Tracklist

1	–Oni Johnson	Garse Yer Fido
2	–Isaac Jackson	Nitsi Koko Ko Ko
3	–Ben Simmons	[Blank]
4	–Harry E. Quashie	Anadwofa
5	–Ben Simmons	Mu Kun Sebor Wa Wu
6	–Douglas Papafio	Kuntum
7	–Prince Zulamkah	Ligiligi
8	–The West African Instrumental Quintet	Adersu - No. 2
9	–The Ga Quartet	Abowe Dsane Nmaka Tso
10	–Domingo Justus	Buje
11	–Ben Simmons	Obu Kofi
12	–James Tucker	Rue Bai Rue Bai
13	–John Mugat	Bukay
14	–Kumasi Trio	Asin Asin Part 2
15	–Doouglas Papafio	Sakyi
16	–James Thomas	Jon Jo Ko
17	–Nicholas De Heer	Edna Buchaiku
18	–George Williams Aingo	Akuko Nu Bonto
19	–Nicholas De Heer	Ewuri Beka
20	–George Williams Aingo	Agur Bi Dzi Mansu Aba
21	–James Brown	Mukorin-Mantun
22	–Nicholas De Heer	Wasiu Dowu
23	–John Mugat	Alahira

Credits

• Compiled By, Liner Notes – Mark Ainley
• Design – Will Bankhead
• Mastered By – Andy Walter*
• Translated By [English Lyrics] – Kofi Kudonu, Nate Jorm Kwame

Notes

Mastered at Abbey Road.

The promotional material of the Zonophone label is used here by arrangement with the EMI Group Archive Trust.

In oversized gatefold card sleeve with 20 page booklet.

℗ 2008 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by Honest Jons Records under exclusive license to EMI Records Ltd. © 2008 Honest Jons Records.

Living Is Hard
West African Music In Britain, 1927-1929
HONEST JON'S RECORDS

'While the likes of Blind Lemon Jefferson and Charley Patton were making the earliest blues recordings in America, this equally strange and compelling music by West African singers and musicians was simultaneously being recorded in London... [a] treasure trove of golden voices, chants, authentic percussion and traditional instruments presented in totally unmediated fashion' (***** Songlines).

Made in London, these recordings were issued originally by the Zonophone record label over three years from late 1927.
The first West African Zonophone recordings date from 1922, when the Reverend J. J. Ransome-Kuti — Fela’s grandfather — travelled from Nigeria to Britain, to record Christian hymns in Yoruba. Notables of 1925 sessions included the Pan-African activist Ladipo Solanke, who had come to Britain three years earlier to study Law; and Roland Nathaniels, also resident in Europe at this time, who soon afterwards recorded for Odeon in Germany, before returning to the Zonophone studios in 1927 (probably doubling as an A and R man).
Finally, with these recordings in 1927-9, Zonophone moved decisively to dominate the West African market ahead of the competition, by exporting hundreds of discs — and record players — recorded in almost all its major languages. Included here are Wolof, Temni, Yoruba, Vai, Fanti, Hausa, Ga and Twi.
The records were recorded and manufactured in London: all of them were sent to West Africa, where few have survived.
Zonophone was soon followed by Odeon as the decade turned, then Parlophone in 1936, and HMV the following year. Unlike Zonophone, all three rivals travelled to West Africa with recording equipment.

Other versions

Category	Artist	Title (Format)	Label	Category	Country	Year
HJRCD33	Various	Living Is Hard: West African Music In Britain, 1927-1929 ‎(CD, Comp)	Honest Jon's Records	HJRCD33	UK	2008
HJRCDDJ33, 50999-208255-2-2	Various	Living Is Hard: West African Music In Britain, 1927-1929 ‎(CD, Comp, Promo)	Honest Jon's Records, Honest Jon's Records	HJRCDDJ33, 50999-208255-2-2	UK	2008
HJRLP33	Various	Living Is Hard: West African Music In Britain, 1927-1929 ‎(2xLP, Comp)	Honest Jon's Records	HJRLP33	UK	2008