Aura - 1976 - Spiritual Connection

Aura

1976 

Spiritual Connection

01. Spiritual Connection 4:10

02. Ayamaho 5:21

03. Boogie On Saturday 4:50

04. Ariya 4:09

05. On My Way 3:20

06. Astral Trip 4:35

07. She Can Turn You Loose 4:11

08. Movin 6:11

Bass, Bongos, Backing Vocals – Casco Mayor

Clavinet, Synthesizer [Moog] – Isaac Moore 

Drums, Percussion, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Benna Kemfa, Candido

Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals – Omega

The Mysterious Aura: Nigeria's Short-Lived 1970s Afro-Funk Enigma

Ah, Aura – or more precisely, Aura (Aspiritual Emanation) – the Nigerian band that flickered brightly in the mid-1970s Lagos scene like a disco ball in a power outage: dazzling when it worked, but gone before you could fully groove to it. Formed around 1976 under the "spiritual guidance" of the enigmatic Zee-Tei Debekeme (who penned heartfelt liner notes about "astral trips" and "sincere sweet fruit of determination"), Aura was a short-lived project that captured the wild, experimental spirit of post-civil war Nigeria. This was an era when Lagos was buzzing with Afrobeat giants like Fela Kuti, but younger musicians were blending in funk, boogie, psychedelia, and synth wizardry to create something fresh – and Aura nailed that hybrid with one album before vanishing into obscurity. Think of them as the Nigerian music scene's one-hit wonder... except they didn't even get the hit, thanks to their debut LP never getting a proper release back then. (It took until 2018 for a reissue to rescue it from crate-digger purgatory.)

The band was a supergroup of sorts, pulling together seasoned players from the fertile Lagos session scene:

Isaac Moore: The keyboard maestro on clavinet and Moog synthesizers. His wild, wailing keys are the album's secret weapon – imagine if Herbie Hancock crashed a Lagos party and decided to stay.

Omega Garbal: Rhythm and lead guitar, plus background vocals. The funky riff master who keeps things grooving without stealing the spotlight.

Casco Mayor: Bass, bongos, and more background vocals. The rhythmic glue, holding down those irresistible Afro-funk bottoms.

Benna Kemfa: Shared lead and background vocals, plus percussion vibes. A regular on the Afrodisia label and previously in the psychedelic outfit Ofo & The Black Company – bringing that raw, chant-heavy energy.

Candido Obajimi (sometimes credited as Obajimi Candido): Drums, percussion, and co-lead vocals. A veteran of Fela's Afrika 70 and Tony Allen's bands – yes, that Tony Allen, the godfather of Afrobeat drums. Candido brought the relentless polyrhythms that make your hips move involuntarily.

Aura wasn't a long-term band; it was more like a cosmic jam session that happened to get recorded. By the late '70s, the project fizzled out – probably because Nigeria's economic and political chaos (oil boom busts, military rule) made sustaining underground funk bands trickier than dodging Lagos traffic. No follow-up albums, no tours documented, just this one gem pressed on Afrodisia Records (catalog DWAPS-2003) and then... poof.

Pre- and Post-Band Adventures of the Members (As Far As the Crates Reveal)

Information on these guys is scarcer than an original pressing of their album (which goes for silly money among collectors). But here's what we know, pieced together from liner notes, reissue credits, and Afro-funk lore:

Zee-Tei Debekeme (spiritual leader/producer figure): Pre-Aura, not much is known – he emerges like a guru in 1976 with big ideas about spiritual emanations. Post-Aura? Vanished. Maybe he achieved enlightenment and ascended to a higher plane. Or just went back to a day job – Nigerian music history is full of such mysteries.

Isaac Moore: The synth sorcerer. Likely a session player in Lagos before Aura; his expressive Moog work suggests influences from American funk imports. After? Probably continued in the shadows of other projects – many keyboardists from this era bounced between bands.

Omega Garbal: Guitar slinger extraordinaire. Pre-Aura gigs unknown, but his funky style fits the '70s Lagos mold. Post-band: Likely session work; guitarists like him were in demand for highlife and Afrobeat recordings.

Casco Mayor: The percussion and bass anchor. Sounds like a stage name for maximum cool points. Pre: Probably club circuits. Post: Who knows – maybe he boogied on to disco-infused projects as Nigeria shifted styles in the '80s.

Benna Kemfa: The most traceable. Before Aura, he rocked with Ofo & The Black Company, a killer psychedelic Afro-rock band from the early '70s known for heavy fuzz and social commentary. Post-Aura: Stuck around the Afrodisia label scene, possibly contributing to other obscure gems.

Candido Obajimi: The heavyweight. Pre-Aura, he drummed for Fela Kuti's Afrika 70 (prime '70s era – think Zombie and Expensive Shit) and Tony Allen's solo ventures. That's pedigree! Post-Aura: Likely returned to session drumming; players of his caliber were staples in Lagos studios through the '80s.

In short, most members were pros dipping into this "spiritual" side project before/after stints with bigger names. Post-Aura, they melted back into Nigeria's vibrant but undocumented session world – no solo stardom, but their grooves live on in reissues.

Spiritual Conection (1976, reissued as Spiritual Connection in 2018)

Okay, let's get to the good stuff: Aura's lone album, Spiritual Conection (typo intentional – Nigerian pressings were charmingly imperfect). Recorded in 1976 but barely released (only test pressings or a tiny run existed until the 2018 remaster from the original masters), this is a deep Afro-funk/boogie masterpiece that's now a holy grail for collectors. It's eight tracks of pure 1970s Nigerian magic: dirty funk riffs, chanting vocals, wailing synths, relentless percussion, and that upbeat, hypnotic groove that makes you feel like you're at a Lagos nightclub where the power never goes out.

Track-by-track:

Spiritual Connection – The opener sets the tone: Chanted vocals over funky keys and drums. It's like a sermon delivered by James Brown after a yoga retreat. Infectious hook that pulls you in spiritually (and dance-wise).

Ayamaho – Pulsing bass, wild Moog solos, and group chants. Feels like a ritual dance – humorous lyrics (in pidgin/Yoruba vibes) about life and love. Candido's drums here are relentless; you'll boogie whether you want to or not.

Boogie On Saturday – Pure weekend anthem! Funky guitar licks and synth stabs make this a dancefloor killer. Imagine if Earth, Wind & Fire crashed Fela's Shrine – Saturday night fever, Nigerian style.

Ariya – Mid-tempo groover with call-and-response vocals. "Ariya" means party in Yoruba – and this track delivers one. Benna and Candido's vocals shine; it's joyous, almost comical in its unpretentious fun.

On My Way – Motivational funk with uplifting chants. Feels like a road trip anthem – "I'm on my way!" – complete with bongos and guitar wah-wah. Perfect for dodging okadas in traffic.

Astral Trip – The psychedelic highlight! Wailing synths take you on that promised "astral" journey. Zee-Tei's spiritual influence peaks here – it's trippy, spacey funk that predates Afro-cosmic vibes. Hilarious how seriously groovy it gets without trying too hard.

She Can Turn You Loose – Sassy, flirty number with killer bassline. Lyrics about a woman who'll set you free (or drive you crazy). Omega's guitar solos are fire; this one's pure seduction with a wink.

Movin – Closer that keeps the energy high. Group vocals urge you to "keep movin'" – fitting end to an album that's all forward momentum.

Overall verdict: This is peak 1970s Nigerian underground funk – a melting pot of Afrobeat rhythms, American boogie influences, and synth experimentation. It's raw, live-feeling (like one big jam), soulful, and endlessly danceable. No filler, just 40 minutes of joy. Why wasn't it huge? Bad timing, limited pressing, or the gods of obscurity smiling down. But the 2018 reissue (lovingly remastered) fixed that – it's now hailed as essential for fans of Fela, BLO, or Orlando Julius. Humorously, it's so good you'll wonder why Aura didn't conquer the world... but then again, in Nigeria's chaotic '70s scene, one album wonders are the norm. If you dig deep Afro grooves with a spiritual twist, this connects on every level. Highly recommended – turn it up and let it turn you loose!