Musicians pay tribute to Ghanaian Afro-rock icon Osei 

Osibisa bandleader and founder, Teddy Osei with a tenor sax.

Photo credit: Osibisa Band

Francis Teddy Osei, the bandleader and founding member of Osibisa, the legendary Ghanaian Afro-rock band, died at Apple Tree Care Home in London, where he had been resident for the past five years due to illness. 

His death was confirmed by Osibisa on January 14 in a statement on their Facebook page, the band said.

“The members of Osibisa, and the band’s management, are deeply saddened by the death today of their dear client and friend Francis ‘Teddy’ Osei. Known the world over as the leader and founder of Osibisa, the ground-breaking Afro-rock band, he was a talented and passionate, man, musician, and mentor to many.”  

“A talented saxophone player, drummer and vocalist, Teddy found success but also fulfilment with his bands, most notably Osibisa. His was an important voice in music and culture, and he will be missed, but never forgotten.”  

Osibisa, the greatest Ghanaian band has promised that a full band statement will follow in due course.

Osei was 88.

Band founder Robert Bailey said: “It is with such a sad heart that I would like to share my feelings about Teddy Osei. On reflection, Teddy was the rock and inspiration behind Osibisa and its success. I never saw Teddy with anything but kindness and patience during our long friendship. Even a week before his passing he greeted me with such a big smile despite his challenging physical condition. I will always be thankful for his guidance and support over the years and with gratitude I will forever cherish these memories.” 

Them Mushrooms band leader John Katana posted on his Facebook page paid tribute to Osei: “Rest in eternal peace legend Teddy Osei. You were a great inspiration to Them Mushrooms.”

The President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Bessa Simons has eulogised Teddy Osei as a musical great who played a crucial role in shaping and promoting Ghanaian music on the international stage. 

Osei suffered a stroke in 2010 and was forced to cut back on touring but remained active in the studio.

Osei was born in Kumasi, Ghana, on December 1, 1937. In 1962, he moved to London, where he was given a scholarship by the Ghanaian government to study music.

In 1964, he formed Cat’s Paw, the harbinger for Osibisa, which blended highlife, rock and soul. In 1969, feeling the need for more accomplished African musicians within the line-up, he persuaded Mac Tontoh and Sol Amarfio to join him in London and Osibisa was born.

Formed by three Ghanaian and three Caribbean musicians, Osibisa played a central role in developing an awareness of African music among European and North American audiences in the ‘70s.

Osibisa exploded on to the music world in 1971 with a pulsating and vibrant sound that was to engulf the tired post 60’s rock scene.

Translated from Ghanaian, Osibisa means “criss cross rhythms that explode with happiness.” The band’s percussive influence began to manifest itself within the music of their contemporaries.

The Osibisa poly-rhythms and percussive breaks were to be an integral feature of the disco boom that was to follow in the late 1970s.

Their single “Music for Gong Gong” a substantial hit in 1970 (three other singles later made the British Top 10: “Sunshine Day,” “Dance the Body Music”and “Coffee Song”). “Woyaya” reached number 11 in the UK charts. 

The band released several other great collections of songs including “Heads, Super Fly TNT” (sound track for the American movie “Super Fly TNT” in 1973), “Happy Children,” “Osibirock,” “Welcome Home” (Antilles, 1975), and “Ojah Awake” (Antilles, 1976), “Sunshine Day 2,” they teamed-up with the late Miriam Makeba to record “(I Feel) Pata Pata,” and other popular hits that were followed by several versions of the same respectively.

Their albums include “Osibisa” (Decca, 1971), “Woyaya” (Line, 1971), “Heads” (Decca, 1972), “Best of Osibisa” (1973), “Happy Children” (One Way, 1973), “Black Magic Night: Live at the Royal Festival Hall” (Bronze, 1977), “Mystic Energy” (Edsel, 1980), “Criss Cross Rhythms” (Sound Solutions, 1992), and “Osee Yee” (2010), among others.

In November last year, UK label Cherry Records released a double CD featuring 18 remastered tracks from Osibisa’s 1974 and 1975 albums, sourced from Warner Brothers’ archives.