Shina Williams & His African Percussionists - 1979 - African Dances

Shina Williams & His African Percussionists

1979

African Dances

01. Cunny Jam Wayo
02. Agboju Logun
03. Gboro Mi Ro

Alto Saxophone – Fuzzy Gbagi
Clavinet – Sylvester Degbor
Drums – Prince Bola Agba
Guitar – Biddy Wright, Tutu Shoronmu
Tenor Saxophone – Brother Humphrey
Trumpet – Papa Okokon Udofia, Tunde Williams
Bass Guitar – Tunde Martins
Clavinet – Gboyega Adelaja
Synthesizer – Biddy Wright
Drums – Prince Bola Agba
Tenor Saxophone – Eji Oyewole

Arranged By, Cowbell, Lead Vocals, Written-By – Shina Williams

Backing Vocals – Caroline Adegbite, Funke Moloney, Gloria, Joyland Sammy, Ogoegunamokwuose Iyabo, Ronke Shomade, Shola Akitoye, Tinuke Toriola, Yemisi Odukoya

Bass Guitar – Kenneth Okulolo
Congas – Friday Jumbo
Congas, Cowbell – Friday Pozo
Drum [Gudugudu] – Azeez Olaiya
Organ, Synthesizer – Papa Doe (Gold Finger)
Piano – Frankie Song
Rhythm Guitar – Alli Sheikh
Shekere – Uvoe
Talking Drum – Saliu Alabi
Trombone – Fred Fisher
Trumpet – Big John

 1979 when Shina Williams’ ‘Agboju Logun’ frst appeared on his ‘African Dances’ LP, Williams knew well that the track was breaking new ground. “I want to show the whole wide world that Africa is alive with modern musicians to reckon with anywhere,” he stated. Now an accepted Afro disco classic of its time, ‘Agboju Logun’ did indeed bring together the cream of Nigeria’s players as a oneoff supergroup in one inspired session. As a long-standing and well respected highlife musician and vocalist, Williams called in the ‘A’ list: Tunde Martins from Afro Collective played bass guitar, the brilliant Biddy Wright (player on albums by Lijadu Sisters, Blo and many more) contributed the famous synth lines and handled production, Fred Fisher was on trombone and Saliu Alabi played talking drum.

Enjoying limited success upon its release in Nigeria, ‘African Dances’ nevertheless gained some international attention when Earthworks’ Jumbo Van Renan licensed two tracks from it for an international 12” single release in 1984, remixing ‘Agboju Logun’ in a more stripped back mix for a chance?. However, it was the period following Fela Kuti’s death in the late ‘90s that truly ignited interest in archive African grooves for a new internet generation. Strut’s frst ‘Nigeria 70’ compilation featured the track in 2000 and it has been a staple in DJs’ crates ever since.