Osibisa Alive and Still Touring the World

Pollsmoor Prison, Cape Town (where Nelson Mandela was released from). OSIBISA performed in the prison yard for about 500 inmates

Yes "OSIBISA" is alive, well and still blowing the fans away with their amazing music, just like they always have. The line up has changed a little in 34 years (give or take a few), but the feet can't stop once an "Osibisa" show starts! I was a friend and a fan back in the early 70s.

I was introduced to Ghanaian food and Osibisa music by Harry Appiah, who was known as a very helpful person to many Ghanaian musicians and friends who came to the UK in the 1960's & 1970's. This was "The Band" that opened our ears "In The Western World" to the sounds of Africa and the rhythms of the heart beat!

I lost contact with the band for some years and was reunited by a UK agent who asked me to tour manage a band to Hungary for a TV show. Some time later, I discovered it was "Osibisa". It was great to see Teddy, Sol, Kofi, & the guys again & we have been working together constantly since.

Mac, Sol & Teddy from OSIBISA with the South African Minister of Cultural Affairs at her garden party.

The band are working on a regular basis, recently playing in the UK, Leverkusen Germany, The North Sea Jazz Festival & Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town - South Africa. Osibisa have just returned to the UK from the Dubai International Jazz Festival 2004.

Mac Tontoh still plays with us occasionally, also Kwame Yeboah, a young brilliant musician from Ghana who grew up listening to & dreaming of playing with Osibisa. "I was in Lithuania & Estonia when he first played with Osibisa - I didn't think that smile would ever leave his face". Probably hasn't?

Osibisa have planned shows in Poland [Friday 19th March 2004
Kongresowa Hall - Warsaw - www.jazz.pl/concerts.html] and in Germany [Sunday 30th May 2004 AFRO FEST FESTIVAL WUZBURG - www.afro.wuerzburg.de/16/index_e.html]

Osibisa's current line up are:-
Teddy Osei - Leader, Vocals, Sax, Flute, African Drums
Sol Amarfio - Drums
Kofi Ayivor - Percussion
Kari Bannerman - Guitar
Victor Mensah - Bass Guitar
Gregg Kofi Brown - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Chris Jerome or Bessa Simons - Keyboards
Colin Graham or Mac Tontoh - Trumpet
Mick (Tee) Tresnan - Manager
Check www.osibisa.co.uk for details and contact information. See you at the next Osibisa GIG.