roger damawuzan & les as du benin: wait for me

Nine previously unreleased and rare tracks recorded between 1972 and 1981 by the amazing Roger Damawuzan, also known as the "James Brown from Lomé," backed by the tremendous Les As du Benin orchestra. Born in 1952 in Aného, Togo, "the king of Gazo" (a traditional rhythm) is one of the most popular singers of his native country. He started his career in 1968 and released his first record in 1972 with his now-classic hit "Wait for Me." From 1972 to the early '80s, alongside Les As du Benin, he worked more than five days a week at the seaside Hotel Tropicana, practicing and perfecting his afro-soul sound. During this period Damawuzan and the orchestra also recorded many tracks, sometimes in Ghana at the famous Philips studio, sometimes during live sessions for big events in the Palais des Congrès de Lomé and Studio Otodi in Lomé, but always live and analog. At the time of this release Roger Damawuzan lives in Lomé; in 2014 he was the featured singer on the smash hit "Pas Contente" by Vaudou Game and performed with the band at major European festivals. This gatefold double LP collection of officially licensed tracks, featuring an interview in the gatefold, is must-have record from one of the biggest figures of the African funk scene from the '70s.