Osibisa
OSIBISA exploded onto the music world in 1971 with a pulsating and vibrant sound that was to engulf the tired post 60′s rock scene.
Translated from Ghanaian Osibisa means “criss-cross rhythms that explode with happiness”.
The band’s percussive influence began to manifest itself within the music of their contemporaries. The Osibisa poly-rhythms and percussive breaks were to be an integral feature of the disco boom that was to follow in the late 1970′ s. Their unique fusion of Africa, Caribbean, rock, jazz, Latin and Rhythm and Blues paved the way for other potent music force such as Bob Marley and the emergence of African music in the 80′s. Indeed Osibisa are seen by many as the Godfathers of World Music.
One of the important reasons for Osibisa’s enduring success has been their highly energetic and extravagant stage show. However their music is still an influential factor in dance music of today with no fewer than a dozen covers of “Sunshine Day”, which was also used for the Euro 2000 football tournament.
For many years now, they’ve toured tirelessly, headlining numerous festivals and performing in every far-flung comer of the globe. Highlights have included a major tour of India, which resulted in a No 1 Gold Album – an unprecedented achievement for a Western band. The mid 90′ s saw a re-emergence of Osibisa in North America where African and Reggae music are gaining in popularity. The band also had a cameo in the Ken Russell TV film about Cropready Festival in Oxford during this time.
Former President Jerry J Rawlings has honoured Osibisa in Ghana, where they played a series of concerts celebrating their homecoming. “The enthusiasm shown by the Ghanaian people, especially the youth was quite amazing” recalled Teddy Osei, Osibisa’s bandleader.
Recent appearances include the legendary Sunsplash Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival (Cape Town, SA) and Glastonbury. With recent sold out appearances in London, Newcastle, Vienna, Budapest, Birmingham, Lithuania, Estonia, Switzerland and Germany, it looks like Osibisa’s renewed popularity will continue to forge ahead.
“Osibisa bring their own Sunshine which explode with happiness”, Birmingham Evening Mail.
“They are currently experiencing a renaissance. The new Album ‘Monsore’ is a classic”, London Evening Standard.