David Dalle
Thursday March 18th, 2021 with David Dalle
The latest from Analog Africa: Edo Funk Explosion vol. 1; music for Nowruz, Qawaali fusions from Pakistan and more.

We will begin today's show with the latest release from Analog Africa, a superb compilation of the Highlife unique to Benin City in Edo state in Nigeria from the early 80's. Benin City in the 1970's was prosperous from the growing oil industry in southern Nigeria and its nightlife grew along with it. This created high demand for live music to work in the bars and hotels and the city's Highlife was driven by local record labels including Joromi Studios founded by one of the more significant figures in modern Nigerian music, Sir Victor Uwaifo. A Benin City native, whose music career started in Lagos in 1965, by the 70's he had returned to Benin City and made large strides popularizing Highlife. However, he helped develop the local style which was much more raw and funkier than the Highlife from Lagos, and also infused with elements of Edo culture. By the early 80's, musicians were also experimenting with synthesizers and other electronic effects. The first volume features three different artists, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Akaba Man, and Osayomore Joseph. The fourteen tracks on this compilation are all mesmerizing, I could play them all! Volume 2 of the Edo Funk Explosion will also be coming soon, so much great newly discovered African music! https://analogafrica.bandcamp.com/album/edo-funk-explosion-vol-1