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.
