Nigeria 70: Lagos Jump

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 27, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Strut Records
• ASIN: B00151HZLA
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #103,331 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #19 in Music > World Music > Africa > Nigeria

Editorial Reviews

New-York Times

Less somberly political than Fela's Afrobeat and sometimes almost unhinged, this music must have kept the clubs jumping.

The kind of awesomely heady, rhythmic shakedown that you would want to jam to for independance.

Product Description

It was the sound of post-independence Nigeria, a time of celebration and wealth but, ultimately, of political oppression. The music reflected the times - a heady mix of traditional rhythms and big band highlife with the new rock, soul and jazz sounds crackling through transistor radios from Europe and the U.S. The rulebook of Nigerian musical heritage was ripped up as SANTANA, THE BEATLES and JAMES BROWN became as relevant to young players as HARUNA ISHOLA, VICTOR OLAIYA and E. T. MENSAH. Led by the towering influence of FELA KUTI, established Nigerian stars and the rawest of college bands alike forged new fusions and began using their music confidently as a vehicle for new variations of traditional parables and social commentary. Back in 2001, the first edition of 'Nigeria 70' on STRUT broke the mould for African compilations, a 3CD powerhouse featuring a wide spectrum of musical styles from across the 1970s and an audio documentary tracing the music's history. For 2007, Strut delve deeper into the Lagos underground for another essential box of West African dynamite. Compiled by leading Afro archivist DUNCAN BROOKER and Strut's QUINTON SCOTT, 'Nigeria 70' comes packaged in a deluxe digipak with 16pg booklet featuring extensive sleeve notes by author JOHN COLLINS.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Funky Black Africa, June 24, 2008

By 

Thomas Stanley "musicovermind.org" (Mechanicsville, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nigeria 70 - Lagos Jump (MP3 Download)

This is a great album showing the fertile popular music environment of the post-colonial 70s where high-life found fenders and branched out into a mind-expanding brew of African rhythms and funk. The most notable monument of that era is Fela Kuti's Afropop movement, but artists like Ify Jerry's Crusade and the Peacocks Guitar Band are proof that other Nigerians were putting out credible offerings in the Afro-psychedelic period.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jump Indeed!, April 10, 2009

By 

Craig Riecke (East Syracuse, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nigeria 70: Lagos Jump (Audio CD)

A lot of reviewers have compared this to the similarly timed Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds and Nigerian Blues. I like them both, but I give this one the edge - it feels less fluffy, more experimental, better sequenced, and a bit more funky. Bola Johnson's Ezuku Buzu feels every bit the little atomic weapon that James Brown's Sex Machine is. Peacock's Guitar Band is mesmerizing. There are really no boring songs.

Really, the recent Nigerian 70's releases bring back THE HOOK. Find that groove and do it to death! Get this album and you'll wake up in the morning humming these hooks to yourself ... or else I feel really sorry for you.