Osibisa

About Osibisa

Osibisa is a pioneering Ghanaian-Caribbean Afro-rock band formed in London in 1969 by four expatriate West African and three London-based Caribbean musicians. They are celebrated for their distinctive sound, which fuses highlife, Afrobeat, Afro-pop, rock, jazz, funk, Latin, reggae, calypso, and soul, creating what they termed "criss-cross rhythms that explode with happiness". The band played a significant role in introducing African music to a global audience and are often regarded as godfathers of world music. In recent years, Osibisa has continued to be active, releasing the album "New Dawn" in 2020, directed by founding member Teddy Osei, and the "Sunshine Day: The Boyhood Sessions" album also in 2020. The band has announced new music and tour dates coming soon, as of March 2023. In March 2023, Osibisa publicly declared its support for Ukraine and denounced a former member's tour in Russia. The band has, however, experienced significant losses, with founding drummer Sol Amarfio passing away in December 2022, long-time bassist Victor Mensah in June 2023, and founding singer, saxophonist, and drummer Teddy Osei in January 2025. Tribute concerts were scheduled in Ghana in April 2025 in honor of Teddy Osei.