The Funkees

The Funkees
OriginNigeria
Genres
Years activeLate 1960s–1977
MembersHarry Mosco
Chyke Madu
Sonny Akpabio
Jake N. Sollo
Danny Heibs
Tony Mallett
Mohammed Ahidjo
Roli Paterson

The Funkees were a Nigerian afro-rock group formed in the late 1960s. They moved to London in 1973 and quickly gained prominence in the expatriate West African and West Indian music scene, but fragmented four years later.[1] They specialized in funky, upbeat, highly danceable afro-rock that often featured lyrics sung in Igbo, as well as English.[2] Originating as an army band after the Nigerian Civil War, they contributed to the outpouring of upbeat music produced by young people in Nigeria in response to the darkness of the recently concluded civil conflict.[3] In 2012, Soundway Records reissued a compilation of their recordings from the mid-1970s, leading to a resurgence of interest in the band. Percussionist Sunny Akpan later went on to play with experimental dub musicians' collective, African Head Charge.[4]

Members

  • Mohammed Ahidjo — lead vocals, percussion
  • Jake N. Sollo — lead guitar, backing vocals, organ, piano
  • Harry Mosco — rhythm guitar, backing vocals, gong
  • Danny Heibs — bass, backing vocals, percussion
  • Chyke Madu — drums, backing vocals
  • Sonny Akpabio — congas, backing vocals
  • Roli Paterson — bongos, percussion
  • Sunny Akpan - bongos, congas, percussion
  • Tony Mallett

Discography

  • 1974 — Point of No Return
  • 1976 — Now I'm A Man
  • 2012 — Dancing Time: The Best of Eastern Nigeria's Afro Rock Exponents 1973-77 (reissue compilation)

References

  1. ^ "afrobeat, afrofunk, afrojazz, afrorock, african boogie, african hiphop ...: The Funkees". Afrobeat-music.blogspot.com. 25 August 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  2. ^ Bill Meyer (1 June 2012). "Dusted Reviews: The Funkees - Dancing Time". Archived from the original on 10 August 2019.
  3. ^ "This is Africa, The Funkees - Dancing Time: The Best of Eastern Nigeria's Afro Rock Exponents". Archived from the original on 2 February 2014.
  4. ^ Matthew Fiander (7 June 2012). "Pop Matters Review of Dancing Time".