Nigerian electronic music

[kidslow]

No other music sounds quite like it. With Fela Kuti and afrobeat there was clearly something special going on in Nigeria in the 1960s and 1970s ...

So what was cross-pollinating? Motown influence clearly, and of course James Brown and funk ... but were Detroit (or Jamaican, or British, etc.) producers going to Africa and vice versa? Or was it all local talent? Mixing Fela Kuti's arrangements would be no easy task back then.

Take William Onyeabor. Like this song from 1977! So what's the direct legacy of this sound? Any recommendations? I mean there must be some crazy good electronic music coming out of Lagos 50 years later.

[sgtswagger]

sounds cool

[Gamma-UT]

Or was it all local talent? Mixing Fela Kuti's arrangements would be no easy task back then.

Local.

When McCartney went to EMI Lagos for the Band on the Run sessions, Kuti was worried his material and techniques were going to get ripped off. Kuti studied music in London in the early 60s and clearly a lot of influences go into afrobeat but there's no secret pipeline of famous western producers going behind the boards at the studios in Nigeria. Kuti did three albums at Abbey Road anyway.

Seun Kuti, Fela's son is actively performing at the moment - his stuff is a bit more jazz-influenced. There's a ton going on, it's just a matter of finding it.

At a half marathon in London a couple of years ago, a couple from Uganda were carrying a beatbox playing stuff from their neck of the woods while doing the run. I lost them about halfway so didn't get a chance to ask them where to find the playlist.

For electronic (well electro-acoustic), nowhere near Lagos, but a distinctly African take:

https://konono1.bandcamp.com/album/congotronics

[kidslow]

Seun Kuti, Fela's son is actively performing at the moment - his stuff is a bit more jazz-influenced. There's a ton going on, it's just a matter of finding it.

Might have to go to Nigeria one day. I did find this (seemingly) long lost blog. If I am interpreting correctly, it was done out of Brooklyn, and already a dozen years back. Good playlist though.

http://combandrazor.blogspot.com/2012/0 ... again.html

[Uncle E]

For electronic (well electro-acoustic), nowhere near Lagos, but a distinctly African take:

https://konono1.bandcamp.com/album/congotronics

This is amazing.