Various – Nigeria 80

A selection of 13 rare recordings of vibrant Nigerian music from the 1980s, bringing together highlife, afrobeat, juju, funk, reggae, and more experimental sounds.

The compilation includes names like Paulson Kalu, Prince Nico Mbarga, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Evi-Edna Ogholi, Segun Adewale, and Lekan Animashaun, highlighting “akugbue nwa ewu”, “soko soko”, “yo-pop music”, and “se rere”. Among the most unique moments is I.C. Rock's “advice / oge chi kanma”, an early example of the crossover between Nigerian music and hip-hop, while Evi-Edna Ogholi's “the world” introduces a strong reggae influence. The 2LP edition includes a gatefold cover and booklet with photographs and texts about the artists.