Various – Living Is Hard: West African Music In Britain, 1927-1929

Made in London, these recordings were issued originally by the Zonophone record label over three years from late 1927.With these recordings in 1927-9, Zonophone exported records to Africa. These records were recorded in multiple languages, including 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.

With the exception of the Ga and Kumasi groups (which found local sponsors for the voyage from Ghana to the London studio), it is probable that most of the musicians were resident in Britain at the time of these recordings. The only address entered on the recording contracts is that of Daniel Acquaah (from Ben Simmons’ ensemble), in Liverpool.