Various Artists – Doing It In Lagos: Boogie, Pop & Disco in 1980s Nigeria

A neon-lit time capsule of Nigerian boogie, disco, and street soul—Doing It In Lagos captures the electric pulse of a country dancing into a new decade of sound, swagger, and style.

Compiled by Soundway Records with deep care and serious crate-digger clout, Doing It In Lagos is a definitive collection of 1980s Nigerian club culture. Across 20 tracks and three slabs of vinyl (plus a bonus 7"), this gatefold compilation blasts through a golden era of slick production, studio wizardry, and pure pop ambition—an era where Nigerian artists set their sights on global stardom with synths, slap bass, and sequined swagger.

Think disco grooves and boogie-funk breakdowns retooled for Lagos dancefloors, where Michael Jackson was a style icon and studio sessions chased that Quincy Jones shimmer. Artists like Steve Monite, Dizzy K. Falola, Tony Okoroji, Jake Sollo, and Nkono Teles weren’t just keeping up—they were innovating with drum machines, falsetto hooks, and funk-forward production that could stand tall alongside anything coming out of New York or London.

This wasn’t the politically charged Afrobeat of the ‘70s—it was nightlife music, born from the boom of the oil economy and a return to democracy. Lagos in the early ‘80s was lit up with new money, mobile DJs, and underground clubs that pulsed with a transatlantic sound. This is the soundtrack of that moment—shimmering, brash, and irresistible.

Expertly restored and remastered, Doing It In Lagos features detailed liner notes by compiler and historian Uchenna Ikonne, presented in a heavyweight gatefold sleeve with a bonus 7” to round out the set. For newcomers, it’s the ultimate entry point into Nigeria’s boogie underground. For seasoned heads, it’s a lovingly assembled reminder of why this scene still sounds ahead of its time. If you're into the streetwise soul of Too Slow to Disco, the tropical funk of Analog Africa, or just want a record that turns any room into a Lagos nightclub—this one's a no-brainer.

Note: All orders ship from France. VAT not charged (TVA non applicable, article 293 B du CGI). Worldwide shipping available. Images shown are mock-ups — actual vinyl may differ slightly.