Ebo Taylor to be buried on August 1 in Saltpond

The family of legendary Ghanaian highlife and Afrobeat musician Ebo Taylor has announced that his burial service will take place on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at the Wesley Methodist Church in Saltpond.

According to the funeral programme released by the family, the final funeral rites will be held the following day, Sunday, August 2, at Victoria Park in Saltpond. A thanksgiving service will also be conducted at the Wesley Methodist Church on the same day before the final funeral ceremonies.

Ahead of the burial, a private laying in state has been scheduled for Friday, July 31, allowing close family members and invited guests to pay their final respects.

The funeral announcement was made by the Nsɔna Ebusuapanyin Nana Asobo II, Obaahemaa Nana Saakoa, Obaapanyin Baaba Koufie, the entire Nsɔna Ebusua of McCarthy Hill, Cape Coast and Saltpond, together with the Ebo Taylor family.

Ebo Taylor passed away on February 7, 2026, at the age of 90 at Saltpond Hospital. His death came just a day after the launch of the inaugural Ebo Taylor Festival and only weeks after he celebrated his 90th birthday. The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) confirmed the news of his passing.

Born Deroy Taylor on January 6, 1936, in Cape Coast, Ebo Taylor became one of Ghana's most celebrated musicians, earning international recognition for his contributions to highlife and Afrobeat. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he built a reputation as an exceptional guitarist, composer, arranger and producer, creating a signature sound that fused traditional Ghanaian rhythms with jazz, funk and soul.

Taylor first gained prominence with the Stargazers before joining the Broadway Dance Band. During the 1960s, he travelled to London, where he crossed paths with Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, an experience that helped shape his musical direction. Upon returning to Ghana, he worked with some of the country's finest musicians, including Pat Thomas and C.K. Mann, while also pursuing a successful solo career.

Although his influence had long been established in Ghana, Ebo Taylor's music reached an even wider global audience in the 21st century through international reissues of his recordings, samples by foreign artistes and acclaimed albums such as Love and Death, Appia Kwa Bridge and Yen Ara. He remained active in the industry until his later years, releasing his final project, Ebo Taylor JID022, in 2025.

His funeral is expected to attract family members, fellow musicians, industry stakeholders, admirers and fans from Ghana and abroad, as they gather in Saltpond to celebrate the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of one of Africa's most influential musical figures.