America's fifth most important source of oil is Nigeria. That West African nation has not lived up to the potential its oil wealth predicted. There have been a succession of floundering and corrupt governments, revolts in the Niger Delta where oil income is a sham, and kidnappings of oil company workers. Thus, it is somewhat surprising to hear the music of King Sunny Ade.

This Nigerian superstar writes and performs a bouncy, infectious African musical style known as juju. It is a blend of influences that seems untouched by the political and economic problems in his homeland.

Ade's music is guitar and percussion driven. Electric guitars and synthesizers shape the melody and harmony while talking drums, congas, maracas, shakers and bells and other percussion instruments define the intricate rhythms. It's a dance-inspired hybrid of western pop and traditional African music with roots emanating from the country's guitar tradition. Ade, along with his band the African Beats, first performed on tour in America in 1983 and along the way they have built a considerable following for their music.

Ade and the African Beats perform in a dance concert at Higher Ground in South Burlington on Tuesday, July 7. For those who don't mind a drive, the band performs Sunday, July 5, as part of the Montreal International Jazz Festival with a performance at the Metropolis.

Ade, now in his 60s, and reputedly of Nigerian royalty, has been performing since the 1960s. He formed his first band, the Green Spots, in 1967 and launched his own record label in 1974.

The Times Argus received the 2000 release "Seven Degrees North" to preview. This album is being re-released for this year's American tour. The album title refers to Nigeria's latitude, seven degrees north of the equator.

On this CD most of the songs are sung in native languages and dialects with a smattering of English. While the lyrics, written by Ade, are not meaningless in their native tongue, the music seems more suited for joyous dancing than for serious lyric contemplation.

Ade leads a very cohesive group whose intricate rhythmic patterns perfectly meld with the sweet notes emanating from the guitars. There were some surprising guitar passages with slide guitar and blues inflections that I had not heard before in the "Afro-pop" genre. But in general, if you are familiar with Afro-pop, you have a good idea of how this music will sound.

I am not sure where Nigerian guitar music originated, but hearing it one is reminded of reggae and the 1960s-'70s studio musicians of the Muscle Shoals rhythm section led by Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn. The notes seem to bounce off Ade's guitar like soap bubbles floating in air. The music is delivered in staccato passages rather than long languid sustain in the style of Carlos Santana.

Not only is King Sunny Ade a world-touring musician with an international reputation, he is also a powerful economic force in Nigeria. Album royalties launched an oil firm, a mining company, a nightclub, a film and video production company, a PR firm and a record label specializing in recordings by African artists. His is a music conglomerate that employs more than 700 people.

In the mid-1990s, Ade founded the King Sunny Ade Foundation, an organization that includes a performing arts center, state-of-the-art recording studio and housing for young musicians and performers on a five-acre tract donated by the Lagos (the capital city) state government. Ade currently serves as chairman of the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria.

If the wet weather has put a damper on your summer and you need to shake out the rain blues, or you just want to hear and dance to one of the finest African bands touring, then the King Sunny Ade concert is a must.