Nigeria 70: No Wahala (Highlife, Afro-Funk & Juju 1973-1987)
There must have been few places more exciting than Lagos in the 1970s. The city’s incredibly diverse music scene has been well documented, with Strut Records paying particularly close attention with compilations like The Definitive Story of 1970’s Funky Lagos, Lagos Jump, and Sweet Times, all over them showcasing the psychedelic rock, jùjú, Afrobeat, funk, and soul that were dominating the dancefloors and airwaves back then. No Wahala: Highlife, Afro-Funk & Juju 1973-1987 shifts the spotlight away from Lagos and onto the Delta region and Abuja, which were just as vibrant. There’s a good dose of jùjú on the compilation, mostly a hybrid between tradition and the funky, psych-rock sounds of the ‘70s. Sina Ayinde Bakare, the son of jùjú pioneer Ayinde Bakare, adds trippy guitar to the typical Yoruba percussion, while M.A. Jaiyesimi & His Crescent Bros stay closer to tradition with their leisurely guitar, classic jùjú vocals and bubbling percussion.