The late founding memeber of Osibisa, Teddy Osei
Teddy Osei of Osibisa Group Fame was not just an influential leader of a group of highly successful world-class musicians but a ‘Legend of Legends’.
Having been a global icon, an illustrious son of Ghana, a unique cultural ambassador to the world, and a trailblazer who broke through the world of then-accepted Western music with raw, authentic African music based on drums and percussion.
Ghana had just come out of colonial rule in 1957, being the first African country south of the Sahara to have done so. At that time anything African was unknown or little known, so it was hard work, dedication and focus with passion to succeed that caused them to break through the charts in the UK, the US, Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, Asia and Africa.
In the 1970s, they were too hot to handle, filling stadia and huge concert halls to capacity with their followers and fans for live performances.
Their live performances were simply electrifying. This caused them to produce six of their eighteen albums live. The first being the double album – The Black Magic Night live at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Osibisa’s timeless music still has a large following in Ghana. In the 70s and 80s, they filled both Accra and Kumasi stadia to capacity with their infectious live performances.
Making it in rows on the world stage caused them to attract a huge influx of tourists to Ghana, putting Ghana solidly on the world map culturally.
In 1977, the Osibisa Group was at the Black Arts and Cultural Festival in Lagos, Nigeria. They played live at the Lagos National Theatre and Tafawa Balewa Square. It was a huge success. They made their way to Ghana from Lagos, where they raised substantial funds for the construction of the National Theatre in Accra.
Francis Teddy Osei had gone to England on a Ghanaian government scholarship to study music.
He first formed a band called Cat’s Paw. He later invited Sol Amarfio and Mac Tontoh to join him. He had formed a band in Ghana earlier called the Comets and had played with Sol and Mac, so they were not new to him.
He formed the Osibisa Group with Sol Amarfio (drums), Mac Tontoh (trumpet), and together with Wendell Richardson (lead guitar and vocals) – Antigua, Lasisi Amoa (percussions and tenor saxophone (Nigeria)), Spartacus R (bass from Grenada), and Robert Bailey (keyboards – Trinidad).
The original band universally known as the Beautiful Seven embarked on a musical diversity that blended diverse genres, including Afro rock, progressive rock, Highlife, calypso and Afrobeat. Their sound resonated with audiences worldwide, making them one of the most successful African heritage bands in London.
Throughout the 1970s, Osibisa toured the world, captivating audiences in Japan, the UK, India, the US, Europe and Africa. Their infectious rhythms and vibrant performances transcended borders, contributing significantly to the establishment of world music and Afro-rock as marketable genres.
Hits like ‘Sunshine Day’. ‘Dance the Body Music’ the coffee song left an enduring legacy. Just as Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah won independence for Ghana in 1957 and brought awareness to blacks all over the world, so has Teddy Osei’s Osibisa caused the acceptance globally of the original drumbeat of Africa – crisscross rhythms that explode with happiness.
Teddy Osei, the legend of legends, mortal remains, will be in Ghana on the 28th of March 2025 at 7:55pm by British Airways Aircraft Flight No BASO1.
The body will be met at the airport by the Musicians Union of Ghana led by its president, Bessa Simmons; Okyerema Asante, the ace iconic master drummer, will be in attendance with some cultural groups.
Arrangements are being made for a vigil concert and laying in state on the forecourt of the State House. There will also be a free tribute concert night in his honour on the 4th of April at the SG Mall in Kumasi before his burial in his hometown of Kyirapatre in Kumasi Metropolis on the 5th of April 2025 and Thanksgiving on the 6th of April at the same venue.
Marlyn Keable, the current manager of the group, will be in Ghana with two original members of the ‘Beautiful Seven’, Dell Richardson and Robert Bailey, to pay their respects to the Legend of Legends.
