The first time a group of teenagers snuck out of St. Gregory’s College in Lagos to audition at a recording studio, they were told to go back and focus on their studies. But they didn’t give up.

In the early 1970s, the group, including Melvin Ukachi, Paul Alade, Dapo Olumide, and M-Ike Meme, formed Ofege. Still in secondary school and all between 15 and 17, they recorded their debut album, Try and Love (1973), a cult classic known for its raw energy and hypnotic grooves. Drawing influence from Santana, The Funkees, and Led Zeppelin, they poured their youthful swagger into a vibrant fusion of Psychedelic Rock and Afrobeat.

They went on to release The Last of the Origins (1976), Higher Plane Breeze (1977), and How Do You Feel (1978) before fading from the scene after graduation. The group remains one of Nigeria’s most beloved and electrifying bands.