Nigerian Psychedelic Rock Band of the 70s

Osibisa was a Nigerian psychedelic rock band, founded in London in 1969 by four expatriate African and Caribbean musicians: Teddy Osei, Sola Akingbola, Mac Tontoh, and East African-born Farouk Obey.

Introduction

Nigerian Psychedelic Rock band of the 70s was a type of rock music that developed in Nigeria in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The genre fuses rock with Nigerian folk music and is characterized by its use of extended electric guitar solos, complex instrumental arrangements, and studio production techniques. Nigerian psychedelic rock bands were influenced by Western psychedelic rock bands such as Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, and Led Zeppelin.

The first Nigerian psychedelic rock band was Osibisa, who formed in London in 1969. The band’s debut album, Osibisa (1971), featured extended guitar solos and complex arrangements that were inspired by Hendrix and Cream. Other well-known Nigerian psychedelic rock bands from the 1970s include Monomono, Ofege, Blo, Ginger Baker’s Air Force, and Rare Gems.

Psychedelic rock fell out of favor in Nigeria in the late 1970s and was replaced by Afro-rock and later Afro-beat. However, the genre has seen a resurgence in recent years with the formation of new bands such as KutiMangala Rhythm Band, Hausalung, Orgasmic BlissFUL Stars, and Zamrock Revival Band.

The Nigerian Psychedelic Rock Band of the 70s

In the 1970s, a new type of music was born in Nigeria. This music was a fusion of American rock and roll, highlife, and traditional Yoruba music. It was called psychedlic rock, and it quickly became popular all over Nigeria. The Nigerian Psychedelic Rock Band was one of the first and most popular bands of this new genre.

Osibisa

Osibisa was a Nigerian Psychedelic rock band, founded in London in 1969 by four expatriate Africans and two Caribbean musicians. The band members were from Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the West Indies. Their music was a fusion of African, Caribbean, jazz, rock and R&B.

The band’s name comes from the words “osibisaru” meaning “criss-cross rhythms” in the Yoruba language. Osibisa’s debut album was self-titled and released in 1971. It reached No. 8 on the UK Albums Chart and included their best-known hit single “Sunshine Day”. The follow-up album, Woyaya (1971), peaked at No. 32 in the UK and included the track “Adwoa”.

During the 1970s, Osibisa toured extensively around the world and released a string of successful albums including Black Magic Night (1973), Night Food (1975), Heads (1978) and Warriors (1979). Osibisa toured with Black Sabbath during their Paranoid World Tour in 1970. They also performed at several large music festivals including Glastonbury Festival, Reading Festival and The Isle of Wight Festival.

In 2017, Osibisa was inducted into the African Music Hall of Fame during Africa Music Awards held in Lagos, Nigeria.

Blo

Blo was a Nigerian Psychedelic rock band formed in Benin City in 1970. The band members were Jerry Amalin (vocals), Berkeley “Berkley” Jones (guitar), Nelson Blaize (keyboards), and Ivan O’Sean (drums). The band’s sound was a mix of highlife, funk, and rock, with a heavy use of psychedelic imagery. Blo’s self-titled debut album, released in 1971, is considered one of the classic albums of Nigerian rock music. Despite their short career, the band had a major impact on the development of Nigerian rock music, and their album is still revered by fans of the genre.

Ofege

Ofege was a Nigerian psychedelic rock band of the 1970s. The band was formed in Lagos in 1971 by high school studentsGenesis Owusu, Ambassador Waziri Olagunju and Melvin Ukachi. Ofege’s music is a fusion of Western psychedelic rock and traditional Nigerian music, including Afrobeat and juju.

The band released its debut album, Try and Love, in 1973. The album was recorded in one week and was self-financed. The album’s title track was a hit in Nigeria and propelled the band to national fame. Ofege’s second album, Theofilius Arinzeyemo (A Man Must Work), was released in 1974. The album featured more traditional Nigerian influences than Try and Love and was not as successful commercially.

Ofege parted ways with Olagunju and Ukachi following the release of Theofilius Arinzeyemo, but continued to release new music throughout the 1970s. Ofege’s third album, It’s Not Easy (1977), is considered by many to be the band’s masterpiece. The album blends Afrobeat, juju, disco and funk influences into a unique sound that is both danceable and deeply psychedelic.

Ofege disbanded in 1978 but has since reformed several times for reunion shows. The band continues to be held in high regard by fans of Nigerian music and psychedelic rock worldwide.

The Funkees

The Funkees were a Nigerian psychedelic rock band formed in the late 1960s. The band’s sound was a mix of Nigerian/Ghanaian highlife, James Brown-style funk, and rock music. The band’s most famous song is “Dancing Time”, which was released in 1973. The song was a hit in Nigeria and Ghana, and it remains a popular song in both countries today.

The Sound of Nigerian Psychedelic Rock

Nigerian psychedelic rock is a type of music that includes elements of traditional Nigerian music, rock, and psychedelic rock. It emerged in the 1970s, and was popularized by bands such as Ofege, Blo, andmonkey.

Nigerian psychedelic rock incorporates a wide range of influences, including Western pop and rock music, as well as traditional Nigerian music. The sound is typically characterized by heavy guitars, driving rhythms, and often swirling, trippy melodies.

The lyrics are often political or social commentary, and the overall sound is often described as “psychotropic” or “mind-altering.”

Nigerian psychedelic rock was at its height in the 1970s, but has continued to be popular in Nigeria and other parts of Africa in the decades since.

The Legacy of Nigerian Psychedelic Rock

In the 1970s, a new type of music was born in Nigeria. Psychedelic rock, a genre that blended traditional African sounds with Western rock and roll, quickly gained popularity both at home and abroad. Nigerian psychedelic rock bands like Blo, Ofege, and Osibisa became household names, and their music continues to influence artists today.

Although the Nigerian psychedelic rock scene only lasted for a few years, it left a lasting impression on the country’s music culture. The genre blended traditional African sounds with Western rock and roll to create a new style of music that was both familiar and completely new. Nigerian psychedelic rock bands like Blo, Ofege, and Osibisa quickly gained popularity both at home and abroad, helping to put Nigeria on the map as a hotspot for innovative new music.

The Nigerian psychedelic rock scene may have only lasted for a few years, but its legacy continues to influence Nigerian musicians today.