Launched from Lagos, Nigeria, on April 11th Haji Mike’s ‘The Chiofta Chronicles’ made history as the first worldwide album release from Nigeria by a
Cypriot artist. The decision was deliberate: the album itself was shaped through movement between Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, reflecting long-standing musical, cultural, and political connections
‘The Chiofta Chronicles’ develops directly out of Haji Mike’s 2025 book ‘The Living Chiofta,’ where songs were treated as stories and everyday life as text.
The album completes that journey, bringing those stories back into sound. Across ten tracks, it unfolds as a series of musical chapters—rooted in
Reggae, Dub, Afrobeat, spoken word, and storytelling—marking Haji Mike’s tenth official release and a 36-year journey in music.
The album was created between Nigeria and Cyprus and produced by Ajayi Oluwasegun Moses (DJ MOZ) at Ark Audio Lab Studios in Lagos. The process
reflects the album’s core idea: music is organic, shaped through collaboration, place, and shared experience. Featured musicians include Micheal Oluwagbenga Ogundahunsola (Lantern)—guitar (Nigeria); Mike Minas—bouzouki (London & Cyprus); and Hugues-Laurel Igiraneza—keyboards (Burundi).
DJ MOZ and Lantern working on ‘The Chiofta Chronicles’ at Ark Audio Lab, Lagos, Nigeria.
Rather than a retrospective, ‘The Chiofta Chronicles’ Haji Mike’s tenth album, is forward-looking—treating songs as living texts that travel, gather meanings, and connect people across borders. Its guiding principle is simple: each one teach one—we are all interlinked musically.
Highlights from Nigeria Launch details: 11th April
Kujubila live for the first time in Cyprus 26th April – New Division Nicosia
The live debut of “Kujubila” at New Division marked a powerful moment of connection between artist and audience. Performing the track for the first time, Haji Mike was met with an immediate and deeply felt response, as the energy in the room built from the opening notes into a shared musical experience.
This performance captured the essence of The Chiofta Chronicles — songs brought to life through live interpretation, rooted in storytelling and shaped by the exchange between performer and crowd. It stands as a reminder that music is not only heard, but collectively felt, creating a space where boundaries dissolve and connection takes centre stage.
<<<-Click to see live Video
Video Clips from the Nigeria Trip – click on image to see clip
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