1922 to 2009

RecordedinNigeria.

From hymns recorded in London in 1922 to the pop of the 2000s. Play the songs, then turn each album over for the photograph behind it.

Explore the eras
An album cover reading Hymns to Hip-hop, Side A, music, Vol. 1, 1922 to 2009

How it works

Pick. Play.
Turn it over.

Three album covers, with the Afrobeat album lifted out and marked Era 04
01

Pick an era.

Six albums, one for each era from 1922 to the 2000s.

A small song list with Zombie playing
02

Play its songs.

Open an era to see its artists and songs, and play them right there.

An album front and its back, Side B, with a photograph of Fela Kuti
03

Turn the album over.

Choose a song to see its album. Side A is the music, Side B is the photograph and where it came from.

Pick an era

Six eras, from 1922 to the 2000s. Swipe through them and tap an album to open it.

Now showing · Era 04

1959Pressed in Nigeria1969Owned by Nigerians1980sThe cassette years
Era 04 of 06

Era 04 open: Owned by Nigerians

←  All eras

Era 04 · 1969 to 1970s

Owned by Nigerians

The Afrobeat album, Era 04

Nigerians began to own record labels. Haruna Ishola and I.K. Dairo, both musicians, started STAR Records in 1969. Decca set up Afrodisia in Lagos in the early 1970s, and decrees in 1972 and 1977 made foreign-owned firms like it take Nigerian shareholders.

Songs

  1. Lady

    Fela Kuti & Africa 70 · 1972

  2. Zombie

    Fela Kuti & Africa 70 · 1976

  3. Sweet Mother

    Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz · 1976

  4. Danger

    The Lijadu Sisters · 1976

Play for a preview · the red icon opens the full song on YouTube Music · the arrow opens its story and photo below

This preview has three or four songs from each era. The full build will have many more.

Era 04 · Song 02

Zombie

Fela Kuti & Africa 70 · 1976

The Afrobeat album, front
Side B · PhotographyEra 04
Fela Kuti on stage, shirtless, with both fists raised
Celluloid Records, promotional photo, 1986 · Public domain

Zombie, 1976

Fela on stage with both fists raised. Celluloid Records sent it out as a promotional photo in 1986.

Side A
Zombie, 1976
Side B
Photograph
Cover
ARCHIVE, Era 04
Listen
Preview, then YouTube Music
33⅓ RPM · STEREO · MADE IN NIGERIA

Album open: Zombie by Fela Kuti & Africa 70

A song mocking soldiers who follow orders without thinking. It became a hit across Nigeria, and in 1977 soldiers attacked Fela's home, the Kalakuta Republic.

Side A
The music: the song, the band and a short preview.
Side B
The photograph, and where it came from.
Listen on YouTube Music
←  Back to Era 04 songs

Let's hearGrandpa's
 records.

Grandma's cassettes and old studio photos too. Add them to the archive, and we credit every owner and photographer.