Tirogo -

Tirogo was a Nigerian Afro-funk/psych band that released three albums between 1977 and 1980 on EMI. Their first album, Float, gained newfound popularity after its late-2000s reissues on Shadoks and QDK.

In 2013, Afrobeat merchants Voodoo Funk selected the Tirago tracks “Disco Maniac” and “We Like to Party” — culled from the band’s 1978 Aiyé People album — for release as a 12″ to the Rare Groove DJ community.

Members: Elvy Akhionbare, Funmi Onabolu, Godwin Debogie, Wilfred Ekanem, Wilfred Iwang

Background

Tirogo formed in Lagos in the mid-1970s within the student-rock wave that followed Ofege. The group paired bassist-singer Wilfred Ekanem with keyboardist Funmi Onabolu, guitarist-percussionist Elvy Akhionbare, drummer-singer Wilfred Iwang, and conguero-singer Godwin Debogie.

Ofege reached EMI through producer and A&R manager Odion Iruoje while the members studied at St Gregory’s College, where university groups used Ofege as a model. Iruoje sought school bands for EMI and noted Tirogo among the talent.

Tirogo entered the EMI studio in 1977 with producer Emmanuel Odenusi and engineer Monday Oki to record Float.

Discography:

Float (1977)
Aiyé People (1978)
Revelations (1980)

Sources

The Guardian, “Lighting up Lagos: the stars of 1970s Nigerian rock music.” Reproduces material connected with Uchenna Ikonne’s Wake Up You! research and identifies Tirogo as part of the mid-1970s student psych-rock movement; the accompanying image identifies Wilfred Ekanem of Tirogo. (The Guardian)
Seal67, “The Nigerian Afro-Funk History Record.” Nigerian scene history that identifies Ofege as an influence on the subsequent high-school and university Afro-funk bands, specifically names Tirogo, and identifies Funmi Onabolu as the keyboardist associated with the group. (Subliminal Codes in Text)
Uchenna Ikonne, Grotto Wait… No Hurry reissue notes. Identifies Odion Iruoje as EMI A&R manager and explains that he sought to repeat the Ofege formula with high-school groups including Tirogo, Apples, Question Mark, and Grotto. (Oye Records)
Ofege, Try And Love reissue notes. Establishes the preceding school-band route: Ofege formed among St Gregory’s College students, met EMI producer/A&R manager Odion Iruoje, auditioned for him, and recorded the album at EMI. (Ofege on Bandcamp)
Tirogo, “Ajufo” credits. Identifies Ekanem, Akhionbare, Onabolu, and Debogie and credits Emmanuel A. Odenusi as producer with Monday Oki as recording engineer. It also identifies Ekanem as songwriter and band leader, the latter conflicting with the Onabolu account. (Apple Music)
Tirogo, Float — QDK/Shadoks reissue information. Gives the five-member instrumental lineup, confirms the Nigerian EMI recording in 1977, and supplies the otherwise unresolved claim that six musicians belonged to the band. (Forced Exposure)
Inside World Music, “CD Review: Nigeria’s Tirogo.” Confirms that the 2010 CD booklet contains an interview with Wilfred Ekanem and independently reproduces the five named musicians and roles. (Inside World Music)