For today, I’d like to share with you “Ima Mi Dio“, a splendid deep 70s African Soul Highlife Funky Folk track from Nigeria driven with gorgeous horns & with Afrobeat reminiscences, taken from the 5th album recorded in 1979 by the great Nigerian composer & musician E. E. Akpan, and backed by his band “The Hunters“.
Sadly, I have not more informations about him, so any would be more than welcome !
One of my favorite tracks in the genre, blending a lot of different influences – hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !
E. E. Akpan & The Hunters – Ima Mi Dio (Nigeria, 1979, Go Gay)
Following this former post, I’d like to share with you for today “Obe Yava“, a mind-blowing syncopated Psychedelic Afro Sato Folk Soul track from Benin with bewitching horns & synths parts, taken from the 1st album by the Beninese composer & musician Guendehou Sidonie Evelyne known as “Guenshi-Ever”.
It was privately recorded & released in the early 80s on “Gaseg Collections” (an obscure record label that apparently released only this album) with the financial contribution of “La Cloche” restaurant located in Cotonou, Benin (!).
No so much additional infos about this album (any are welcomed !), but it seems that “Guenshi-Ever” who backed a lot of famous mythical artists as Honoré Avolonto or Denis Pambou Tchicaya as a singer, wanted to try his luck on a solo musical career, throught this album and another one recored a bit later.
Invisible to find nowadays, glad to share it today in such clean condition – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !
For today, I’d like to share with you “Ntchizenguè”, a mellow balearic 80s Cosmic Synth Soul track from Gabon taken from an obscure LP recorded in 1981 in Libreville (country’s capital) an produced by the famous Gabonese composer & musician Jean-Yves Messan in order to promote the sole recordings of 5 young talents (Jean-Louis Evoung, Douma Dominique, Jean-Claude Boutoto, Gnanga Moukoula Dominique & Pépé-Ngalet).
Out on the label “Zika Production” (on which were released some great albums by the Congolese superstar Abeti Masikini), the song presented here is my favorite from this album – sad the artist didn’t released more material after that (any more informations on this release + artists would be warmly welcomed !).
Following this former article, I’d like to share with you “Wollou“, a sublime deep psychedelic 70s Afro Manding Fusion Soul SynthFolk track from Gambia, taken from the second album (my fave one !) of the mythical Gambian band “Guelewar Band of Banjul“, founded by composers & musicians brothers Laaye & Moussa N’Gom, and that included some of the bests Gambian & Senegalese musicians of that era as :
Recorded in 1980 in Dakar (Senegal), this album (“Tasito”, or “self-sufficiency” in Mandinka Senegambian langage) is one of the very firsts produced by Ibrahima Sory Sylla, who’d become later one of the most prominent figures of African music, and would pave the way for the emergence of West Africa’s greatest groups and artists (Gnonnas Pedro & Africando, Orchestra Baobab, Gets de Dakar or Ismaël Lô) though is label “Syllart Records”.
This album was released at the time on both labels “Productions Jambaar PJ” (for Senegalese market distribution) & in France on “Le Kiosque d’Orphée” (famous Paris-based record manufacturer/label, where every artists could pay to get a number of pressings, making it an alternative for a private press autoproduction)
Cherry on the cake : this gorgeous cover art by painter Senegalese Djibathen Laye Sambou, one of my personal hero when it’s about African album sleeve design (remember Orchestra Bawobab Gouye-Gui de Dakar & Ousmane “Ouza” Diallo ones ?) – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !
Guelewar Band of Banjul – Wollou (Gambia, 1980, Productions Jambaar)
Following this former post, I’d like to share with for today “Life’s Gone Down Low“, a gorgeous hybrid slow 70s Afro Soul Reggae Funk track from Nigeria with catchy organ parts, composed by the Nigerian twin sisters Kehinde & Taiwo Lijadu better known as “The Lijadu Sisters”.
This song is taken from their 2nd album, recorded at the legendary “DECCA Studios” in Lagos city, and released in 1976 on the mythical Nigerian record label “Afrodisia“.
It includes the following musicians :
Kehinde & Taiwo Lijadu aka The Lijadu Sisters : Writtings, Arrangelments, Lead Vocals ;
Cherry on the cake : this beautiful artwork by the mysterious “Ideas Organisation” !
One of my favorite Reggae Soul track from the African continent, discovered though the excellent Afro Rock compilation “The World Ends: Afro Rock & Psychedelia in 1970s, Nigeria” released in 2010 by the renowned reissue label “Soundway”.
I’ve been lucky enough to find an original copy in pristine condition during one of my several record digging trop in Cameroon the same year, but that’s another story..
Hope you’ll like this song as I do, enjoy !
The Lijadu Sisters – Life’s Gone Down Low (Nigeria, 1976, Afrodisia)
Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical rediscovery !
Armand de Preseau
Verckys & L'Orchestre Veve – Misere
( Democratic Republic of Congo , 1970s )
posted on 16 / 08 / 2026
Following this former post, I’d like to share with you for today “Misere“, an outstanding deep 70s Afro Soul Slow Funk track from Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaïre) driven by killer horns & organ parts, taken from one of the numerous singles recorded in the 70s by the legendary Congolese composer & musician Georges Kiamuangana Mateta aka “Verckys”, and backed by the almighty Orchestre Veve.
Sung in French, this song deals about African people suffering, poverty, exploitation & misfortunes, and which, sadly, still rings all too true today.
You can easily source American Soul music influences here, as it sounds like an Otis Redding song.
Quite invisible those days, glad to share it with you – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !
For today, I’d like to share with you “Yatchiminou“, an uplifting catchy 70s Afro Synth Boogie track from Ivory Coast, taken from the first LP of the famous Ivorian composer & musician N’Goran Hyacinthe (known as Jimmy Hyacinthe in tribute to his idol Jimmy Hendrix, since N’Goran developed a string pinching technic of playing guitar) who modernized the Goly traditional Ivorian rhythm.
This album was produced & recorded between Paris (France) & Abidjan (Ivory Coast), at the same time he formed & leaded the Parisian band “Bozambo” composed with great Pan African musicians.
After recording several albums in the 70s & 80s, he returned to Ivory Coast in the mid 80s and became the artistic director of the legendary local label “La Société Ivoirienne de l’Industrie du Son” (SID).
Dancefloor sure shot, instant feel-good summer track, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !
Jimmy Hyacinthe – Yatchiminou (Ivory Coast, 1979, Discogram)
Following this former post, I’d like to share with you for today “Ego-Ibo“, a deep 70s Afro Psychedelic Soul syncopated track from Benin, taken from the 2nd LP recorded in 1979 by the Beninese band “Les Sympathics de Porto-Novo“, leaded by the composer & musician Happy Ruffin and that was very active as a studio backing band in the late 70s & early 80s and who played for big Beninese musicians & composers of that era.
This album was released on the mythical Beninese record label “Albarika Store“, and included the following musicians :
Happy Ruffin : Composition, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writings ;
Jean-Louis Avognon : Backing Vocals, Guitar ;
Herman F. Laleye : Bass Guitar, Leader ;
Armand Pognon : Lead Guitar, Organ ;
Georges d’Assomption : Congas ;
Marcellin Laleye : Drums ;
Highly recommended LP, killer from start to finish – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !
Les Sympathics de Porto-Novo – Ego-Ibo (Benin, 1979, Albarika Store)
For today, I wanted to share with you “Sweet Nothing“, a downtempo deep Afro Boogie Soul Funk track from Nigeria with instant catchy synth parts, taken from the 2nd & last album of the mysterious Nigerian composer & musician Saaji “A” Amuruonye.
On this LP, Saaji is backed by the legendary Nigerian band “The Comrades” whom I previously shared a track of here.
Really hard to find album nowadays, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !
Following this previous article, I’d like to share with you for today “Iyateka“, a bouncy Afro Synth Soul from Gabon, taken from the 2nd & last album of the Gabonese composer & musician Vyckos Ekondo, self-released in the 1990 by the Gabonese Ministry of Health & Social Affairs to promote national health care system.
This album features great Gabonese but also Cameroonian musicians, as :
