SHAKARA

180 gram vinyl LP pressing. Shakara is one of a clutch of early 1970 s albums on which Fela s Afrobeat transitioned from stage to something approaching full-grown form. Shakara (1971) includes three of mature Afrobeat s signature ingredients. There are two guitarists rhythm guitarist Tutu Shoronmu and tenor guitarist Segun Edo. The pair s repetitive interlocking riffs - part melody part rhythm - play a similar role to the rhythm and mi-solo guitars used in contemporary Congolese rumba. Fela s Broken English lyrics extend his music s audience beyond Yoruba speakers and make his words understandable across Anglophone Africa. And female backing vocalists echo Fela s lead vocals in what was to become Afrobeat s trademark call-and-response pattern. In quot;Lady quot; Fela highlights the adoption of European social habits to the detriment of African culture. quot;Shakaraquot; is a mainly instrumental track with a brief lyric sung in Yoruba warning against boasters and braggarts. Up-tempo with a suitably turbulent horn arrangement it includes strong solos from Fela on keyboards and the fearsome Igo Chico on tenor saxophone.