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It’s been three years since the veteran Nigerian Highlife musician Flavour put out a full-length project. But the album break is coming to an end with his forthcoming album, African Royalty.
Although Flavour announced the album on Friday, November 17th, he only just shared the album artwork and tracklist on his social media on November 23, 2023; his birthday.
This is everything we know about the upcoming album.
The early hints
In October, Flavour posted a clip of himself and The Cavemen in the studio, which he signaled “Album mode”. On November 2nd, he finally asked us with his chest if we were ready for his new album.
The ginger in my body this month eh! 😆 Are you people ready for album or I should wait small?
This upcoming album is Flavour’s eighth studio album, coming three years after Flavour of Africa. Aside from the gospel-like titles he has released including Uplifted (2010), Blessed (2012), Thankful (2014) and Divine (2018) — Flavour has always tilted towards indigenous themes. See N’abania (his debut in 2005) and Ijele the Traveller (2017). After several years of moderating traditional-inspired Igbo sound and Highlife music, there’s almost no doubt that African Royalty is a level-up on his previous works.
Artwork and tracklist
The African Royalty announcement was accompanied bythe official album artwork and tracklist. This new project has 12 tracks, his shortest album since N’abania (2005) and Divine (2018).
Features
African Royalty features just three acts including Ejyk Nwamba, a popular Ogene musician in South-East Nigeria. The Cavemen is on it too — we can call this the meet of Highlife maestros. The third guest artist on the album is Efya from Ghana . These features seem very intentional. Bring it on, Mr. Flavour.
Release date
African Royalty will be released on December 2, 2023. Just in time for the holidays.
Singles
I’m a bit surprised his latest hit, Ndi Ike didn’t make it to the album, but I think it has built enough anticipation. Flavour noted that the lead single of the album, Big Baller, willdrop on Friday, November 24, 2023. But I’m a little lost because Game Changer, a single he released on December 2, 2022 is also on the album. Anyway, the lead single is what the artist says it is.
It can’t be argued that some of the exceptional music talents of the Nigerian music scene are in the form of a duo. These artistes are either paired up by birth, friendship, partnership or alignment of dreams.
Here are some of the exceptional musical duos currently holding it down.
Show Dem Camp
Tec and Ghost have been incredibly consistent as one of the major frontiers of African Hip-Hop. For over a decade, they’ve been killing it with their series of Clone Wars and “Palmwine Music”. The former which caters to core Hip-Hop fans first came out in 2010, now in its fifth installment. “Palmwine Music” was introduced in 2017 and its fourth installment came out 2023. SDC, as they’re popularly known, is consistent in providing a platform to new and young artistes via their music projects. In case you’re wondering which Nigerian rappers are currently touring North America, “It’s the Show Dem Camp, omo yes indeed.”
The Cavemen.
Made up of siblings Benjamin James, a drummer and Kingsley Okorie, a bassist; the Cavemen are known for their fresh take of Highlife music. Their Headies-award winning debut album, “ROOTS” was released in 2020 and made fans out of many young Nigerians. The Cavemen’s sophomore album “Love and Highlife” came out in 2021. The album boasts of features from Made Kuti, Efuk Ubong, PC Lapez and Cobhams Asuquo.
Umu Obiligbo
Chukuemeka and Ifeanyuchukwu Obiligbo are also siblings making Highlife music. Their discography boasts of two recording albums and two EPs. Their traditional and cultural approach has gained them placements on Basketmouth’s “Yabasi” and Larry Gaaga’s “Rattlesnake” soundtrack albums. Umu Obiligbo toured the U.S this year, and concluded the European leg two months ago.
ATTENTION: tomorrow, all the hottest babes are partying at HERtitude 2023. Have you bought your ticket?
Ajebo Hustlers
Straight out of Port Harcourt, singer Piego and rapper Knowledge, known for their strong street poetry and rap-highlife fusion, began their musical journey in 2015. Five years later, they got the mainstream’s attention with their “Barawo Remix” that featured Davido— the song which originally addressed the gruesome killing of the ALUU 4, became the unofficial anthem during the End SARS protest. Ajebo Hustlers released their full length debut titled “Kpos Lifestyle Vol. 1” in 2021, the same year they became the first artistes and musical duo in Apple Music’s “Up Next” programme.
Though rappers Boogey and PayBac iBoro have their solo careers, through their super rap group “Lost & Found,” they’ve given us some of the most memorable lyrical sparring moments ever. “Face-Off”, their debut, came out in 2016. Their latest offering is the critically acclaimed “Alternate Ending” released in 2019. Boogey hasn’t released new music in a while, PayBac keeps pushing the envelope with his latest, “West African Goat”.
BOJ and Ajebutter22
These guys have had each other as guest artistes on their songs multiple times, but the first time they put out joint music in 2018— their EP, “Make E No Cause Fight”, their chemistry was so evident. The second installment of the EP included rapper Falz as primary artiste.
P-Square
Legendary! That’s the word for them. More than two decades they’ve championed the Nigerian and African music scene; dropped serial hits, inspired kids to dance and toured around Africa. After their public, messy break-up in 2017, the twin brothers, Paul and Peter Okoye, took to solo careers; though not as successful as their group career. After years of the feud, the brothers reunited in 2021. In the last 24 hours, news of their new album has been going around. We’re excited.
The Grey Area
Consists of singer-songwriters 3rty and Kid MARLEY. Although their solo careers are not taking back seats, they came together to become The Grey Area in 2015. They put out their self-titled joint album in 2018. With organic instruments, interesting perspective and strong storytelling, they’ve proved to be one of the best duos since Don Jazzy and D’Banj. In preparation for their next offering, they’ve started receiving beats.
While Nigerian music has undergone serious metamorphosis in recent history, there are still songs that we hold close to our hearts and influenced the style of virtually most, if not all Nigerian musicians.
They are songs that even the young generation listen to and are on the music playlists of a lot of Nigerian weddings, both at home and abroad.
Highlife makes up a bulk of it.
via The Vinyl Factory
These are the artistes whose highlife songs that were popular before some of us were born, a lot of us grew up with and majority of us continue to enjoy to this day.
12. Flavor N’Abania
via Warriboy
How can we write about highlife without mentioning Flavour? Otherwise known Chinedu Okoli, he is the modern proponent of highlife music.
23 November 1983, he began his musical career as a drummer for a local church in his hometown of Anambra State.
His hit songs include: Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix), Ada Ada and Golibe.
11. Tunji Oyelana
A former lecturer, Tunji Oyelana, was born October 4, 1939. He is credited with having sold the most albums by a Nigerian High Life musician.
With Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, he composed, I Love My Country.
Both were charged with treason in 1996, and forced into exile by Sani Abacha, while touring internationally with Soyinka’s play The Beatification of Area Boy.
10. Sonny Okosun
via Artist Direct
Born on January 1, 1947 in Enugu, he was from the Edo State. He was one of the leading Nigerian musicians from the late 1970s to mid 1980s.
He formed his first band, The Postmen, in Enugu in 1965 and joined Melody Maestros, a band led by Victor Uwaifo in 1965. From 1972 to 1974 he led a group known as Paperback Limited and then formed a new band, Ozziddi. Some of his popular songs are Fire in Soweto, High Life and Which Way Nigeria. Okoson continued his career in music as a gospel musician in the early 90s.
He died aged 61 of colon cancer on 24 May 2008.
9. Dr. Orlando Owoh
via New Telegraph Online
Born Stephen Oladipupo Owomoyela in February 1932, in Osogbo, he was a notable highlife musician and band leader. He was initially in the carpentry trade until 1958, when he was hired by Kola Ogunmola Theatre Group to play drums and sing.
Dr. Orlando Owoh and his Omimah Band via Groovemonzter
He went on to form Dr. Orlando Owoh and his Omimah Band in 1960 and Dr. Orlando Owo and his Young Kenneries Band in 1975; and over a musical career of forty years became one of the leading proponents of highlife music. He had over 45 albums to his credit.
Dr. Orlando Owo and his Young Kenneries Band via GrooveMonzter
Some of his well known songs are: Yellow Sisi, Ajo Ko Dun Bi Ile, Ololufe gbao temi, Omo pupa and No Friend/Aiye Lokun.
Orlando Owoh died on November 6, 2008 and was laid to rest at his Agege residence in Lagos.
8. Celestine Ukwu and his Philosophers National
Born Celestine Obiakor in 1940, Efik, Nigeria, d. 1979, Onitsha, Nigeria. he was on the verge of national breakthrough when the Nigerian civil war brought touring and recording to a grinding halt. He re-emerged in 1970 with Philospher’s Stone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK4jYXtXf0U
He released his biggest hit Money Palaver in 1976. He died later the same year.
7. Prince Nico Mbarga
via Pointsdactu
Prince Nico Mbarga was born to a Nigerian mother and a Cameroonian father in Abakaliki on 1 January, 1950.
He is renowned for his hit song Sweet Mother, recorded with his band Rocafil Jazz; as well as Aki Special.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_MnLaaWc3w
He was killed in a motorcycle accident on June 24, 1997.
6. Dr. Sir Warrior and The Oriental Brothers International
Born Christogonus Ezebuiro Obinna in 1947 in Imo State, the Ultimate Dr. Sir Warrior, was the leader of the Oriental Brothers International Band which was famous in the Nigerian Igbo highlife music scene for several decades.
He began performing at the age of 11, when joined a men’s choral group specialising in a music form known as Èsè. By 16, he had achieved fame for his voice and performance of Èsè music.
It is said that the Oriental Brothers played a very important spiritual role in keeping many Igbo sane. as they were severely traumatized by the civil war.
He introduced the Oyorima concept, which is an Igbo word that means a refined feeling of rhythmic movement and balance. The same Oyorima that Flavour mentions in his music.
He released the popular song Ofe Owere five years before his death in June, 1999.
5. Jim Rex Lawson
via Music in Africa
Also known as Cardinal Rex, he was born to parents of Igbo and Kalabari descent in 1935.
Lawson played with Sammy Obot, Bobby Benson, Victor Olaiya, Chris Ajilo, and other Ghanaian and Nigerian musicians and bands. With the Majors Band, they recorded the hits: So ala teme, Yellow Sisi, Gowon Special, and Jolly Papa.
Lawson died in 1971 in a car accident on his way to play a show in Warri. He was 36 years old. His band continued as the Professional Seagulls after his death.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBOXi3bJ7ug
His most popular songs are Yellow Sisi, Love Mu Adure and Sawale. Sawale was remixed by Flavour to make the popular hit song, Nwa Baby (Ashawo).
4. Victor Olaiya
Victor Olaiya was born on 31 December 1930, in Calabar, Cross River State, and is the 20th child of a family of 24. He hails from Ijesha-Ishu in Ekiti State and comes from a very rich family.
After leaving school he moved to Lagos, where he passed the school certificate examination in 1951 and was accepted by Howard University, US, to study civil engineering. He instead pursued a career as a musician, to the disapproval of his parents.
In 1954 Olaiya formed his own band, the Cool Cats (later the All Star Band), playing popular highlife music. His band was chosen to play at the state ball when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom visited Nigeria in 1956, and later to play at the state balls when Nigeria became independent in 1960 and when Nigeria became a republic in 1963. On the latter occasion, Olaiya shared the stage with the American jazz musician Louis Armstrong. During the Nigerian Civil War of 1967–70, Olaiya was given the rank of a lieutenant colonel (honorary) in the Nigerian army and his band played for the troops at various locations. The Cool Cats later travelled to the Congo to perform for United Nations troops.
Victor Olaiya is still very much alive and as recent as July 2013, he released a music video remix of Baby Jowo with 2face Idibia and was received with much acclaim.
3. Oliver De Coque
Popularly known as Oliver De Coque, Chief Dr. Oliver Sunday Akanite was born on April 14, 1947 and hails from Ezinifite in Anambra state. He recorded more than 73 albums to his credit making him the most popular High life king of Africa.
His music band group Ogene Sound Super of Africa, blended modern high life and traditional Igbo music. He started playing music at the age of 17 with Ekpili.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tAiDzrMoEw
Some of his popular songs are: People’s Club, Identity, Tolerance (Eleta Aghara)and No More War.
2. Victor Uwaifo
via PM News
Born on 1 March 1941 in Edo state, Benin city, he is one of the musicians who popularised highlife music in Nigeria.
His popular songs include Guitar Boy, Mami Water (inspired by a real life encounter at the Bar Beach) and Joromi (taken from a folklore story of the same name, about the warrior who fought in the underworld and never returned).
Apart from singing, he is also a writer, sculptor, and musical instrument inventor. He also served as commissioner for arts and culture in Edo State under the government of Lucky Igbinedion and is a lecturer at the Department of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Benin, Benin City.
1. Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe
Born in March, 1936, in Atani, a city in Anambra state, he came from a line of singers and dancers. His interest in music began in his high school years in Onitsha.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEK5bBkr5Sk
His career spanned over 40 years and he has written over 500 songs, half of which were commercially released. His popular hits include: Osondi Owendi (meaning “one man’s meat is another man’s poison”), Nwannem Ebezina, Kedu America and Onuigbo.
He died in St. Mary’s Hospital Waterbury, Connecticut on 11 May 2007.
Other highlife kings are:
E.C Arinze, Ey Ohunta, David Egbo, Fatai Rolling Dollar, Bright Chimezie, Ikem Mazeli, Bola Johnson, Solomon Ilori, King Bruce, King Ubulu, Gooddy Ezike, Lungu Lungu, Baba Ken Okulolo, Roy Chicago, Peacocks International, Gentleman Mike Ejeagaha, Tunde Nightingale, Waziri Oshomah, Adeolu Akinsanya and Kayode Fashola.
