“Conference of the Birds†is my weekly radio program on WNUR-FM. It airs on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 am Chicago time (UTC-6). And, of course, when technology cooperates, you can just come here for the archives. You can subscribe to the podcast with this URL (click here to subscribe in iTunes).
This week I decided to go long on Highlife music, one of the the wonderful popular musics of West Africa. This isn’t a particularly scholarly show, although I was inspired partly because I started reading a book on the subject. Of course, long time listeners have heard some of this before, but this show is a little more directly focused on Ghanaian and Nigerian highlife. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be a Conference of the Birds show if I didn’t directly contradict a theme, so there’s a smattering of loosely related music like Calypso and some even more loose relations. Don’t sweat it!
Enjoy!
Listen:
download program (141MB, 2Â hrs 12Â min)
Artist: “Track†– Album (Label)
Stargazers Band: “Masan Makwo†– Telephone Lobi: More Giants of Danceband Highlife (Original Music)
The Melody Aces: “Suru Lo Dara†– The Great Unknowns (Original Music)
E.T. Mensah: “Asembon Tie M’Ansem†– All For You (RetroAfric)
Akompi’s Guitar Band: “Onyame Na Oye†– I’ve Found My Love: 1960’s Guitar Band Highlife of Ghana (Original Music)
Occidental Brothers Dance Band International: “Mafiwo†– Odo Sanbra (Not on Label)
Rex Lawson and his Rivers Men: “Peri Special Mbanga†– Highlife Time – Nigerian & Ghanaian Sound (Vampi Soul)
George Brown: “Calypso Mambo†– London Is The Place For Me 5 (Latin, Jazz, Calypso & Highlife From Young Black London) (Honest Jon’s)
Victor Olaiya: “Yabomisa Sawale†– Marvellous Boy: Calypso from West Africa (Honest Jon’s)
Professional Uhuru: “Konkomba Medley†– Giants of Danceband Highlife, 1950s-1970s (Original Music)
Ramblers Dance Band: “Gyae Su Na Nkomo Dzi†– The Hit Sound of the Ramblers Dance Band (Flame Tree)
Buddy Pipp’s Highlifers: “Ghana Special†– London Is The Place For Me 5 (Latin, Jazz, Calypso & Highlife From Young Black London) (Honest Jon’s)
African Brothers Int. Band Of Ghana: “Yenko Yemma†– Okwaduo! “Wodee Wokoo Na Wonuanom” (Executive)
Prince Kayosun Dosumu & his Dandies: “Eso Pele†– Azagas & Archibogs: The Sixties Sound of Lagos Highlife (Original Music)
Black Beats: “Meda Ho Mawo†– Telephone Lobi: More Giants of Danceband Highlife (Original Music)
Oriental Brothers: “Anyi Aiala Ozo†– Heavy on the Highlife: Nigeria’s Dr. Sir Warrior and the Oriental Brothers International (Original Music)
E.T. Mensah & the Tempos: “You Call Me Roko†– Giants of Danceband Highlife, 1950s-1970s (Original Music)
Royal Brothers: “Ohia Woa Enwu†– I’ve Found My Love: 1960’s Guitar Band Highlife of Ghana (Original Music)
The African Messengers: “Highlife Picadilly†– London Is The Place For Me 4: African Dreams And The Piccadilly High Life (Honest Jon’s)
Tunde Oshofisan & his Rhythm “Fadakas”: “Jeje L’Omo Eko Nlo†– Azagas & Archibogs: The Sixties Sound of Lagos Highlife (Original Music)
Ramblers Dance Band: “Better Ni†– The Hit Sound of the Ramblers Dance Band (Flame Tree)
The Semi Colon: “Nekwaha Semi Colon†– Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-6 (Soundway)
The Wellis Band: “Bindiga†– Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968 – 1981 (Soundway)
Dr. K. Gyasi & his Noble Kings: “Noble Kings (Yako Aba)†– Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968 – 1981 (Soundway)
Ensemble Etoile du Soir: “Messe Quatre Heures†– Haiti Direct (Strut)
Orchestre Tembo: “Yebo Edi Pachanga†– Racubah (A Collection of Modern Afro Rhythms) (Comet)
Ry-Co Jazz: “Siouvie Moin†– Bon Voyage! (RetroAfric)
West African Rhythm Brothers: “Adura†– London Is The Place For Me 2: Calypso And Kwela, Highlife And Jazz From Young Black London (Honest Jon’s)
Oscar Sulley’s Nzele Sounds: “Bukom†– Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968 – 1981 (Soundway)
Segun Bucknor: “You Killing Me†– Poor Man No Get Brother: Assembly & Revolution 1969-1975 (Afrostrut)
Imo Brothers International: “Mbata Aku (“The Coming of Wealth”)†– Ije Love: Nigerian Highlife Sound of Imo Brothers International (Original Music)
Black Santiagos: “Bani Wo Dzo†– The Great Unknowns (Original Music)
Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou: “Med Ma Gnin Messe†– Echos Hypnotiques, vol. 2: From the Vaults of Albarika Store 1969-1979 (Analog Africa)
L’Orchestre Super Vitesse: “Boiro†– Demo (self-released)