Nigeria freedom sounds! Calypso, highlife, juju & apala: Popular music and the birth of independent

Description

The new Nigeria Freedom Sounds! from SOUL JAZZ RECORDS presents us with a superb selection of tracks highlighting the dynamic Nigerian scene of the early 1960s. With a rich musical and cultural history, and having newly gained independence from England, Nigerian music during this period is complex, varied, and avant-garde, driven by musicians eager to explore the musical line unique to their country with styles like Juju and Apala, as well as to adapt and absorb external influences like Ghanaian Highlife, Caribbean Calypsos, Mambo, and others. This album showcases many artists from that era who contributed to the Nigerian music scene, including I.K. Dairo and his Blue Spot, Haruna Ishola and his Group, E.C. Arinze, Sammy Akpabot and his All Stars, Godwin Omobuwa and his Soundmakers, Ganiyu Kale and his Guinea Mambo Orchestra, and many more. Few nations on earth are as diverse as Nigeria, and the significant number of musical styles concentrated on this album reflects the variety of cultures in this country.