Newman Zinck - Asonio Ere

For the next selection on the highlife turntable I have selected the track Asonio Ere by Newman Zinck and his Menesougha Dance band of Angalabiri.

I did not know anything about the band when I saw the record, but I recognized Anthony Cockson's face underneath the tattered cover and knew that Angalabiri was a town somewhere in the Ijaw region of Nigeria.  Angalabiri is one of a cluster of towns close to the Tarakiri-Ogbesu shrine on the banks of the Forcados river, the deity itself being integral to the culture of the Tarakiri peoples.   It turns out King Ebizimor was also from Angalabiri.

I believe the song is a praise song to a woman named Madam Esomo-Ere.  On the back cover the song is listed as Late Madam Esomo Ere while on the record the track is listed as Asonio Ere.  For me the languid vocals stand out and the way the fuzzy guitar lines complement the flow of the song is flawless.  It is a very nice example of the beauty of Izon music and I thought I'd share it.

I hope you like it

Ubulujaja