Comments on: The Highlife Turntable Vol. 4 http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/ One hand can't clap: world music for the masses Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:24:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: tiscert http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/comment-page-1/#comment-93910 tiscert Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:20:08 +0000 http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/#comment-93910 Hello Jonathan-in-Wellington, most of the songs on your list are sung in the Ibo language (Nigeria) or Ashanti (Ghana). Just get out a grab the first Nigerian (or Ghanian) on the streets. He might help you. For those interested in old school high-life music, check out Nigerian writer Cyprian Ekwensi's 'People of the City' (published in 1954) which chronicles the life of a trumpeter/crime reporter in 1950s Lagos. He was definitely inspired by those great high-life horn men. It will definitely help in the appreciation of that great music. There's a free online version of that novel here: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=654296 This is page 1: CHAPTER ONE Most girls in the famous West African city (which shall be nameless) knew the address Twenty Molomo Street, for there lived a most colourful and eligible young bachelor, by name Amusa Sango. In addition to being crime reporter for the West African Sensation, Sango in his spare time led a dance band that played the calypsos and the konkomas in the only way that delighted the hearts of the city women. Husbands who lived near the All Language Club knew with deep irritation how their wives would, on hearing Sango's music, drop their knitting or sewing and wiggle their hips, shoulders and breasts, sighing with the nostalgia of musty nights years ago, when lovers' eyes were warm on their faces. Nights that could now, with a home and family, be no more. While those who as yet had found no man would twist their hips alluringly before admiring eyes, tempt­ ing, tantalizing . . . promising much but giving little, basking in the vanity of being desired. Of women Sango could have had his pick, from the silk-clad ones who wore lipstick in the European manner and smelled of scent in the warm air to the more ample, less sophisticated ones in the big-sleeved velvet blouses that feminized a woman. Yet Sango's one desire in this city was peace and the desire to forge ahead. No one would believe this, knowing the kind of life he led: that beneath his gay exterior lay a nature serious and determined to carve for itself a place of renown in this city of opportunities... Hello Jonathan-in-Wellington, most of the songs on your list are sung in the Ibo language (Nigeria) or Ashanti (Ghana). Just get out a grab the first Nigerian (or Ghanian) on the streets. He might help you. For those interested in old school high-life music, check out Nigerian writer Cyprian Ekwensi’s ‘People of the City’ (published in 1954) which chronicles the life of a trumpeter/crime reporter in 1950s Lagos. He was definitely inspired by those great high-life horn men. It will definitely help in the appreciation of that great music. There’s a free online version of that novel here:
http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=654296
This is page 1:

CHAPTER ONE
Most girls in the famous West African city (which shall be
nameless) knew the address Twenty Molomo Street, for there
lived a most colourful and eligible young bachelor, by name
Amusa Sango.

In addition to being crime reporter for the West African
Sensation, Sango in his spare time led a dance band that played
the calypsos and the konkomas in the only way that delighted the
hearts of the city women. Husbands who lived near the All
Language Club knew with deep irritation how their wives
would, on hearing Sango’s music, drop their knitting or sewing
and wiggle their hips, shoulders and breasts, sighing with the
nostalgia of musty nights years ago, when lovers’ eyes were
warm on their faces. Nights that could now, with a home and
family, be no more. While those who as yet had found no man
would twist their hips alluringly before admiring eyes, tempt­
ing, tantalizing . . . promising much but giving little, basking in
the vanity of being desired.

Of women Sango could have had his pick, from the silk-clad
ones who wore lipstick in the European manner and smelled of
scent in the warm air to the more ample, less sophisticated ones
in the big-sleeved velvet blouses that feminized a woman.

Yet Sango’s one desire in this city was peace and the desire
to forge ahead. No one would believe this, knowing the kind
of life he led: that beneath his gay exterior lay a nature serious
and determined to carve for itself a place of renown in this
city of opportunities…

]]> By: Benn Loxo - Matt Yanchyshyn’s African music for the masses - AfricanLoft http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/comment-page-1/#comment-61112 Benn Loxo - Matt Yanchyshyn’s African music for the masses - AfricanLoft Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:55:51 +0000 http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/#comment-61112 [...] reading one of the entries on Benn Loxo, a comment from Jonathan - one of Benn Loxo readers in New Zealand - caught my eye. The man has started a live band in his country playing several African music : “I have [...] [...] reading one of the entries on Benn Loxo, a comment from Jonathan – one of Benn Loxo readers in New Zealand – caught my eye. The man has started a live band in his country playing several African music : “I have [...]

]]> By: Jonathan Dunn http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/comment-page-1/#comment-60701 Jonathan Dunn Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:09:50 +0000 http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/#comment-60701 Hello again. I sent you an email about the Highlife music and lyrics. As I said in the email, we are mostly working out the music "by ear" off of CDs, and in some cases we have written out some arrangements. But it'd be great to see someone else's music for the tunes I mentioned. I am really keen to get the lyrics. Those are harder to work out from the CDs. we have one member who knows Yoruba, but only a couple of the tunes listed are in Yoruba. Well, I appreciate anything you (or others) might be able to provide us for lyrics and music. Cheers, Jonathan Hello again.

I sent you an email about the Highlife music and lyrics. As I said in the email, we are mostly working out the music “by ear” off of CDs, and in some cases we have written out some arrangements. But it’d be great to see someone else’s music for the tunes I mentioned. I am really keen to get the lyrics. Those are harder to work out from the CDs. we have one member who knows Yoruba, but only a couple of the tunes listed are in Yoruba.

Well, I appreciate anything you (or others) might be able to provide us for lyrics and music.

Cheers,

Jonathan

]]> By: ubulujaja http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/comment-page-1/#comment-60619 ubulujaja Sun, 10 Jun 2007 17:11:46 +0000 http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/#comment-60619 I have the music to most of those songs. If you hit me at inbeatswetrust@gmail.com we can see if there is any music i can pass along. I have the music to most of those songs. If you hit me at inbeatswetrust@gmail.com we can see if there is any music i can pass along.

]]> By: ubulujaja http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/comment-page-1/#comment-60618 ubulujaja Sun, 10 Jun 2007 17:10:22 +0000 http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/#comment-60618 I've always been curious if there were any musical notations for these types of african songs and haven't been able to find them. Have you been able to find any? I’ve always been curious if there were any musical notations for these types of african songs and haven’t been able to find them. Have you been able to find any?

]]> By: Jonathan Dunn http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/comment-page-1/#comment-60323 Jonathan Dunn Sun, 10 Jun 2007 03:10:30 +0000 http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/#comment-60323 Greetings from New Zealand! I play trombone and after some overseas work in Abuja Nigeria where I got to play in local Highlife/Afrobeat band there (Baba2010), I have started a group here in Wellington, New Zealand. We play a mix of some Highlife, some old Jamaican ska and some funky jazz. Lots of horns, drums and a solid rhythm section. I love Highlife music, especially Rex Lawson, but also a lot of the other "evergreens"...Chief Stephen, Viktor Olaiya, Joe Mensah, etc. If you or anyone can help me get the lyrics and music for some of the old Highlife classics I would be HUGELY grateful!! Some of the songs we are playing and for which we really need the lyrics (and music if anyone has written it out) are: Ka-Anyi Jikota Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe Bosoe Joe Mensah Bone Biara So Wo Akatua African Brothers / Nana Kwame Ampadu Omo Pupa Victor Abimbola Olaiya Binu Binu Orlando Julius Bere Bote Rex Lawson Akaso Inyingi Rex Lawson Aye Muba Udeaja Rex Lawson So Ala Temen Rex Lawson Abari Biya Rex Lawson Tamuno Bo Ibroma Rex Lawson Sawalé Rex Lawson Love Me Adure Rex Lawson Ibi Na Bo Rex Lawson Cheers, Jonathan Dunn Wellington, NZ Greetings from New Zealand!

I play trombone and after some overseas work in Abuja Nigeria where I got to play in local Highlife/Afrobeat band there (Baba2010), I have started a group here in Wellington, New Zealand. We play a mix of some Highlife, some old Jamaican ska and some funky jazz. Lots of horns, drums and a solid rhythm section. I love Highlife music, especially Rex Lawson, but also a lot of the other “evergreens”…Chief Stephen, Viktor Olaiya, Joe Mensah, etc.

If you or anyone can help me get the lyrics and music for some of the old Highlife classics I would be HUGELY grateful!!

Some of the songs we are playing and for which we really need the lyrics (and music if anyone has written it out) are:

Ka-Anyi Jikota Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe
Bosoe Joe Mensah
Bone Biara So Wo Akatua African Brothers / Nana Kwame Ampadu
Omo Pupa Victor Abimbola Olaiya
Binu Binu Orlando Julius
Bere Bote Rex Lawson
Akaso Inyingi Rex Lawson
Aye Muba Udeaja Rex Lawson
So Ala Temen Rex Lawson
Abari Biya Rex Lawson
Tamuno Bo Ibroma Rex Lawson
Sawalé Rex Lawson
Love Me Adure Rex Lawson
Ibi Na Bo Rex Lawson

Cheers,

Jonathan Dunn
Wellington, NZ

]]> By: ubulujaja http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/comment-page-1/#comment-58436 ubulujaja Tue, 05 Jun 2007 14:41:30 +0000 http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/#comment-58436 zim - I don't handle the posting, but you can contact me at inbeatswetrust@gmail.com and I can send the MP3 over. zim – I don’t handle the posting, but you can contact me at inbeatswetrust@gmail.com and I can send the MP3 over.

]]> By: zim http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/comment-page-1/#comment-58430 zim Tue, 05 Jun 2007 13:34:25 +0000 http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/#comment-58430 ubulujaja, you mentioned the Charles Iwegbue song, Ejelunor - care to post that one? I've only heard his great decca 10" - Lagos Highlife and the songs that were reissued on the Original Music compilation "Azagas and Archibogs". More information on him, though, is hard to come by with the exception of the occasional very beat-up Lps showing up on Ebay. ubulujaja,
you mentioned the Charles Iwegbue song, Ejelunor – care to post that one? I’ve only heard his great decca 10″ – Lagos Highlife and the songs that were reissued on the Original Music compilation “Azagas and Archibogs”. More information on him, though, is hard to come by with the exception of the occasional very beat-up Lps showing up on Ebay.

]]> By: Dj Alfred Hitchcock magazine http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/comment-page-1/#comment-57631 Dj Alfred Hitchcock magazine Sat, 02 Jun 2007 09:06:10 +0000 http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/#comment-57631 Fantastic ! How is it possible to find more of that great musician. Many Thanks ! Fantastic !
How is it possible to find more of that great musician.

Many Thanks !

]]> By: ubulujaja http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/comment-page-1/#comment-57342 ubulujaja Fri, 01 Jun 2007 14:31:45 +0000 http://bennloxo.com/archives/2007/05/31/the-highlife-turntable-vol-4/#comment-57342 The year of the record was 1976, the picture was from the Kit Kat Club and was taken in the late 50's. I also should say that the comment I made about the thready horn solo was not meant to imply Zeal created the technique, its just I noticed that intro to a lot of highlife songs and the best example of what it was can be seen in the Iwegbue song. Glad you liked the music..... The year of the record was 1976, the picture was from the Kit Kat Club and was taken in the late 50′s. I also should say that the comment I made about the thready horn solo was not meant to imply Zeal created the technique, its just I noticed that intro to a lot of highlife songs and the best example of what it was can be seen in the Iwegbue song. Glad you liked the music…..

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