By the way, I'm hardly a world's expert on African music, and this list is kinda whatcha call a "work in progress," so please feel free to make suggestions and comments.
Jali Musa Jawara "Yasimika" (Hannibal Records, 1983)
Gorgeous! Originally issued in 1983, this is one of the finest African albums ever recorded, and one of the first records to draw me firmly into the orbit of Malian music. Pulsating, gentle, irresistibly hypnotic, it features the masterful, restless kora work of Jami Musa Jawara on four long, radiant songs, accompanied by a soulful, keening female chorus. This has to be heard to be appreciated, and once you hear it, you'll be a fan for life. The only downside is that you'll have a hard time finding other, similar albums of such high calibre (although the search will be fun!) Great stuff.
Jali Musa Jawara "Soubindoor" (Mango Records, 1988)
(Produced by Nick Gold)
Another elegant and otherworldly album, this time with a slightly more biting edge to the vocals, and a brisker pace than before. Although this doesn't have the same eerie, mystical feel as Yasimika, this is a still a strong album, alternately pleasing and unusual... Includes two long (ten minute-plus) tracks, but also a brace of shorter songs making this perhaps a little more accessible (or radio-friendly) as well.
Jihe & D'Gary "Horombe" (Indigo Records, 1995)
Bola Johnson "Papa Rebecca Special" (Philips Records, 1968) (10" LP)
Bola Johnson "Ashewo Ajegunle Yakare" (Philips Records, 19--?) (LP)
Bola Johnson "Man No Die" (Vampi Soul Records, 2010)
This generously programmed 2-CD set comprehensively profiles late-'Sixties/early-'Seventies Nigerian bandleader Bola Johnson (1947-2014) a Lagos-born horn player and vocalist who worked in a variety of genres, including calypso, highlife, Afrobeat and funk. Like many young musicians, Johnson started out his career in other people's bands, in the early 1960s notably singing in the house band at the Easy Life Hotel, in Ibadan, just north of Lagos. Mid-decade, the hotel owner hired Bola Johnson as his new bandleader, heading a newly-christened group called The Easy Life Top Beats, and starting in 1964 the teenaged auteur began recording for the Philips record label, producing a string of 7" singles and EPs, many of which are gathered here. The first disc highlights earlier material, with greater stylistic variety -- and, arguably, a less static sound than on his later tracks, which ground down deeper into the more aggressive, James Brown-influenced funk sound which came to dominate the early Afrobeat scene. There's plenty of that stuff on the second disc, hard-driving, relentless groove-oriented material which shares the same crushing monotony as many other African performers who sought to emulate the tight, taut riffs of American funk and R&B. Thankfully, towards the end of the set Vampi Soul relents and throws in a few more of Johnson's early tunes, such as the gogo-delic "Papa Rebecca Special (She's A Woman)," which tapped into the hip and happening rock-scene vibe of the times. Perhaps, taken as a whole, this isn't the sharpest, most knock-your-socks-off set of vintage African pop, but with almost two dozen tracks, there are plenty of gems, including many songs that shimmer with joyous, youthful vibrancy and many innovative, unusual arrangements. It's definitely worth a spin, and can spice up any ongoing playlists you might be building. Apparently Bola Johnson struggled to make it big and slowly found himself edged out of the crowded, competitive Nigerian pop scene -- for several years he worked as a radio announcer, but eventually faded out of the music scene. This collection is a nice legacy, a pretty comprehensive overview of a lesser-known but still compelling artist smack dab in the middle of an explosively creative musical era.
Orlando Julius & His Modern Aces "Super Afro Soul" (Afro-Strut Records, 2000)
Sizzling '60s funk from this Nigerian Afro-Pop pioneer. Bandleader Orlando Julius eventually made his way to the U.S., where he worked in the soul scene... But here he was ripping his way through a blend of local highlife and furious, James Brown-style R&B. The music is aggressive and punchy, but it also has some deep, serious grooves. If you want to hear where Fela and the bands that followed got their groove from, you'll want to check this guy out!
Orlando Julius & His Afro Sounders "Orlando's Afro Ideas: 1969-1972" (Ekosound Soundway Records, 2004)
Orlando Julius & His Afro Sounders "Super Afro Soul" (VampiSoul Records, 2006)
Orlando Julius (Ekemode) "Longevity And Reclamation" (NuWorld Music, 2006)
Domingo Justus "Roots Of Juju: 1928" (Heritage Records, 1993)
Rather stark, early historical recordings made for the Royal Zonophone company by a Nigerian singer, abroad in England in the late 1920s. Not much is known about this fella, although the use of guitar accompaniment on some of these tracks (most are sung a capella...) places him in the forefront of the development of guitar-based African pop, and Nigerian juju music, in particular. For the average listener, these old recordings are probably a bit too inaccessible, but folks who are trying to seriously dig under the surface and discover some of the historical roots of the style may find these recordings quite interesting.
African Artists... Letter "K"
African Music Index
World Music Index
