Decca West African Series

The Decca West African Series is a selection of recordings released on 78 rpm shellac disc by Decca (West Africa) Limited between 1947 and 1958 and includes artists from: - Ghana (WA.101-150, WA.500-900) - Nigeria (WA.151-213, WA.1500-1900) - Sierra Leone (WA.2500-2700) - Dahomey (WA.214-218) A special but short-lived Decca NBS series also appeared approximately 1957 for Nigerian artists recorded by the Nigerian Broadcasting Service. In 1959 was introduced: - 45 rpm vinyl single play (SP) disc (45-WA 940) - 7 inch EP’s (Extended Play) in the WAX series - 33 rpm 10 inch vinyl LP (Long Playing) albums in the WAL series From 1961 all 45 rpm vinyl single play discs they were distinct of artists from Ghana (GWA 4000 series) and Nigeria (NWA 5000 series) with a 45 prefix. In 1961 was released the first vinyl LP album in the WAP series. Until 1963-64 most new vinyl releases in the GWA and NWA series were also released on shellac with identical catalogue numbers. In 1968 the stereo album was introduced and an S added to the series prefix (WAPS). After a modest beginning with only 11 albums (WAP/WAPS 20-31) releases from 1961 to 1970 the majority of the 500 albums in the WAPS series were released in the 1970s and 1980s. Decca’s West African series was originally manufactured in the UK. By the early 1970s the manufacture was taken over by the pressing plant Record Manufacturers Nigeria Ltd. [R.M.N.L.] in Lagos.