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.

Tracklist:
A1 Oni Johnson– Garse Yer Fido
A2 Isaac Jackson – Nitsi Koko Ko Ko
A3 Ben Simmons - [Blank]
A4 Harry E. Quashie– Anadwofa
A5 Ben Simmons – Mu Kun Seber Wa Wu
A6 Douglas Papafio– Kuntum
B1 Prince Zulamkah– Ligiligi
B2 The West African Instrumental Quintet– Adersu - No.2
B3 The Ga Quartet– Abowe Dsane Nmaka Tso
B4 Domingo Justus– Buje
B5 Ben Simmons – Obu Kofi
B6 James Tucker – Rue Bai Rue Bai
C1 John Mugat– Bukay
C2 Kumasi Trio– Asin Asin Part 2
C3 Doouglas Papafio– Sakyl
C4 James Thomas – Jon Jo Ko
C5 Nicholas De Heer– Edna Buchaiku
D1 George Williams Aingo– Akuko Nu Bonto
D2 Nicholas De Heer– Ewuri Beka
D3 George Williams Aingo– Agur Bi Dzi Mansu Aba
D4 James Brown – Mukorin-Mantun
D5 Nicholas De Heer– Wasiu Dowu
D6 John Mugat– Alahira