Lagos Chop Up

Fuji And Afrobeat, Highlife And Juju

Honest Jon's Records

Fela’s success in the West has hidden from view the diversity of modern Nigerian music. Like Lagos All Routes, whilst Chop Up sets out to put things in perspective — ranging across styles from the mid-sixties to the early eighties — musically it is mind-boggling.

‘Both albums crackle with intelligence and electricity’ (The Wire).
‘In a word, it’s heaven. As is the companion album’ (All About Jazz).

Here, there is juju, apala, afrofunk, highlife. Some breathtaking classic fuji — raw Muslim street music — for twenty-five years now the real soundtrack of Lagos youth. And the Afrobeat tracks include one of the best you’ll ever hear — thirteen minutes of Shina WIlliams And His African Percussions.

As Chief Ebenezer Obey puts it - ‘Eyi Yato’, something different.

With detailed notes by Michael Veal (Fela’s biographer) and great artwork by the young Lagotian Ogunajo Ademola: ‘beautifully packaged’ (Time Out).

• Sir Shina Adewale - Awa Ni Superstars
• Dr Victor Olaiya - Omelebele
• Etubom Rex Williams - Uwa Idem Mi
• Kollington Ayinla - Alhaja Sikira Adunni, Ayinla Fuji E Ga Pupo
• Ikenga Super Stars Of Africa - Soffry Soffry Catch Monkey
• Nigerian Army Rhythm Group - Ebawa Se
• Eastern Minstrels - Selense
• Oliver De Coque And His Expo 76' - The Tragedy Story Of Two Friends
• Steven Amechi And His Rhythm Skies - Onye Na Eli Nkwu
• Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson - Owuna Derina
• Workers Brigade Band - Kpanlongo
• Shina Williams And His African Percussions - Ise Aje Male, Egbe Kegbe, Emi Koni Koja Ayemi