Cover Artwork by Underdog.
When we got word through the grapevine that Elijah Wood was record digging for vintage African vinyl at East Village spots like Good Records and the now-defunct Tropicalia In Furs we knew we had to get him on an Africa In Your Earbuds. No stranger to the music scene, Elijah has been known to DJ around — playing everything from "old soul and funk records, to international pysch music from Brazil and France" — and even started own label Simian Records back in 2005. A known fan of Nigerian duo The Lijadu Sisters, Elijah sent over a heavily Naija and Ghanaian mixtape featuring K. Frimpong, Sonny Okosun and many others. He told us:
I wanted to focus primarily on the original Nigerian and Ghanian records I've acquired (thank you Good Records, NYC) So many incredible African records are being reissued right now (!!) but it's increasingly difficult to find original vinyl in good condition. This represents some of what I've found. (thanks to Zach Cowie and Jake Viator)
Download our landmark 50th installment of Africa In Your Earbuds, mixed by Elijah Wood below. Make sure to check below for the tracklist and all of our previous mixes.
TRACKLIST
Afro Express "Lahilah Ill-Allahu" [Nigeria (?)]
K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas "Kyenkyen Bi Adi Mawu" [Ghana]
Osakpamwan Ohenhen and His Feelings "Owman Ghe Ma Wme Ye Wmen" [Nigeria]
Cos-Ber-Zam "Né Noya" [Togo]
Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestroes "Ekassa 28 (Ebibi)" [Nigeria]
Thierry Boco "Divorce De Cecilia" [Benin]
Bongos Ikwue & The Groovies "Baby Let Me Go" [Nigeria]
Bella Bellow "O Segne" [Togo]
Sonny Okosun "Ozzidi" "Steady & Slow" [Nigeria]
Victory Uwaifo "Destiny" [Nigeria]
Like African music? Previously on Africa In Your Earbuds:
KOOL A.D. — SOL POWER ALL-STARS — DJ NUNAS — NIC OFFER OF !!! — LARRY ACHIAMPONG — KYLA-ROSE SMITH OF FRESHLYGROUND— THE GTW — RADIO TANZANIA — JON THEODORE — DESMOND & THE TUTUS — MATHIEU SCHREYER II — YOUNG FATHERS — BBRAVE OF AKWAABA — OLD MONEY — DJ NEPTUNE — SAHEL SOUNDS — BEATENBERG — M1 [DEAD PREZ] — BODDHI SATVA — L’AFRIQUE SOM SYSTEME — NOMADIC WAX — THE BROTHER MOVES ON — LV — BEN ASSITER [JAMES BLAKE'S DRUMMER] — JAKOBSNAKE —CHRISTIAN TIGER SCHOOL — SAUL WILLIAMS — TUNE-YARDS — MATHIEU SCHREYER — BLK JKS — ALEC LOMAMI — DJ MOMA — AWESOME TAPES FROM AFRICA — PETITE NOIR — OLUGBENGA —RICH MEDINA — VOICES OF BLACK —LAMIN FOFANA —CHICO MANN — DJ UNDERDOG — DJ OBAH — SABINE — BROTHA ONACI — DJ AQBT — JUST A BAND — STIMULUS — QOOL DJ MARV — SINKANE — CHIEF BOIMA