SOFRITO CON QUANTIC!
Saturday 6th March, New Secret East London Warehouse venue, 10 – very late

Quantic (DJ Set)
Sofrito Soundsytem (feat. Frankie Francis & Hugo Mendez)
Sonido Costeno con La Familia Atlantica y Quantic (Live)
Drymbago (Live)
MC Kwasi
The Mighty Crime Minister
Live Batukada
Perilous Selector
…more guests to be announced as well as Special Sofrito punch courtesy of El Dorado Rum

www.sofrito.co.uk

Artist: Twins Seven Seven (Born Prince Taiwo Olaniyi Oyewale-Toyeje Oyelale Osuntoki)

Born: 1941

Band: Twins Seven-Seven and His Golden Cabretas

Country: Nigeria

Soundway Albums featured on: Nigeria Special vol 2 – Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-6

Tracks featured: Totobiroko (Ogbele)

Extract from the liner notes for Nigeria Special vol 2 written by Miles Cleret

“Twins Seven Seven is the sole survivor in a line of seven sets of twins from the Oshogbo royal family – this part of Nigeria is renowned for producing a larger than usual number of twin sets. As well as being a painter, Taiwo Olaiyi Salau (his real name) is well known as a musician, actor, poet and writer. Always easily recognisable, Twins is a very flamboyant character who featured in Ginger Baker’s ill-fated film (Ginger Baker In Africa) from 1972, always wearing his trademark, pink, flared, collared suit, huge sunglasses and braided hair. His music (as is his art) is heavily rooted in Yoruba culture and mythology. His xylophone lines over traditional rhythms sound ethereal and quite unlike anything else form the time. Twins continued to make groundbreaking music throughout the 1970s, and he has continued right up until the present day. Also, his art now sells worldwide. One particular musical highlight is his 1974 LP for the New York label Makossa, entitled Oshun, a two-part 30-minute experimental suite.”

Below is a video taken featuring Ginger Baker in 1971 with Yorubu Drummers. The video features a performance with Twins Seven Seven.(About 4.40 minutes in)

Artist: Fela Kuti

Born: 15 October 1938

Band: Fela Ransome Kuti & The Africa 70

Country: Nigeria

Soundway Albums featured on: Nigeria Afrobeat Special: The New Explosive Sounds of 1970s Nigeria

Tracks featured ‘Who’re You’ (Original 45 version)






Extract from Nigeria Afrobeat Special liner notes on Fela Kuti, written by Miles Cleret.

“In 1969 a thirty-one-year-old Fela Ransome Kuti was leaving Nigeria for the USA with his Koola Lobitos highlife jazz band, which, after eight years of persistence, had failed to make major inroads into the Nigerian recording scene. When he returned home in early 1970, the sound that had left as a slightly hesitant, breezy, light concoction had returned with a new impetus and power that had not until this time been witnessed in the recording studios of Lagos and Nigeria. Fela had recorded for Philips and EMI but neither had enjoyed much commercial success with him. Along with his newly named Nigeria 70 band he had made some recordings in Los Angeles that reflected his new, far more energetic approach to music but as yet they had not been released. ”

Radio Interview

Below is a very rare radio interview with Fela Kuti, recorded at the beginning of the 1970s in London, not long after he had returned from the USA. The track featured in the original interview is ‘Who’re You’ and the original 45 version is available on Nigeria Afrobeat Special: The New Explosive Sounds of 1970s Nigeria

Fela In Performance

The video below shows rare early footage of Fela in performance in 1971, shortly after the Nigerian civil war.

The range of styles vary from highlife to Juju and Nigerian blues in the languages of Yoruba, Igbo, Bini and Ijaw. With a peppering of ‘afro’ experimentation the same musical stew pervades volume 2 as it’s predecessor – some artists appear again alongside some new artists as the emphasis continues to focus on the laid back and mid tempo feel found on volume 1.

1970’s Nigeria was a time that allowed Nigerian bands more freedom to record their own style than ever before. Highlife, afrobeat, rock, jazz & native blues rubbed shoulders and were turned out at unprecedented levels. Nigeria Special 2 features five of the artists on the previous volume leaving space for a choice selection of some of the hundreds of other recording artists that were active in Nigeria at the time.

The CD is presented with a full colour 24-page booklet with nuggets of historical information and a background to the scene at the time. The triple LP comes with two exclusive bonus tracks, available only on vinyl.

CD Track list:
1. Fubura Sekibo – Psychedelic Baby
2. Black’s’ Zenith – Shango Oba Onina
3. Twins Seven – Seven and His Golden Cabretas – Totobiroko (Ogbele)
4. The Professional Seagulls Dance Band of Port Harcourt – Ibi Awo Iyi
5. The Otarus – Omohupa
6. The Don Issac Ezekiel Combination – The Lords Prayer
7. James Etamobe & His All Weatther Band – Agboyabakpa
8. The People Star – Onwu Dinjo
9. Bola Johnson & His Easy Life Top Beats – Jeka Dubu
10. Emperor Dele Ojo & His Africana Internationals – Jekoyewa
11. Commander in Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigerian Sound Makers – Onyebu Chi
12. Paulson Kalu Afrikhanah & His Stars 25 – Ochea Special
13. Fidel Sax Bateke & The Voices of Darkness – Motako
14. Opotopo (Easy Kabaka Brown) – Agboho
15. Tunji Oyelana & The Benders – Iwo Ko La Dami
16. Etubom Rex Williams & His Nigerian Artistes – Isip 2
17. The Peacocks International Guitar Band – Onye Aghala Nwanneya
18. The Nkengas – Anyi Bundi Igbo
20. Joy Nwoso & Dan Satch – Egwo Umu Agbogho

LP Track list

Side 1 :
1. Fubura Sekibo – Psychedelic Baby
2. Black’s’ Zenith – Shango Oba Onina
3. Twins Seven – Seven and His Golden Cabretas – Totobiroko (Ogbele)
4. The Professional Seagulls Dance Band of Port Harcourt – Ibi Awo Iyi
5. The Otarus – Omohupa

Side 2
1. The Don Isaac Ezekiel Combination – The Lords Prayer
2. James Etamobe & His All Weatther Band – Agboyabakpa
3. The People Star – Onwu Dinjo
4. Bola Johnson & His Easy Life Top Beats – Jeka Dubu

Side 3
1. Emperor Dele Ojo & His Africana Internationals – Jekoyewa
2. Commander in Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigerian Sound Makers – Onyebu Chi
3. Paulson Kalu Afrikhanah & His Stars 25 – Ochea Special
4. Fidel Sax Bateke & The Voices of Darkness – Motako

Side 4
1. Opotopo (Easy Kabaka Brown) – Agboho
2. Eric Akaeze – Ajambene
3. Etubom Rex Williams & His Nigerian Artistes – Isip 2

Side 5
1. The Peacocks International Guitar Band – Onye Aghala Nwanneya
2. The Nkengas – Anyi Bundi Igbo
3. Joy Nwoso & Dan Satch – Egwo Umu Agbogho
4. Mary Afi Asuah – Ima Mma Nyem

Side 6
1. Tunji Oyelana & The Benders – Iwo Ko La Dami
2. The Ikenga Super Stars – Aku Nke Uwa

Parking:
Tolbiac Library or Vincent Auriol

Subway:
Line 14 and RER C: Bibliothèque François Mitterand
Line 6: Quai de la Gare

After their triumphant first UK appearance at the Barbican last September, Orchestre Poly-Rythmo are heading back to the UK as part of the the 2010 African Soul Rebels Tour. The tour also features Oumou Sangaré, one of the biggest stars in Mali, a towering, regal diva whose uncompromising lyrics in praise of women have made her the funkiest feminist icon on the planet. Opening the show with a dystopian urban groove are South Africa’s Kalahari Surfers and their special guest, the dub poet, Lesego Rampolokeng.

Listen to the African Soul Rebels podcast.

Click here to download the podcast.

Click on tour dates for further information and tickets:

18th February Poole Lighthouse (0844 406 8666)
19th February Brighton Dome Concert Hall (01273 709709)
20th February London Barbican (020 7638 8891)
21st February Northampton Royal & Derngate (01604 624811)
22nd February Bristol Colston Hall (0117 922 3686)
24th February Basingstoke The Anvil (01256 844244)
25th February Warwick Arts Centre (024 7652 4524)
26th February Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (0151 709 3789)
27th February Edinburgh Usher Hall (0131 228 1155)
28th February Manchester Bridgewater Hall (0161 907 9000)
2nd March Leicester De Montfort Hall (0116 233 3111)
3rd March The Sage Gateshead (0191 443 4661)

It was Fela Kuti and his musical and political ideals that formed the core of afrobeat’s message. Blending highlife, Yoruba music, funk and jazz, Fela dominated the musical tapestry of 1970s Nigeria and his influence in Nigeria and West Africa led to a craze where most of the bands of the day incorporated this new sound into their repertoires to satisfy the tastes of the audiences of the time. This compilation highlights some of those recordings that have, until now, not seen the light of day.

Appropriately, Fela’s highly sought after version of ‘Who’re you’ lends this set its lead. Originally released on 7” in 1971, It would later be re-recorded at Abbey Road for his album Fela’s London Scene and here is re-issued for the first time ever.

Set for release on 22nd February, Nigeria Afrobeat Special is released as a CD digipack and triple LP featuring five bonus tracks not available on the CD. Extensive liner notes are provided.

Please note change of release date to the 22nd February.

CD Tack List:

1. Fela & The Africa 70 – Who’re you? (Original 45 Version)
2. Eric Showboy Akaeze & His Royal Ericos – We Dey Find Money
3. The Anansa Professionals – Enwan
4. Saxon Lee & The Shadows International – Mind Your Business
5. Bongos Ikwue & The Groovies – Otachikpopo
6. Orlando Julius & His Afro-Sounders – Afro-Blues
7. Bob Ohiri and his Uhuru Sounds – Ariwo Yaa
8. Mad Man Jaga – Hankuri
9. Godwin Omabuwa & His Casanova Dandies – Do The Afro Shuffle
10. Segun Bucknor’s Revolution – Gbomojo
11. The Black Santiagos – Ole

LP Track list

Side 1
1. Fela & The Africa 70 – Who’re you? (Original 45 Version)
2. Bongos Ikwue & The Groovies – Otachikpopo

Side 2
1. Orlando Julius & His Afro-Sounders – Afro-Blues
2. Saxon Lee & The Shadows International – Mind Your Business

Side 3
1. Eric Showboy Akaeze & His Royal Ericos – We Dey Find Money
2. Mad Man Jaga – Hankuri
3. The Nigerian Police Band ( “The Force 7”) – Mori Keke Kan

Side 4
1. Bob Ohiri and his Uhuru Sounds – Ariwo Yaa
2. The Anansa Professionals – Enwan
3. Godwin Omabuwa & His Casanova Dandies – Do The Afro Shuffle

Side 5
1. The Tony Benson Sextet – Shish Ke Bab
2. . Segun Bucknor’s Revolution – Gbomojo
3. The Black Santiagos – Ole

Side 6
1. Abiodun Bakare & His Kobi’s band – Nigeria
2. The Martins Brothers Dance Band – On Shakara O
3. The Sahara All Stars – World People

Click on tour dates for further information and tickets:

18th February Poole Lighthouse (0844 406 8666)
19th February Brighton Dome Concert Hall (01273 709709)
20th February London Barbican (020 7638 8891)
21st February Northampton Royal & Derngate (01604 624811)
22nd February Bristol Colston Hall (0117 922 3686)
24th February Basingstoke The Anvil (01256 844244)
25th February Warwick Arts Centre (024 7652 4524)
26th February Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (0151 709 3789)
27th February Edinburgh Usher Hall (0131 228 1155)
28th February Manchester Bridgewater Hall (0161 907 9000)
2nd March Leicester De Montfort Hall (0116 233 3111)
3rd March The Sage Gateshead (0191 443 4661)

Feel free to click on the various web links in the interview to give you a better understanding of the musicians that matter and the cultural gateway that is Panama!

Tell us a little about your first encounters in Panama and how the Panama compilations series came about on Soundway?

I first traveled to Panama in 2002 and have visited some twenty plus times since then – it was right across the border from Costa Rica, where I was living. I met Popo Buckley, who was living in Costa Rica playing percussion for a local salsa group only a few months after returning home with my first load of Panamanian and afro-latin LPs and 45s. One of the LPs I was crazy about was by Bush y sus Magnificos, led by Bush Buckley, who happened to be Popo’s father. All three Buckley boys are excellent musicians and either lead bands or teach music themselves. Popo connected me with his father, who would go on to be like a big brother to me. When I started traveling to Panama to research the music I had brought back, Bush took me around to meet the “Pelaos” (youngsters) – all men in their late 60s to 80s who gathered at a café daily to talk about baseball, women, and most importantly, the intricacies of the history of Afro-Cuban music.

Los Pelaos at the table in the café

I spent a lot of time with the Perez brothers, Mono and Monitin, who used to travel regularly to Cuba in the 50s to party and dance (can you imagine?) and knew Beny More well, had dined at his house (beyond being one of the most important figures in the history of Afro-Cuban music, he was also an excellent cook). I was taken under the wing of the great Anel Sanders, who also knew Beny and was the first person to play stand up timbales in Panama. He was an original member of the Armando Boza big band in the days of the Tent Carnavales in Panama City in the late ‘40s (all night dance parties… drums heated over kerosene to tighten them…) and we still speak regularly. Anel, Bush and the Pelaos were a deep resource as far as understanding not just Panamanian music, but also the Music of the Pan-Caribbean generally.

Anel Sanders

When I started to look into the Panamanian Combos, which is a different slice than the Panamanian Big Bands and Salsa bands (being composed of younger Afro-Antillean Panamanians) one of my first interviews was with Kabir, formerly Ernie King, singer for Los Fabulosos Festivals. To meet Kabir I took the bus down the San Miguel neighborhood, home of the infamous “Toca y Muere” gang (touch and die), to his tiny Barberia Nubians.

Kabir runs the tiny Barberia Nubians, and gives an excellent fade.

During the first of my visits, we talked for hours about the combos and the history of Afro-Panamanian music. Later I invited Ricky Staples, original drummer for Los Soul Fantastics, to join us. In the Foto below he is pointing to a poster of boxing champ Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Duran, still a hero in Panama.


Kabir, Ricky Staples (seated), and customer

On a subsequent trip I visited Colon ( I have been four or five times), where I met and interviewed Joe Clark, singer and guitarist for Los Silvertones, and began to gain insight into the important role that Colon played in the development of this fantastic music

Joe Clark with Rafael, the lead singer of Los Caballeros de Colon

What was the very first record that turned you onto Panamanian music?