Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey and His Inter-Reformers Band
Singing for the People
Obey (Nigeria) 1983
Waps 578 (LP)
sleeve : EX-(light damages on one side, light color-faded on one side)
media : EX-/EX-(some light noise)
One of the great voices of Nigerian music and a major figure on the African scene since the 1960s, Ebenezer Obey here leads His Inter-Reformers Band on this 1983 release. On this set, Obey delivers a bright and joyful take on juju music, blending sun-drenched tropical colours with Afrobeat-inflected rhythms that feel, in part, like a response to fellow Nigerian legend Fela Kuti. The crisp African percussion, the deeply satisfying pulse of the talking drum, the fluid guitar lines, and the warm chorus work all come together beautifully. Another hallmark of juju is the way the music often runs non-stop from start to finish, and this album captures that perfectly—music clearly made to keep the atmosphere flowing, whether at a bar, a party, or on a dancefloor.
A1: Singing for the People
B4: Nike Oluwole