I posted one song by this star from the past in an earlier post (track A2). And here are ten more.Mr. Ede presents himself on the record sleeve as a family man (although he appears intelligent enough not to let the little ones play with his best guitars...). His music leaves mixed messages: I can imagine myself both in a religious setting, in the comfort of my own home and in a bar, drinking palm wine and surrounded by loose women.
Once more, I can't help feeling handicapped by not understanding a word of Yoruba (and I can't even tell you if he is singing in this language).
What I really like about Mr. Ede and his group is the casual atmosphere his music creates. But like any art form, when it sounds/looks casual and simple that's when you are dealing with real genius. Paul Ede's casualness too hides decades of experience and an incredible skill.
FTLP 156
PS: For expertise on Nigerian music I gladly refer you to the Likembe and With Comb & Razor blogs.
7 comments:
The language is almost certainly Edo (Bini) or a closely related one like Urhobo. Other than that I can't tell you anything about him.
Hi,
I posted (in italian) about Paul Ede here
http://www.tpafrica.it/2008/02/paul-ede-sikpoglo.html
but now I know music is no longer online because of problems wit thelinkup server. I will put it online soon.
Yes, Ede is bini, and was one of the pioneers of palmwine in Nigeria in 1930's, adapting guitar palmwine to more numerous ensambles.
someone says that Ede's sound strong influenced Victor Uwaifo at the beginning of his careeer.
In Edo State Ede's songs and stories are part of traditional heritage, and mothers sing them to childs.
@tpafrica: I assume you mean he is a Bini, and that John's comment is likely to be correct.
The remark about his songs being part of traditional heritage unfortunately doesn't shed light on the contents. My mother used to sing songs to us that could fall under any of the categories I mentioned in the post...
I have never seen or heard the CD you have posted; is it available publicly (& if so, where?)?
@ worldservice:
Are you Nigerian?
Sorry for my bad english,
unfortunally you don't understand italian. I bought that CD from a nigerian market woman in Naples. Is a collection.
In my post I wrote one of the traditional songs histories, translated by a nigerian bini friend of mine (Bini community is numerous in Italy). The title of this moral song is Sikpoglo.
Sikpoglo is a bird singing in the morning. One day God says to sikpoglo that the day after he will became the kong of all birds.
Swallen of pride, he goes to other birds to announce that from the day after everyone had to revere and obey his orders, and that would have killed anyone who was not submissive.
Al the birds went from God to ask him changeing his decision. Then God asked them an alternative, and birds indicated a small black bird, gentle and industrious, who spent the day in the miles camps to collect food and stems for the nest. G
od called the bird mite and appointed him king.
Bye, GM
@Lost at The End: No Dutch.
@tpafrica: Thank you for this explanation!
My dear WrldServ,
First of all let me confess that I also had a "rocking horse chair" when I grew up in the fifties! I don't know if that had a lasting effect on shapig my personality but let me tell you, in the last copule of days I have found more time to follow your excellent blog and I am amazed, even though I have been so amazed before, at your incredible wealth of both good music, vast knowledge generosity to share and good stories to tell! As soon as I am finished picking out what I consider interesting according to my comparative limited knowledge on many of the subjects, I will start over again from scratch and reread the whole blog and I am sure to have a few questions later. So hold on to your hat when you feel this strong wind of appreciation and gratitude blowing down from this northern Ultima Thule where I, since birth, have been deported to reside!
Much Love and big thanks for a wonderful blog!
If you ask me it is the best, bar none!
bolingo
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