Teddy Osei
Legendary Ghanaian musician Teddy Osei, best known as the founder of the internationally acclaimed Afro-rock band Osibisa, will be laid to rest on April 5, 2025.
The celebrated saxophonist and composer passed away at the age of 88 on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
He was born in Kumasi and developed a passion for music early on. He first explored musical instruments as a child and later picked up the saxophone while attempting to form a band with his college friends in Sekondi.
Despite initially working as a building inspector, his love for music led him to establish The Comets, a band that enjoyed brief success.
In 1962, Teddy received a Ghanaian government grant to study at a private music and drama school in London. However, his studies were cut short due to a regime change in Ghana, which forced him to abandon the programme.
Undeterred, he founded Osibisa in 1969 alongside other talented musicians. The band pioneered a unique fusion of African rhythms, rock, jazz, and highlife, propelling them to global fame in the 1970s. With hits like Sunshine Day and Music for Gong Gong, Osibisa became a trailblazer for African music on the international stage. Though the band’s prominence declined over time, Osibisa continued performing, influencing generations of musicians.