The Funkees

The Funkees were a Nigerian afro-rock group formed in the late 1960s. They moved to London in 1973 and quickly gained prominence in the expatriate West African and West Indian music scene, but fragmented four years later. They specialized in funky, upbeat, highly danceable afro-rock that often featured lyrics sung in Igbo, as well as English. Originating as an army band after the Nigerian Civil War, they contributed to the outpouring of upbeat music produced by young people in Nigeria in response to the darkness of the recently concluded civil conflict. In 2012, Soundway Records reissued a compilation of their recordings from the mid-1970s, leading to a resurgence of interest in the band. Percussionist Sunny Akpan later went on to play with experimental dub musicians' collective, African Head Charge.

Similar Artists

Tony Allen

Fela Kuti

The Daktaris

Antibalas

Ebo Taylor

The Shaolin Afronauts

Femi Kuti

William Onyeabor

Marijata

Gyedu-Blay Ambolley

Fanga

Mulatu Astatke

Orlando Julius

Seun Kuti

Akalé Wubé

The Souljazz Orchestra

Manu Dibango

Monomono

Pat Thomas

Tunji Oyelana

Peter King

Dele Sosimi

Joni Haastrup

Karl Hector & The Malcouns

Bola Johnson