Soundway Records Unearths Nigerian Digital Reggae and Dub from 1986 to 1991

Fourteen tracks. Zero chart positions. All underground. Soundway Records dropped "Fight The Fire: Digital Reggae, Conscious Roots and Dub in Nigeria 1986–91" today, and what compiler Jeremy Spellacey has assembled is the kind of set that makes you question how much Nigerian music history has slipped through the cracks.

The collection spotlights a time when Jamaican reggae entwined with Nigerian styles, politics and consciousness, creating a bridge between Lagos and Kingston. That framing is not just marketing copy. Orits Williki, one of the key figures on the compilation, gained recognition with his 1989 album "Tribulation," and the title track here carries real weight: his song "Fight the Fire" put him in trouble with the Babangida regime. Often referred to as the "Militant Reggae Musician," Williki became a household name in the 1980s with a blend of reggae characterized by socially conscious lyrics and a commitment to articulating the struggles and aspirations of many Nigerians.

The full track-to-artist breakdown confirms the depth of the dig. The 14 tracks span Pat Bio opening with "Guide Us Jah," Don Bruce's "Watiyo," Johnny Keslar's "Wadada," Williki's "Fight The Fire," Majah Kungu's "Way Nack In Town," Oby Onyioha's "Raid Dem Jah," Georgy-Gold Owoghiri's "Wonderful Holiday," Mac Dessy Adult's "Labrock Dub," B.G. and Fibre's "Drunken Driver (Dub)," Alphonsus Idigo's "Mystic World," Sheila and Des Majek's "Mother Nature," Jan Blast's "Reggae Rigmarole," Alpha Kuffa's "Messiah I," and Bob Dazzy closing out with "Abandon Nation."

Oby Onyioha is one of the doyens of the Nigerian music industry, who first burst onto the scene with her chart-busting "I Want To Feel Your Love" album in the 1980s. Her contribution here is the compilation's sharpest needle drop: "Raid Dem Jah" is a unique cover of Burning Spear's anthemic "Jah A Guh Raid," previously only available on a rare LP.

The set is a companion piece to Soundway's seminal "Doing it in Lagos" and "Nigeria Special" compilations, celebrating the innovation and musical experimentation of Nigeria in the 80s. Anyone who spent time with those records will know exactly what that lineage means. Soundway has been working this territory since 2002, and "Fight The Fire" reads as the label pressing deeper into a period they clearly believe deserves the full archival treatment.

The 2LP gatefold comes loaded with an introductory essay from Louis Chude-Sokei, author of "Dr. Satan's Echo Chamber," which gives the academic weight to match the musical excavation. The vinyl is available now, catalog number SNDWLP162, with digital downloads offered in both 16-bit lossless and 320 kbps MP3 directly through Soundway. Josey Records has the vinyl listed for pre-order at $39.99 with a May 15 street date, suggesting regional shipping windows may vary, so check your local retailer for availability.

Williki alongside Majek Fashek, Ras Kimono and The Mandators dominated the Nigerian music scene in the '80s through the '90s. Getting his work and Onyioha's on a properly sequenced, essay-backed double LP is the kind of overdue recognition that Soundway does better than almost anyone.