Discography of Prince Nico Mbarga
Many of Prince Nico Mbarga's recordings from 1982 and earlier were licensed to Sonodisc in France for reissue under the Rogers All Stars label. These are identical to the Nigerian pressings save the reference prefix, which is "RAS" rather than "ASALPS". -- John Beadle.
1970s
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz
Man Don Tire b/w ? (EMI Nigeria 7" 45; reference number unknown)
1973
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz
I No Go Marry Papa b/w ? (7" 45; label & reference number unknown)
1975
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz
Man Don Tire (LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria]? reference number unknown)
[A] ?
[B] ?
1976
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz
Sweet Mother (LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria]?ASALPS 6)(LP; Rounder Records (US) 5007)(LP; Decca [France] 278.159)(LP; AIT Records [Nairobi] reference number unknown)(LP; Zebi [UK] ASALPS 6)
[A] Sweet Mother / Wayo In-Law
[B] Aki Special / Christiana
-- Probably the biggest-selling record in African history, there are numerous other pressings of "Sweet Mother" both authorized and "pirate" across Africa and around the world.
1976?
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz
Cristiana pt. 1 b/w Cristiana pt. 2 (7" 45; AIT/Rogers All Stars [Ivory Coast] AIT/RAS 2)
1976?
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz
Aki Special Pt. 1 b/w Aki Special Pt. 2 (7" 45; AIT/Rogers All Stars [Ivory Coast] reference number unknown)
1977
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz
Musicline (LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] ASALPS 8)(LP; AIT/Soul Posters [France] SP 2120)(LP; Decca [France] 278.154)
[A] Music Line / On! Death
[B] Welenga / Rocafil / Stella
1977
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz
Free Education in Nigeria (LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] ASALPS 1) (LP; Rounder [US] 5011) (LP; Decca [France] 278.156)
[A] Free Education in Nigeria / Onye Ori Obi
[B] Simplicity / Nature
1978
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz
Good Father (LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] ASALPS 14) (LP; Decca [France] 278.175)
[A] Good Father / Na My Choice
[B] Tobe Jehovah / Late Madam Nneka Okonkwo
1978
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz
Another Woman's Husband (Pathe Marconi/EMI [France] C 058-82432)
[A] Another Woman's Husband / Remember / Rosa/ Abortion
[B] Salani / Afufu Uwa / Nature / Roraphabe
1978
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz
No Die No Rest (LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] ASALPS 18)
[A] No Die No Rest / For Give Me
[B] Celibataire Avec Des Enfants / H. N. B. Explosion
1978
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz
Happy Birthday (LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] ASALPS 21) (LP; Decca [France] 278.188)
[A] Happy Birthday / Adam & Eve
[B] Love & Unity For Africa / Sickness
1981
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz International
Family Movement (LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] ASALPS 30)
[A] Family Movement / Home is Home
[B] Le Pere de Notre Pays / Lost Lovev
1981
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz International
Cool Money (LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] ASALPS 35)
[A] Cool Money / Another Woman's Husband
[B] Impossible / Afufu Uwa
1981
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz International
Experience 001 (LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] ASALPS 40)
[A] Polygamie / Njikoka
[B] Experience 001 / Simple Truth
1981
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz International
Music Message (LP; Nico Records [Onitsha, Nigeria] PNM 1001)
[A] Tribalism / Ocheme Emia
[B] Music Message / Man Pass Man
1982
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz International
Lucky Marriage! (LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] ASALPS 47)
[A] Lucky Marriage / Nnwa di Mma
[B] Welcome / Aye Yi Mole
1982
Prince Nico Mbarga & the New Rocafil Jazz
Let Them Say (LP; Polydor [Lagos] POLP 085)
[A] Let Them Say / Injustice
[B] Time Waits For Nobody / Belle
1982
Prince Nico Mbarga & the New Rocafil Jazz
Papal Visit '82 (LP; Nico Records [Onitsha, Nigeria] PNM 1002)
[A] Papal Visit / The Beauty of A Home Is Peace
[B] Multiplication and Subtraction / Let Them Say / Forgive Me
1983
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz
The Best of Prince Nico & Rocafil Jazz (LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] RASLPS 40)
[A] Sweet Mother / Good Father
[B] Family Movement / Na My Choice
1983
Various Artists
African Music
(LP; Vertigo [Netherlands] 814 480-1)
[A] Ekassa 24 [Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestroes] / Obiako Nwam [Gentleman Mike Ejeaga & His Premier Dance Band] / Onu Kwulunjo [Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigeria Sound Makers International] / Five Days A Week Love [Victor Uwaifo & The Titibitis] / Ewa [Dr. Victor Olaiya] / Tamuno Bo Ibro Ma [Cardinal Rex Lawson & His Majors Band Of Nigeria]
[B] Odindu Nyuliba [Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigeria Sound Makers International] / Let Them Say [Prince Nico Mbarga & His New Rocafil Jazz] / Igede Pt 1 [Celestine Ukwu & His Philosophers National] / Mo Fe Mu 'Yan [Dr. Victor Olaiya & His International Stars Band] / Ndito Isong Emana Nyin [Martha Ulaeto]
-- A nice collection of tracks from the Polygram Nigeria stable of artists. Most have been edited for this compilation.
1983
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz
The Best of Prince Nico & Rocafil Jazz
(LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] RASLPS 40)
(CD; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] RASD006 [2003])
[A] Sweet Mother / Good Father
[B] Family Movement / Na My Choice
-- The 2003 CD reissue features three extra tracks: Lucky Marriage, Welcome and Wayo Inlaw
1983
Prince Nico Mbarga
Decency (LP; Disques Esperance (France) ESP 7510)
[A] Decency / Oya Ifunanya
[B] Soso Think / Stay For Ever
-- Nico Mbarga dispenses with Rocafil Jazz and does this LP "makossa-style" in France with assorted Camerounian & Paris session musicians. Vocalist Louisisana Tilda accompanies him on two tracks.
1984
Prince Nico Mbarga & the Rocafil Jazz
Chameleon (LP; Galaxy [Nigeria] GRLP 011)
[A] Chameleon / Illegal Immigrant
[B] Viviana / Medicine For Love
1986
Prince Nico Mbarga & his Rocafil Jazz
Panco Juju System (LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] RASLPS 078)
[A] My Pickin / I Dey Wonder
[B] Panco Juju System / Green Revolution
-- Probably Prince Nico's best album since "Sweet Mother". As the title indicates, it combines his E. Nigerian-Camerounian "panco" sound with juju music, to excellent effect.
1987
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz
Aki Special (Rounder (US) CD 11545)v Aki Special / Christiana / Sweet Mother / Wayo In-Law / Free Education in Nigeria / Onye Ori Obi / Nature
-- CD repackaging of Sweet Mother & Free Education in Nigeria minus the tune "Simplicity".
1987
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz
Sweet Family (LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] RASLPS 095)
[A] Sweet Family / Lake Nyos
[B] New Generation / Eyinji Enjuk
1989
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz
Only One God (LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] RASLPS 106)
[A] Good Name / Weli Sane
[B] Only One God / Rough Weather
?
Prince Nico Mbarga
The Very Best
(2 CD set; recording information unavailable)
[A] Sweet Mother / Happy Birthday / Na My Choice / Stella / Sickness / Adam & Eve / Good Father / Welenga / Wayo-In-Law / Lake Nyous
[B] Aki Special / lChristiana / Music Line / Simplicity / Free Education / Home Be Home / Lost Love / Death / Onye Ori Obi
Louisiana Tilda
Camerounian former backup singer with Rocafil Jazz (featured on Decency [ESP 7510], above). Her one CD is a Prince Nico tribute album recorded with Rocafil Jazz.
2001?
Tilda & The Rocafil Jazz International
Sweet Mother (CD; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] reference number unknown)
Sweet Mother / Akie Special / Wellenga / The Man I Love / Christiana / Family Movement / Music Line /? Simplicity / Happy Birthday
?
Tilda & The Rocafil Jazz International
Who Knows Tomorrow (DVD; recording information unavailable)
Who Knows Tomorrow / Music Line / Family Movement / Anne / Dance Panco Music / Money Palava
Jacob Nguni & Waza Collection
Camerounian former lead guitarist for Prince Nico Mbarga's Rocafil Jazz, which he left to form his own group, Waza Collection (later Waza Rocafil Jazz & A.B. Waza.) He is currently based in Cameroun, where his latest release features a medley of Rocafil Jazz hits.
1979
Waza Collection
Nigeria '79
(LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] reference number unknown)
[A] Nigeria ?79 / Zonga ?
[B] Grand Reve / Trouble?
1981
Waza Collection
Bride & Bridegroom
(LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] RASLPS 019)
[A] Bride et Bride Groom / Wetin Be Life / Hospital Generale
[B] Music of Waza / Germaine / Take Life Easy
1982
Waza Rocafil Jazz
Africa
(LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] RASLPS 033)
[A] ?
[B] ?
1980s?
Rocafil W.I. Super Stars of Africa
Ebriyoyo! (LP; Sicot SICOT 002)
[A] Ebriyoyo / David
[B] Indifference / Marie
-- Apparently this is another group led by Jacob Nguni.
1984
Jacob Nguni & A.B. Waza
Congratulations
(LP; Rogers All Stars [Onitsha, Nigeria] RASLPS 060)
[A] Congratulations / Never-Never
[B] Onitsha Township / Daddy & Mummy
1996
Jacob Nguni
Panco Mix
(Cassette; Flash [Cameroun] no reference number)
[A] ?
[B] ?
-- Camerounian former lead guitarist for Prince Nico Mbarga’s Rocafil Jazz, which he left to form his own group, Waza Collection (later A.B. Waza.) He is currently based in Cameroun, where his latest release features a medley of Rocafil Jazz hits.
--This discography was compiled, in collaboration with Toshiya Endo, by John Beadle at P.O. Box 100174, Milwaukee, WI 53210 USA.
For weblog, visit (http://likembe.blogspot.com/), and
E-mail to John Beadle
Thanks to: Frank Wouters, R.J. Motz, Jan Ejlertsen, Ben Joosten, Juan Carlos Mercado Rios, Fabian Enrique Altahona Romero...
Last updated on August 3, 2010.
- Å@
- Å@