Sir Shina Peters - Afro Juju Series 1(1989)

Hey, hey, here's some more juju for yer ears!  Sir Shina Peters started out playing guitar for General Prince Adekunle before forming a group with Segun Adewale in the early eighties.  He formed his own juju troup in the late eighties and this was his first release.  It's a frantic fusion of juju and fuji - a surefire hit on the dancefloors of my dreams - and I hope you like it.



And while you're here, you may want to check this out - a bizarre Shina Peters jungle remix:
  


Tracklist:
01         Afro-Juju       
02         Je Kajo       
03         Ijo Shina       
04         Moju Kuro       
05         Oyin Momo       
06         Omoge To Rewa       
07         Omo Enia Lo Sora       
08         Jesu Gbadura Mi       
09         Atoto Arere       
10         Irawo Lagba (Ace)       
11         Adebisi Odutayo       
12         Afro-Juju Lo Gbode 

Get it HERE.

Yusufa Olatunji & His Group - Orin Tokotaya

This battered CD came from a stall on East Street Market in Southwark - a real treasure trove of Nigerian music if you ever get the chance to have a wander.

Yusufa Olatunji was one of the leading exponents of sakara music, a popular form of Yoruba music and a precurser to the percussion heavy fuji sounds of Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister or Alhaji (Chief) Kollington Ayinla. Yusufa was also known as Baba Legba, which got me wondering whether the nickname was related to the Yoruba loa, Papa Legba. Papa Legba is the first and last spirit to be called during Haitian Voodoo ceremonies as his presence is essential in any communication between mortals and the spirit world.

Just for kicks, here is the SUn City Girls playing Papa Legba:

and here is Baba Legba:

Tracklist:

01 Alhaji Adetunji Adenekan / Alhaja Lati Ladejobi / Sinotu Abeke / Egbe Egba Parapo (Oshodi)
02 Orin Tokotaya / Orin Asiko / Rasaki Adelakun / Egbe Faripo (Egba) / Egbe Irepolodun (Egba)

Get it HERE.

Chief Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister - Fuji New Waves (1991)

It's been an awful long time since I posted any of that mindbending Fuji music so here is something else from the late, great Chief Doctor Barrister. Here the Chief Doctor urges us to dance to the new wave of Fuji and uses a non too subtle wall of percussion, slide guitar and incredibly wonky synth noise to coax us onto the dancefloor. Once there, you won't want to stop.


Tracklist:

01 Duka Hausawa
02 New Waves
03 Cinderella
04 Gbaa - e gwu
05 Alhaji Raheem Tejumola
06 Ori o Gbodo Fo
07 Owo Kilani
08 National Pledge
09 Late Alhaji Muniru Gbadamosi
10 Mr Dolapo Badru

Get it HERE.

Chief (Dr) Sikiru Ayinde Barrister (The Africa International Music Ambassador) - Fuji Garbage (1988)

Here's some more of that frantic fuji music. This album has it all: frenzied talking drums, groovy out of tune keyboards and Barrister's rough toasting, it is delightfully demented.

Here's a taste of his fuji sound:


Tracklist:

Side 1: Fuji Garbage / Lau Erebe / Four Jolly Friends

Side 2: O Dowa Agbagba / Psychology / Won Oma Doyika Ni / Awa Lolorun Fun / Hawaian System / Otunba Wahab Oshinubi

Get it HERE.

Akeem Ayinla Omowura & His Apala Modernizer Band - 1985 Challenge Cup (Afrodisia 1985)

Akeem Ayinla Omawura is the son of famous Nigerian Fuji bandleader, Alhaji Ayinla Omowura. Omowura Sr. died in 1980 and his son released this, his only album that I can find, on the legendary Afrodisia record label in 1985. Can't find any information about the younger Omowura on the internet, so I'm afraid there's nothing more to say other than enjoy this beautiful music.

Side 1:

01 Challenge Cup 1985
02 Alhaji Rasaki Kolawole
03 Alhaji Mosudi Ogunsanya Enkalow
04 Ode Totori Ategun Lo Gbe Ibon

Side 2:

01 Tuntun Lo Ma Je Jade
02 Alhaji Ajasa Sansaliu
03 Baiye Se Nyi
04 Aditu Ede Mo Gbere De
05 Omowunmi Tony Adegboyega

Get the Fuji goodness HERE.

Alhadji Haruna Ishola & His Apala Group - Erin Onihun Se Nile

Alhadji Haruna Ishola and His Apala Group play a completely incredible music that reminds me of the music of the Balinese Gamelan orchestras. It's fast paced, almost frantic, and yet hypnotic and stately. The group play talking drums and thumb pianos all washed over with beautiful harmonies. I think this Apala music is related to the Fuji music of Chief Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, although this is certainly more mellow. I strongly recommend you give this one a go, then check out the other albums that have been posted over at WorldService.

Track list:

O1 Erin Onihun Se Nile / Late Mary Awolowo / Aiye Yio Ma Fewa
02 Late Owonifari / Enu Dun Rofo / Agbe Ko Gberere Tomi Wa

Get it HERE....go on, you won't regret it.

Chief Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister - Barry Wonder (1987)

Chief Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and his African International Music Ambassadors were one of the leading Fuji groups in Nigeria. They played a style that came to rival Juju in popularity amongst the country's Yoruban speakers, although fuji is a much tougher sound that is more connected with the music and arts of pre-Christian and pre-Islamic Africa. Barry Wonder is a frantic listen...frenetic percussion, wonky brass, some amazing one finger casio playing and the Doctor's urgent calls make for a great time.

Tracklist:

Side 1 Subu-Ana-Lahi / Barry Wonder / Ruru Fun Mi Gangan / Alhaja Mulika Da Silva / Alhaji Mufutau-Olanihun / Bobaje-Tolorin

Side 2 Bafefe Nfe / Akola Orin / Opon Tanke / Alhaji Shittu Sanni / Lefe Lawa / Mesonu

Get the zip HERE.