Following the great success of BBEs 2023 reissue of Remi Kabakas 1976 lost masterpiece ‘Son of Africa’ comes yet another neglected and hitherto-hidden slice of pure Kabaka goodness: 1980s ‘Roots Funkadelia’.

While the 1976 album was recorded at Island Studios London, roots was recorded and mixed in L.A. in the midst of a golden period for the Motown studios, and the sheer quality of the mix shows in spades. An unexpected but welcome bonus is the appearance throughout of the mean machine- Motown artists the commodores brass section alter-ego.

Released in 1980 on Polygram Nigeria with no international distribution deal, and lurking almost unnoticed in a handful of dedicated afro vinyl collections, this is the first-ever reissue outside Africa of an album that regularly fetches 500 plus on the those who know market.