Osibisa – 1971

🎵🐘🎨🇬🇭🌍 Osibisa was formed in London in the late 1960s, under the impetus of a collective of musicians from the Afro-Caribbean diaspora. From Ghana came Teddy Osei, Sol Amarfio and Mac Tontoh. They are joined by Spartacus R (Grenada), Wendell Richardson (Antigua) and Robert Bailey (Trinidad). Their eponymous debut album, released in 1971, laid the foundations for a fusion of highlife, Afro-funk, rock and afrobeat that would make Osibisa a legendary band. With its emblematic flying elephant, this record also inaugurated the formidable graphics of Roger Dean, who also designed the first covers of several leading prog-rock bands, Yes of course, but also Gentle Giant and Uriah Heep for example. Osibisa’s line-up has changed a great deal since its inception, but the band is still alive and kicking, and a single was even released last year.