fogo is the track featured. I have a very rare copy of the track on tape including incredibly hard to find Fela tracks like the original "Chop and Quench", "Going in and Out", "I go shout plenty", "I no get eye for back" and "Beautiful dancer".

Nigerian highlife legend Victor Olaiya also represents with "Omelebele". Orlando Julius drops in with "Mura Sise". However the best tracks on the CD come from the more obscure groups. Afrobeat devotees are probably already familiar with the Sahara All Star Band from the Nigeria 70 compilation. Their track "Alikali Aladjo" is the album opener. I absolutely love Bola Johnson's "Lagos Sisi", a tale of a country girl gone bad in the big city.

The very best track is "Ire" by the Don Issac Ezeikel combination. You never heard a song of worship this funky. "Afro baby" by Stephen Osita Amaechi is one of those songs you should really listen to via ear phones to fully appreciate the drum work in the background. "Ifa" by Tunji Oyelena was one of my personal favorites on Nigeria 70 and he does not disappoint with "Ipasan", a funkified musical version of a yoruba folktale. "Ochonma" by The Martins Brothers Band has a groove to die for and is my second favorite song on the cd. It's even better if you can understand Ibo as the brothers sing in turn moaning over the hell their relationship has become with the beautiful "Ochonma".

Fred Fisher, Thornby Nyenwi and The Mebusas round up the album. It has been absolute trip listening to music that was popular in my country around the time I was born. I hope to do my bit to salvage the music when I go back. For now I have to rely on Soundway records and I hope that Miles Cleret keeps up the good work.

Good for exercizing, dancing, zumba - anything that involves moving. If you like music with good beats, you will like this cd.