The London-based Soul Jazz Records has released a great new compilation, titled Nigeria Soul Power 70 that highlights the influence of funk, rock and disco on the African region’s music during the 1970s.

Even though legendary artists like Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade, and Chief Ebenezer Obey have been most associated with the sound that came out of Nigeria in the seventies, there were a wealth of other incredible musicians producing amazing music out of this region during this time. On this compilation, Soul Jazz Records have done a great job highlighting some of the other iconic musicians and bands that were truly making their mark within the disco, soul, and funk scenes of this West African nation. Some of the artists and groups featured include the known “the African James Brown” Geraldo Pino, Tony Grey and his Ozimba Messengers, Don Bruce and The Angels, The Wings (formerly known as Biafran Air Force), Sonny Okosuns, Colomach, Chief Kollington Ayinla, and many more.

This 14-track compilation was spawned out of a limited-edition Record Store Day 7inch box set release that the label put out a few years ago, which has now been long out-of-print. Now expanded into a 2xLP gatefold format, this recording features all the tracks that were included on the box set and many new additions, along with extensive liner notes.

Overall, this is a brilliant and well-crafted compilation that dives deep into some of the lesser-known but highly influential musicians that shaped Nigeria’s Afro-funk, rock, and soul sound of the seventies. An absolutely essential release for any African music enthusiast or collector.

Various — ‘Nigeria Soul Power 70’
(Soul Jazz Records)

1. Geraldo Pino – Shake Hands
2. Sonny Okosuns Ozziddi – Dance Of The Elephants
3. The Wings – We’ll Get Home
4. Alhaji (Chief) Prof. Kollington Ayinla – E Ye Ika Se
5. Colomach – Kassa Kpa Sama Kpa
6. Geraldo Pino – Heavy Heavy Heavy
7. MFB – Beware
8. Tony Grey and The Ozimba Messengers – You Are The One
9. Sonny Okosuns Ozziddi – Oba Erediauwa I
10. The Wings – Single Boy
11. Geraldo Pino – Power To The People
12. Original Wings – Igba Alusi
13. Don Bruce and The Angels – Sugar Baby
14. Geraldo Pino – Africans Must Unite

BUY RECORD

• African
• Compilation
• Funk