Teddy Osei, a Ghanaian musician and saxophonist who co-founded the Afro-rock band Osibisa, has passed away at the age of 88.
The news was confirmed to Joy News by Bessa Simons, President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (GHAMRO), on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
Osei’s musical legacy began in his hometown of Kumasi, where he discovered his passion for instruments at a young age.
He and his pals created his first band, “The Comets,” while he was a college student in Sekondi. Following graduation, Osei worked as a building inspector for a short time before moving to London to pursue his musical ambitions.
Osei was able to attend a London music school for three years in 1962 thanks to a government grant. However, he was compelled to stay in England due to a shift in the political landscape in Ghana.
Osei formed Osibisa there in 1969 after collaborating with other gifted musicians.
In the 1970s, Osibisa became well-known throughout the world thanks to their distinctive fusion of rock and African rhythms.
The band continued to enthrall audiences with their electric sound, even if their popularity gradually declined.
Source: newsthemegh.com