Growing up in the 70 and 80s in the times when African music world was being shaken by Afro Rock music genre, no one who was of in crowd and bupper did not rock wildly to the music of the Osibisa. I remember watching them life in a club in Lagos in the early 80s. By then the original trio of Teddy Osei, Mack Tonto and Koffi Ayivor had been joined by two or three other members. Listening to their music live and dancing along with the band was a life fullfillment at that time. They had that wonderful style of flowing from one of their music into another without a break. From Fire to Woyaya to Dance the Body Music to Oja Awake … One therefore could jump and dance until one is totally gassed out, yet you just can’t stop. Teddy Osei and the Osibisa band was the top of the echelon then. This is not an exageration, as we eccountered them in the Pop Culture class in the university with the greats likes of Mirian Makeba, Manu Dibango, Fela and Hugh Maskella.Under this write is a click and listen list of some of their best.
It was therefore with quite a heavy heart that we learnt that one of them, the great Ghanaian music legend and saxophonist Teddy Osei, who founded the Afro-rock band Osibisa, has died aged 88.
The talented drummer and vocalist passed away in London on Tuesday.
He was “an important voice in music and culture, and he will be missed, but never forgotten,” the statement read.
Osei rose to acclaim as the leader of Osibisa, where his boundless creativity as a multi-instrumentalist never conformed to a single genre.
He played an instrumental role in shaping the unique sound of the band, which captivated the world with its warm, infectious songs that transcended cultural and musical boundaries.
The Musicians Union of Ghana (Musiga) shared a heartfelt tribute.
“Teddy Osei was not only a pioneer in the world of music but also a cultural ambassador who helped bridge the gap between African rhythms and global sounds,” said Musiga President Bessa Simons.
Born on 1 December, 1937, in Kumasi, Ghana, Teddy Osei was introduced to music by his father, who played in prominent school bands.
A gifted multi-instrumentalist, Osei was best known for his passion for the saxophone, a love he cultivated while studying in the western town of Sekondi.
Osei moved to London in the early 1960s on a government scholarship to study music and drama.
During this time, Osei formed a band called Cat’s Paw, which blended the vibrant rhythms of highlife – a popular West African genre – with the energetic styles of rock and soul.
In 1969, Osei co-founded the pioneering Afro-Rock group Osibisa alongside fellow Ghanaian musicians Sol Amarfio and Mac Tontoh.
The band’s name, Osibisa, comes from a word in the Fante language, meaning “highlife”.
Osibisa’s fusion of Afrocentric sounds with rock, soul, jazz, and funk put them on the global music map as one of the first African bands to gain international recognition.
Osei’s contribution to the success of Osibisa is undeniable.
His crucial input towards the group led to chart successes in the UK with singles like Sunshine Day and Dance the Body Music.
Their live performances left audiences in awe the world over, leading to extensive tours across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
One of their key performances was at Zimbabwe’s independence celebrations in 1980, where Bob Marley and the Wailers also performed.
Osei’s dedication to promoting African music on the global stage has left an indelible mark on the international music industry.
In 2021, he told The Guardian he ventured into music because he “wanted to make a difference to the African music scene.”
Without Osibisa, Osei said, there would have been no Fela Kuti, widely regarded as the godfather of Afrobeat.
His contributions served as a cultural bridge that connected diverse audiences through the universal language of music.
“Osibisa gave Africans confidence in their own music,” Osei once said, reflecting on what he considered his greatest achievement.
His passing marks the end of an era, but his musical innovations and the pathways he forged for African artists will endure, continuing to inspire and resonate with future generations.
Raghupati Raghava Rajaram [Original Live Recording – Concert Tour India 81]
Singles A’s & B’s & 12 Inches · 2015

