Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey & His International Brothers — A Christmas Special By The King of Juju

Happy holidays y’all. My best good homie Seb from Brussels (part of the wonderful Rebel Up! outfit)) blessed this xmas eve with a crucial Nigerian juju Christmas-themed tape by an Awesome Tapes From Africa favorite, check out his description:

Ho Ho Ho! Christmas, Nigerian juju style by Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey & His International Brothers: A Christmas Special By The King of Juju! Since the 50’s Ebenezer Obey had been crafting his special juju-highlife sound, which is a mix of Yoruba percussion, talking drums, electric guitars and vocals in Yoruba. Later in his life he only started playing Christian gospel music (a fate which many Nigerian musicians seems to befall from a certain age onwards) and he passed away in 2011 in Lagos university hospital at the age of 67. 

This tape was recorded sometime in the 60’s with his then-band International Brothers. It was a golden find in one of the many Nigerian stalls around London’s Brixton market last spring. Both sides are filled with heavenly sweet jangling guitars, muffled percussion, talking drums and festive Yoruba singing, with some surprise Christmas melodies played as one continuous medley in lo-fi tropical spheres. As the title already said, the chief was the self-proclaimed king of juju and we can only bow down to his legacy. Listen to these funky Christmas waves and have a great one!

Side A
Odun Keresimesi
Irinse Lojona Obey O Jona
Irin Ajo
Ile Oba To Jo

Side B
Ka So Wo Po
Oro Obi Pelu Iyawo
Oro Oko Pelu Obi
Olatunbosun Banmeke