News
Ghanaian music legend who founded Afro-rock band Osibisa dies
Ghanaian music legend and saxophonist Teddy Osei, who founded the Afro-rock band Osibisa, has died aged 88.
The talented drummer and vocalist passed away in London on Tuesday.
He was “an important voice in music and culture, and he will be missed, but never forgotten,” the statement read.
Osei rose to acclaim as the leader of Osibisa, where his boundless creativity as a multi-instrumentalist never conformed to a single genre.
He played an instrumental role in shaping the unique sound of the band, which captivated the world with its warm, infectious songs that transcended cultural and musical boundaries.
The Musicians Union of Ghana (Musiga) shared a heartfelt tribute.
“Teddy Osei was not only a pioneer in the world of music but also a cultural ambassador who helped bridge the gap between African rhythms and global sounds,” said Musiga President Bessa Simons.
Born on 1 December, 1937, in Kumasi, Ghana, Teddy Osei was introduced to music by his father, who played in prominent school bands.
A gifted multi-instrumentalist, Osei was best known for his passion for the saxophone, a love he cultivated while studying in the western town of Sekondi.
Osei moved to London in the early 1960s on a government scholarship to study music and drama.
During this time, Osei formed a band called Cat’s Paw, which blended the vibrant rhythms of highlife – a popular West African genre – with the energetic styles of rock and soul.
In 1969, Osei co-founded the pioneering Afro-Rock group Osibisa alongside fellow Ghanaian musicians Sol Amarfio and Mac Tontoh.
The band’s name, Osibisa, comes from a word in the Fante language, meaning “highlife”.
Osibisa’s fusion of Afrocentric sounds with rock, soul, jazz, and funk put them on the global music map as one of the first African bands to gain international recognition.
Osei’s contribution to the success of Osibisa is undeniable.
His crucial input towards the group led to chart successes in the UK with singles like Sunshine Day and Dance the Body Music.
Their live performances left audiences in awe the world over, leading to extensive tours across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
One of their key performances was at Zimbabwe’s independence celebrations in 1980, where Bob Marley and the Wailers also performed.
Osei’s dedication to promoting African music on the global stage has left an indelible mark on the international music industry.
In 2021, he told The Guardian he ventured into music because he “wanted to make a difference to the African music scene.”
Without Osibisa, Osei said, there would have been no Fela Kuti, widely regarded as the godfather of Afrobeat.
His contributions served as a cultural bridge that connected diverse audiences through the universal language of music.
“Osibisa gave Africans confidence in their own music,” Osei once said, reflecting on what he considered his greatest achievement.
His passing marks the end of an era, but his musical innovations and the pathways he forged for African artists will endure, continuing to inspire and resonate with future generations.
[BBC]
News
President Anura Kumara Disanayake holds discussions with Secretary of the Communist Party of China for Sichuan Province
President Anura Kumara Disanayake, who was on a four-day state visit to China, met with Wang Xiaohui, Secretary of the Communist Party of China for Sichuan Province, this morning (17).
Chengdu, one of the happiest cities in China, is the capital of Sichuan Province and a leading city where the blend of cultural heritage and development harmoniously flourishes, offering its residents a high quality of life.
During the discussions, both sides explored the potential to elevate economic, trade, cultural, tourism, and intergovernmental relations between Sichuan and Sri Lanka to new heights. Sichuan’s significant achievements in various sectors, including energy, were acknowledged, and the President invited the Secretary of the Sichuan province to share their expertise and success stories with Sri Lanka.
President Disanayake emphasized that Sri Lanka is currently on a path to economic stabilization under a transparent and investor-friendly administration. He noted that the country is at a critical political turning point, with the current government empowered by a two-thirds majority granted by a united population from the north, east, west, and south. The government is fully committed to meeting the expectations placed upon it by its citizens.
Additionally, the President underscored Sri Lanka’s attractiveness as a destination for Chinese tourists and extended a warm invitation to the people of Sichuan to visit the island and experience its exceptional hospitality.
Joining the discussions were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath and Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake.
[PMD]
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL)’s Director of Communications Jayanath Herath announced that the PUCL has decided to reduce electricity tariffs by an average amount of 20% overall for a six month period with effect from midnight today (17)
Accordingly, tariffs have been reduced by 29% for consumers who consume less than 30 units of electricity in the domestic sector.
The consumers who consume between 31 – 60 units of electricity in the domestic sector will receive a 28% reduction of the tariff.
The consumers who consume between 61 – 90 units of electricity in the domestic sector will receive a 19% reduction of the tariff
The consumers who consume between 91 – 180 units of electricity in the domestic sector will receive a 18% reduction of the tariff
The tariff reduction for Government Institution is 11%, Religious Institutions is 21% , factories is 30% and for hotels is 31%
News
Chief observer of the Election Observation Mission of the European Union (EU) Meets Prime Minister
José Ignacio Sánchez Amor, Chief Observer of the Election Observation Mission of the European Union (EU) and Member of the European Parliament, met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday [16th January].
Carmen Moreno, Ambassador of the European Union to Sri Lanka, and the Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to Sri Lanka, accompanied Mr. Sánchez Amor. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office also participated in the meeting.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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