Akanbi Wright
Akanbi Wright who was also known as Akanbi Ege was a Nigerian musician from Lagos and an important figure in the early history of juju music, he was instrumental in the popular use of talking drums within that music genre.[1] His music gained popularity in the 1930s, playing with a band that once included another early juju exponent, Julius Araba. Wright's lyrics included political commentary about domestic and national issues, he was a supporter of Herbert Macaulay's NNDP and his last major hit was Demo lo L'eko, a boast about NNDP's widespread support in Lagos.[2] During the war, he composed songs in support of the British war effort and Nigerian soldiers in Burma, one such song was a popular hit, The Five Nigerian R.A.F[2] about five Nigerian trainees enrolled with the Royal Air Force.
Wright grew up in Olowogbowo, then a neighborhood dominated by Saro residents. He changed his last name from Wright to Ege, to support Nigeria's nationalism struggle.[2]
Recordings[edit]
- Everybody likes saturday night
- The five Nigeran RAF
- Emi mi lowo re
- Ore mi Ore mi
- Ore ala ida
- Hitler to nda yeru
- Iyawo to mo koko fe
References[edit]
- ^ Waterman, Christopher Alan (1990). Jùjú : a social history and ethnography of an African popular music. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 66, 82. ISBN 0226874648. OCLC 20594122.
- ^ a b c Ajayi., Thomas, T. (1992). History of juju music : a history of an African popular music from Nigeria ([1st ed.] ed.). [Jamaica, NY]: The Organization. pp. 126-128. ISBN 0963326104. OCLC 27409755.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ West Africa, His Master’s Voice JL 1-39 – afrodisc.com.