Osibisa - Africa's Trailblazers In Focus

They literally took over the world with their infectious potpourri of tribal African sounds wedded with British rock, jazz, funk...u name it. They've been touted variously as a liberation movement, emancipators. cultural ambassadors, etc.... for their role in using music to bridge the racial divide- a black group made up of 3 Ghanaians, 3 West Indians and 1 Nigerian-the beautiful 7-who emancipated both blacks and whites from mental slavery.

These exceptional musicians clearly established the fact that there was no difference between blacks and whites, i.e. apart from the colour of their skin, and that blacks had the potential and ability to breakthrough in any endeavor they set their minds to.

Osibisa was formed in the United Kingdom in 1969 under the leadership of veteran Ghanaian saxophonist Teddy Osei who together with brother trumpeter Mac Tontoh and drummer Sol Amarfio, had featured prominently on the Ghanaian and West African highlife music scene.

In 1971, their first album titled "OSIBISA" and produced by star music producer Tony Visconti zoomed right into the British Top Twenty charts, creating a gigantic sensation of earth shattering proportions and confounding all those who never believed music with African roots could mesmerize the white community, particularly at a time when being black was a big disadvantage in the UK. This effectively broke down racial barriers, even going further to foster unity and understanding among blacks from Africa and their counterparts from the diaspora.

OSIBISA's colossal impact and influence paved the way for later megastar music acts including Bob Marley and on a wider scale African icons like Ghana's Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General and World Boxing Hall of Fame recipient Azumah Nelson to be accepted in the white world. To even stretch it further, the OSIBISA phenomenon may be said to have played a role in Barak Obama's ascendancy and eventual election as the first black President of America much much later, a hitherto near impossible dream.

40 years on, the music of Osibisa-described as "Criss Cross Rhythms that Explode with Happiness" continues to be relevant. With a string of massive hits over the years that continues to have global impact including timeless songs like "Coffee Song", "Welcome Home", "Music for Gong Gong", "Sunshine Day" and several others that made monumental strides, making it into world charts like the prestigious "Billboard", OSIBISA continues to rock the world with its burning musical "fire"!!!

This year is their 40th anniversary, and to give credence to the "Life begins at 40" cliché, Osibisa is set to release a new album of fresh songs with worldwide distribution, featuring some of its original line up and a crop of young super talented black musicians. Also slated for release is a compilation of their greatest hits.

Africans, particularly Ghanaians and Nigerians, and the West Indian community must celebrate and honour these iconic figures, who against all odds, opened the doors wide enough through hard work, discipline, dedication and mind blowing creativity for several others to breakthrough!

Let the whole wide world celebrate OSIBISA!!!- Simply the Best!!!!

Originating at www.pinnaclegh.com