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The Unofficial Website for Fela Kuti and Afrobeat Music |
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CD of the month review: Danger - The Lijadu Sisters Anybody who knows anything about Afrobeat, knows that it is not exactly a genre in World Music in which ladies play the leading role. Yes, a group of ladies that answer in chorus is indispensable and scantily clad dancers viciously shaking their you-know-whats add to the excitement. However, the genre is seldom used by women to makes statements, political or otherwise. We also know that the famed Kuti family of Nigeria produced human rights The album opener “Danger” is a song with a strong “Girl Power” vibe that was quite unusual for the time. We must remember this was way before bands like the The Go Go’s, The Bangles or Salt’n’Pepa arrived on the music scene. The guitar solo on Danger can compete with those of the top players of the time and reminds us of the good old days when Guitar god were, well, Gods and greedy producers hadn’t taken over the music business. Anyone familiar with the reggae classic “Uptown Top Ranking” by Althea & Donna, which is a girlie version of Dillinger’s “Three Piece Suit an Ting” (1975), will hear a remarkable similarity. The song resurfaced a few years back in the MTV hit “What you Got” by Abs. In “Life’s Gone Down Low” we hear a poignant social commentary but with a strong pointer that the potential for improvement is there. The girls go even a step further on “Cashing In” with an accurate description of everyday life in West-Africa (Poverty’s a common sight) not overshadowed however by the empowerment message. It reminds me of Fela Kuti’s somewhat new agey belief that a new era awaited mankind in which all would be well. Album closer “Lord Have Mercy” is the only song without the positive vibe, but a truly beautiful ballad nonetheless. The Afrobeat genre isn’t exactly know for it’s love songs. However, the totally laid back love anthm “Bobby” might be the high point on the album. The Sisters had clearly been paying close attention not only to the American airwaves (“Amebo” is a good example) but also to those from Jamaica. This is the only song with horns and it brings back memories of the mellow reggae from artists like Toots and The Maytals. It also shows us the Sisters can change through different styles of music faster than Lady Gaga can change outfits. “Danger” is as much a blast from the past today as it was a foresight into the future when it was released. West-Africa in the 1970’s was a musical treasure trove and we can only be thankful that more and more gems from this period are being reissued. You can order the album as CD (North America only) or in MP3 format from Knitting Factory Records. All 4 albums recorded in the Decca studio’s will be rereleased this year so stay tuned for more superb Lijadu Sisters material! Full track listing:
The Sisters, by the way, are alive and well. Meet them in this video:
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activists, doctors, writers and musicians. It is a little know fact, however, that Fela Kuti’s twin cousins, collectively known as the Lijadu Sisters, put out several superb albums in the 1970’s. “Danger” was the first of four albums recorded in the famed Decca studio’s in Lagos, Nigeria.