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the lijadu sisters - mother africa - knitting factory records - vinyl

New Copy

Genre: African

1. Osupa I
2. lya Mi Jowo
3. Orin Aro
4. Dibe Nuwa
5. Bayi L'ense
6. Osupa II

The second of the Lijadu Sisters' four Afrodisia albums, 1977's Mother Africa is, from one perspective, markedly different from its predecessor, Danger, released the previous year. The twins' glowing melodies and warm harmonies are as before, but the accompanying band's lineup and arrangements, both still co-directed by Biddy Wright, owe less to rock and funk, and more to traditional Yoruba music.

The core band comprises Wright on guitars, sometimes electric but as often acoustic and played in palm-wine/ highlife style, with traditional drummers and percusionists playing talking drums and a shekere. Wright's post-Jimmy Smith organ is not heard this time out. And, while most of the lyrics on Danger were sung in English, on Mother Africa Kehinde and Taiwo sing mostly in Yoruba.