How Osibisa became the first African band to use music to connect identities at the global stage.

They have four attributes in common. Nationality, performance, stage and command. Pan African group, Osibisa are great ambassadors of African culture and through their dogged performances, they used music, sound, nature and creativity as their weapon.

No review of modern Ghanaian music would be possible without mentioning this eclectic band known as Osibisa and their criss-cross African rhythms which exploded with happiness. The band came at a crucial time when the great leader Kwame Nkrumah was encouraging his citizens to epitomize Ghana modern life, in their own sphere and space.

Yet, the band revealed the power of art exploration as a weapon of influence to emerge in global space. Dancing in terms of styles and patterns, roots and influences, performances, inspirations, ideology and relevance. Osibisa group used their art to promote Africa’s unique music and relevance through performative essence.

Assessing Osibisa in terms of sales and influence, a group coined out of Osibisaba, a Fante rhythm from Southwest Ghana which they chose to reflect the coming together of African roots and foreign pop.

Formed in 1968, by young and resilience Ghanaians, Teddy Osei, Mac Tontoh and Sol Amarfio with a mixed African and Caribbean line up. The band came into prominence at a time when four Liverpool young guys known as the Beatles’ stormed the world with their talents, pop audiences at the same time were presented for the first time with African music that are authentic. Osibisa’s international reputation and impact has never been surpassed by any other African bands.

Their afro rock singles, climbed the British charts in the 70s. Three of the songs -Dance the Body Music, Sunshine Day and Coffee Song, all made it into the UK’s Top Ten, a feat still unrivalled among African acts. They became the best known African dance band promoting the continent’s image abroad without waiting for accreditation from Africa’s dictators and despots, whose regimes were draconian and forcing many talents to seek asylum in the west.

The band made a lasting impression throughout Africa and Europe with their ambassadorial mission. Despite decline in Africa’s fortunes due to inflation, corruption and political turmoil, peculiar to Ghana and many African countries who couldn’t absurb democratic rules, Osibisa became a seed of life and courage, singing relief into African citizens.

Some purists argued Osibisa came into existence too early, the critics believed muddling African rhythms with western rock affected their careers. Unfortunately, the band were asked several times by Western labels to adjust to the demands of America’s burgeoning soul and disco markets. Before you know it, the group lost steam to ill advice, yet their music, being so innovative and influential in the world music market.

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