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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    CHIEF UDOH ESSIET believes in rhythm. He serves it Hot-and-Spicy on this album, from the depths of his soul to the beat that emanates from his hand-made antelope-skin congas and talking drums.

    AFROBEAT HIGHLIFE CROSSING effortlessly blends the essence of Afrobeat and Highlife grooves, resulting in a sound that’s purely original.

    The percussion is out of this world, the bass is melodic, the horn arrangements are next level, the BVs are perfect and the ‘Pidgin’ language Chief Udoh sings tops it off with some Nigerian seasoning, like a dash of Hot Pepper on Stew!

    SIDE A
    Big Mistake...................5:15
    Mma Akadia Ata...........3:47
    Mo Feran Re.................3:58
    Make You No Quench...3:51

    SIDE B
    What Eye Dey See........6:55
    Wa Le Mi.......................3:54
    Help Me Now................4:18
    Uwem Iduhe.................3:38

    Includes unlimited streaming of Afrobeat Highlife Crossing via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ... more
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about

Ibibio language. My tribute to Inyang Henshaw, Peter Effiong, and Rex Lawson. The title means there’s not life (“uwem” means life) in Nigeria anymore. Everything is expensive. The churches are in control and the pastors are corrupt. Criminals appear when night falls. Even by day, kidnappers will not leave us in peace. Police arrest you for anything, even eating Maggi soup. The police and the criminals are friends. Wives are cheating on their husbands. Life is not sweet like before.

(français)
Langue Ibibio. En hommage à Inyang Henshaw, Peter Effiong et Rex Lawson. Le titre veut dire qu’au Nigeria il n’y a plus de vie (« uwem » signifie la vie) comme avant. Tout est cher. Les églises ont trop de pouvoir et les pasteurs sont corrompus. les, les kidnappeurs ne nous laissent pas en paix. La police vous arrête pour un rien, même pour avoir mangé une soupe. La police et les criminels sont complices. Les femmes trompent leurs maris. La vie n’est pas belle comme avant.

lyrics

(translation from Ibibio language of Nigeria to English)

NO LIFE HERE ANYMORE (Uwem Iduhe)

My brother, there’s no life in this country anymore
My sister, there’s no life in Nigeria anymore
Here in our country, there’s no life
There’s no life in this country anymore, here in our country
There’s no life in this country anymore

My brother
There’s no life in this country anymore
Everything is expensive
There’s no life in this country anymore

Now there are churches everywhere in our country
Everybody is praying
The church people are moving everywhere
Everyone is standing for prayer
When night comes, criminals won’t let us sleep
In the morning, you have no rest of mind

My brother,
There’s no life in this country anymore
Everything is expensive,
There’s no life in this country anymore
Police are taking bribes
There’s no life in this country anymore
Police and criminals are friends
There’s no life in this country anymore
My wife Ekaette is expensive
There’s no life in this country anymore
Your own wife is taking bribe from you
There’s no life in this country anymore
My brother

(français)

LA VIE ICI N’EST PLUS CE QU’ELLE ÉTAIT (Uwem Iduhe)

Mon frère, la vie dans notre pays n’est plus belle comme avant
Ma sœur, la vie au Nigéria n’est plus ce qu’elle était
Dans notre pays, la vie n’est plus belle
Il n’y a plus de belle vie dans notre pays, ici dans notre pays
La vie n’est plus ce qu’elle était

Mon frère
La vie ici n’est plus ce qu’elle était
Tout est cher
La vie ici n’est plus ce qu’elle était

On voit des églises partout
Tout le monde prie
Le clergé est partout
Tout le monde se lève pour prier
A la tombée de la nuit, les criminels nous empêchent de dormir
Au matin, on se réveille angoissé

Mon frère
La vie ici n’est plus ce qu’elle était
Tout est cher
La vie ici n’est plus ce qu’elle était
La police prend des pots de vin
La vie ici n’est plus ce qu’elle était
La police et les criminels sont complices
La vie ici n’est plus ce qu’elle était
Ma femme Ekaette me coute cher
La vie ici n’est plus ce qu’elle était
Votre propre femme vous soutire de l’argent
La vie ici n’est plus ce qu’elle était
Mon frère

credits

from Afrobeat Highlife Crossing, released September 20, 2019
Composed and arranged by Chief Udoh Essiet & Sherry Margolin ©2019 SACEM

Lead vocals, Drums, Percussion, and Backing Vocals: Chief Udoh Essiet
Backing Vocals, "Guitar" intro: Sherry Margolin
Backing Vocals: “Koko” Monique Ouadjah
Bass: Mawena Luc Montenary
Tenor Guitar: Oghene Kologbo
Rhythm Guitar: Julien Raulet
Trumpet: Bruno Gautheron
Tenor Sax: Roger Kom
Trombone: Patrice Caussidery

Mixed at Uwem Music Studios by Sherry Margolin & Chief Udoh Essiet with invaluable mentorship from Mixer Mark Williams
Mastered at Studio B Mastering in Charlotte NC by Dave Harris

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Chief Udoh Essiet Paris, France

Nigerian born, Paris-based musician Chief Udoh Essiet is known for his exuberant music blending his cultural heritage and politics set over joyous beats. He was the conga soloist for Afrobeat originator Fela Kuti from 1980-83, and studied with legendary highlife musicians like Dr. Victor Olaiya and Rex Lawson. ... more

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