Osibisa

Osibisa is a Ghanaian-Caribbean Afro-rock band founded in London in 1969 by expatriate West African and Caribbean musicians. They became one of the most influential African-heritage bands in Europe, helping establish Afro-rock and early “world music” as global, marketable genres. Alongside contemporaries such as Assagai, Brotherhood of Breath, and Demon Fuzz, Osibisa reshaped how African music entered Western popular culture.

The original line-up, known as the “Beautiful Seven,” featured Teddy Osei (saxophone, vocals), Sol Amarfio (drums), Mac Tontoh (trumpet), Dell Richardson (guitar, vocals), Lasisi Amao (percussion, saxophone), Roger Bedeau (bass), and Robert Bailey (keyboards). Their sound fused highlife with rock, jazz, funk, soul, Latin, and Caribbean rhythms, producing an energetic, cross-cultural musical language.

Osibisa’s roots lie in Ghana’s highlife movement of the 1950s, where Teddy Osei and Sol Amarfio played in bands such as The Star Gazers and The Comets. After moving to London on a music scholarship, Osei formed early fusion projects before officially founding Osibisa in 1969. The name derives from the Fante word “osibisaba,” referring to the rhythmic foundation of highlife music.

During the 1970s, Osibisa toured extensively across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australasia, building a global following. Their 1976 single “Sunshine Day” reached No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart, followed by “Dance the Body Music.” They performed at major international events, including Zimbabwe’s independence celebrations in 1980, and recorded notable live projects such as Unleashed – Live in India.

As the music industry changed in the 1980s and 1990s, Osibisa experienced label shifts and regroupings. Teddy Osei continued leading the band, overseeing remasters, archival releases, and new recordings. Albums such as Monsore (1995) and Osee Yee (2009) marked creative revivals, alongside previously unreleased studio and live material.

Osibisa’s influence extended into modern African music. Ghanaian producer Hammer of The Last Two cited Osibisa’s “Welcome Home” as inspiration for Obrafour’s landmark Pae Mu Ka album, one of the highest-selling hiplife records in Ghana.

The band suffered major losses in recent years: drummer Sol Amarfio died in 2022, bassist Victor Mensah in 2023, and founding member Teddy Osei passed away in London in January 2025 at age 87. Despite this, Osibisa’s legacy continues through reissues, unreleased projects, and their lasting impact on Afro-fusion music worldwide.

Musically, Osibisa is known for blending rock, progressive rock, jazz fusion, afro-funk, soul, reggae, calypso, and highlife into what became known as Afro-rock. Their visual identity is equally iconic, with album artwork by Roger Dean, Mati Klarwein, and later Freyja Dean, featuring the famous flying elephants that symbolise the band’s expansive, imaginative sound.

Osibisa remains a pioneering force that opened global stages to African rhythms, transforming cultural exchange through music.