A few days ago we heard some 1960s highlife from Lagos.

Following the Nigerian civil war, or Biafran war for independence, depending on your history book, juju replaced highlife as the dominant musical force in Western Nigeria. While there were still a few Yoruba highlife musicians left in Lagos the dominant Igbo highlife stars had left town and juju musicians like Ebeneezer Obey were taking over.

Original Music’s 37th release, Lucky Stars Rosy Mornings, explores the exploding juju scene in Nigeria’s second city, Ibadan, located in western Nigeria, during the 1960s.

The compilation is filled with scratchy, lovely tunes that remind us how juju sounded before it sped up and got whacked over the head with a synth during the 1980s.

Professor Sunny Agaga & his Lucky Stars Band - Olorun Lomo Ola
F.A. Jimmy West & his Rosy Morning Band - Ijesha Ile

When I was in university there were weekly screenings of old-school NFB movies at a local ice cream parlour. (The same place where now-famous Buck 65 used to occasionally rap for small crowds.)

There were the predictable screenings of that classic of classics, The Log Driver’s Waltz, the edge of your seat thriller, Octopus Hunt (check-out the awesome musical sequence at around 6′), and the perennial favourite, Cosmic Zoom.

My favourite short film by far is one I can’t seem to find in the NFB archives. It starts with a guy with an afro running up the stairs to the beat of some whack funk music. He climbs several flights, easing the audience into the rhythm of the music, before bursting into daylight on the roof. He then climbs into one of those 1970s-esque bubble helicopters, puts on his 1970s-esque earphones, and takes-off.

When he’s in the air the film’s title scrolls across the screen in exciting 3D lettering: “Traffic Copter”. The pace of the film then slows dramatically. The funk music dies, and you spend the rest of the 15 minutes listening to some guy explain the inner-workings of a traffic helicopter as he flies over bland 1970s Toronto landscapes.

The first time I saw this film I nearly fell-off my seat laughing.. and undoubtedly got some ice cream on my shirt.

One thing is for sure: if Traffic Copter had been produced in Nigeria they would have used the Ebenezer Obey song I’m going to post today as the soundtrack. Amazing stuff. You can grab it and more on the compilation Lagos All Routes, available at Dusty Groove.

ps- Thanks, Alex.

Ebenezer Obey & His Inter-Reformers Band - Eyi Yato / Elere Ni Wa

Original Music certainly make the shortlist for best album name for their 1995 Orlando Owoh release, Dr. Ganja’s Polytonality Blues.

I’s a classic four track mix of mid-70s Nigerian juju-highlife stuffed with psychedelic riffs and slow burning melodies. The track I picked for today makes a sweet switch at about the five minute mark, catching your ears off guard as you two-toke it around.

Orlando Owoh has been playing music in Nigeria since the mid-1950s. In his heyday he was one of Decca’s best-selling artists, and is known for being one of the key pioneers of the juju-highlife movement during the 1970s. He suffered a stroke in 2005 but, as far as I know, is doing alright now.

Thanks to Benn loxo listener, Flecton, for sending this my way.

Orlando Owoh - Emi Wa Wa Lowo Re, Alun Gbere Wa De

This is the 100th post at Benn loxo du taccu!

With over 22,000 words written, 155 songs posted and over 600 daily readers, I’m very happy with the way that this site has developed. Thank you for your support so far.

I started the site in September, 2004, with a week of 70s Nigerian pop and funk music. I thought I’d come full circle and post some more old-school Nigerian sounds, this time from Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe.

Although I don’t have a clue what this song is called (it’s off a mislabeled bootleg that I picked-up in Lagos last year), it makes me want to go buy a pinata and bash the crap out of it. Now I know the name - thanks Scott!

So put on your party hats and go eat some candy. I look forward to the next 100.

Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe - Nwannem Ebezina

Is there room enough in Nigeria for two Chief Commanders? Obasanjo has Oshiomole just as King Sunny Ade has his main rival, Ebenezer Obey, the other Chief Commander. The latter two are friendly rivals, though, and don’t go around hitting each other’s supporters with whips and rubber clubs. Apparently it’s cool to have several Chiefs on the Nigerian highlife music scene.

Obey was born in western Nigeria but grew-up in Lagos during the 50s like Sunny Ade. He, too, has that Ghanaian/Nigerian highlife sound from the 60s they call juju filled with drumming, guitars and singing. He also has a habit of releasing a record every 5 to 10 minutes. Obey describes his juju music as follows:

“It’s like cooking a soup. If you put in many different ingredients, it tastes richer and better” (ref)

This Chief also likes to release 20 minute tracks so I’ve snipped 5 minutes out of a track called “Aya Foba Mimo” from his album Evergreen Songs 9 for you to enjoy.

Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey - Aya Foba Mimo

King Sunny Ade, aka “The Minister of Enjoyment”, is pure Nigeria. Born in ‘46, peaked sometime around ‘79, still kicking. He plays something called “juju” or “ashiko” which is a popular Nigerian dance music still big with the kids there. Fast beats, tight guitar and epic songs sometimes spanning hours live.

I was lucky enough to catch this guy at an outdoor concert in Abuja during the All African Games last year. He showed up on stage many hours late surrounded by the requisite harem of 20-30 women and rocked the crowd until near-dawn. Nothing like Guiness, Sunny and a sweaty Nigerian night to get you feeling good.

Probably his most well-known song, Ma Jaiye Oni, is a great tune that doesn’t span 30 minutes and thus works well for a sample. You can find it on his great album Juju Music.

King Sunny Ade - Ma Jaiye Oni