The record label was a division of Philips, the Dutch-based electronics giant , and was originally set up in 1950. Twelve years later, in 1962, Philips and Deutsche Grammophon, owners of the Polydor label, set up a joint venture, Phonogram. Both Philips and Polydor issued records in Africa during the 1960s, then in 1972 Phonogram merged with Polydor to form a new company, Polygram. At this point, the Philips label all but disappeared in East Africa.

Philips