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One of my colleagues told me today that she had a CD for me. About an hour ago she walked into my office with a copy of Nneka’s Victim of Truth. I have since been listening to the CD, and I am finding the music really charming. I have googled her,found her website and her Myspace page. Please guys, check her out.

Nneka was born in Warri in 1981 and she now lives in Germany. She says that Fela, Mos Def, Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill are her musical role models. One can hear the Lauryn Hill influence in her music. I still think she reminds me of someone I can’t really place right now… if you guys can think of someone please leave the name in a comment. You can also check some videos on youtube and on her Myspace page I am really looking forward to more good things from her.

Now, I am really sure that I am on a music roll…. Dave Lucas just called my attention to South Africa’s Freshlyground. Their music is a beatiful mixture of African pop, folk, Jazz…. Actually, you need to sample their music to see the fields they traverse. The ease with which they move between a smooth sounding pop, a bluesy jazz and a deep and involed soulful sound is sure going to make sure they remain popular with music lovers…. Here is their website, and here is Dave Lucas’ post on them. Thanks Dave.

Jeremy just called my attention to Tinariwen. They are a Touareg band who are said to be the first Touareg band to play electric guitars. You can read about them on Wikipedia, check their website, or their Myspace page. Thanks Jeremy.

Ok Ishtar, I have got you some. Click here for some Touareg music. And here is a German website with information about Niger. Click on the audi tab and you will get some mp3 files of Nigerien music. I have been listening to the music and I like it… hope you do too.

Now that I am in the music train why don’t I do another post on music?

Ishtar asked if I listen to Nigerien music. The answer, sadly, is no. I am making up for it by blogging about someone from Mali. Actually, I am currently listening to his album ‘Niafunké’ on my computer. You can read more about him here and here. I ‘discovered’ him some three years ago… but then he died last year in March, before I could see him perform. A taste of his music on Youtube.

Anybody knows Bongos Ikwue? I remember listening to him on the radio while growing up…. For those who know him, I hope it makes you feel as nostalgic as I am feeling right now. Found it the same place I found Rolling Dollar’s music. You can explore the site further.

Do you guys know Fatai Rolling Dollar? He is a 79-year old Nigerian musician. He was originally known for his Agidigbo, a Yoruba thumb guitar. He fused sounds from Cuban music, Ghanaian highlife, and traditional Yoruba music on his Agidigbo. He became really popular in the 60s, and he was an inspiration to Ebenezer Obe, Sunny Ade and other musicians of their generation. Sadly, his career died with that of most Highlife musicians. Several reasons have been given for this, one of which is that the militarisation of politics and the lack of security meant that night life was impossible. Highlife was mainly a stage thing; as the people could not be persuaded to come out on Friday nights interests in the music gradually died. Another reason, attributed to Rolling Dollars himself, was the military attack on Fela Kuti’s residence on the 18th of February, 1977. He lived two doors away, and lost his home and his musical instruments. Arguably, it was a combination of these and other reasons that ensured his decline. He spent most of the following years trying to stay alive. At a point, he was a security man at a sports complex.

I saw him perform his ‘Won kere si number wa’ at Ojez nightclub in Lagos in 2003. Jazzhole records recorded and released a record from him in 2003. I remembered him today, googled him and came up with this link where one can listen to his music. I hope you enjoy his music as much as I do.

I am currently listening to Owuro Lojo by Beautiful Nubia. I really like the idea of waking up to a fresh day, not yet soiled, knowing that the day is there to be had, an opportunity to be seized, or not…

I just got this from a listserve…. It is supposed to be the latest form of 419. I am not really sure of the reason I am posting it. Is it to help confirm the prejudice held against Nigerians? Or is it because I don’t believe the details of the prejudice? I am thinking that this might be true; it is a serious threat, and I think it should be dealt with as such. It is from an American Campus Police Chief.
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I have E-mailed you all before regarding various E-Mail scams that you may receive. The most recent one is a variation of some of the other ones, generally with their roots in West Africa and especially Nigeria. The E-Mail will purport to be from an American (the ones I’ve seen have been Yahoo accounts), but the grammar will usually give it away as someone whose first language is not English. The basic concept is that someone you know, has paid this person a large sum of money to kill you. Being an ethical hit man, he feels bad because he has learned you are a good person so he wants to give you a chance to buy out the hit contract. For a sum of several thousand dollars up front, he will mail you the tapes of him and the person who requested the hit so you can go to the police with it. Once you receive the tape, you will then send him the second installment.

Although we do consider all threats as serious, these have been identified as a scam in general. If you do receive any such E-mails, please contact us. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Peoples… I didnät know that 2Face was this popular until I saw this on Toni Payne’s blog…. You can check the covers

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