Entertainment
Teddy Osei of Osibisa fame dead
Veteran Ghanaian Musician, Teddy Osei of Osibisa fame is reported dead
Ghanaian musician and saxophonist Teddy Osei, a founding member of the Afro-rock band Osibisa, has died at 88 in London on January 14, 2025.
Bessa Simons, President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), who at a point played alongside the band disclosed that the legendary musician breathed his last on Tuesday morning, January 14, 2025.
Born in December 1937 in Kumasi, Osei was pivotal in the band’s formation in 1969 after studying music in London. His impact on music is celebrated.
He is one of the founding members of this Afro-Caribbean band that rocked the world with their amazing quality.
Through their ingenuity, they projected Ghana’s name through music and their awe-inspiring performances across the world.
In 1969, he founded Osibisa along with several other musicians. The band remained popular through the 1970s, before experiencing a decline, although it continues to perform today.
While at college, he attempted to put together a band along with some of his friends. According to Osei, he only began to play the saxophone because the person who had volunteered for that instrument did not attend the practices. He continued to teach himself the saxophone, listening to records of jazz musicians and playing along with the music.
After beginning work as an inspector, he created a semi-professional band along with his brother and some friends.
The band was known as the Comets, and became successful in Ghana, recording with Philips West Africa and playing for a radio show. Their music was inspired by ‘Highlife’, a genre derived from a fusion of European and African influences.
In 1962 Osei travelled to London, leaving the Comets behind. Having spent his money on travel, he lived with some friends in London, and worked as a dish-washer for a year.
He then applied for and received a grant from the Ghanaian government, which allowed him to attend a private music and drama school for three years.
However, his grant was terminated after Nkrumah was deposed in 1966. Osei teamed up with several other students who had also lost their positions and began to play soul music at various venues across Europe.
The group acquired a following in Switzerland, and named themselves Cat’s Paw. At this stage its members included Sol Amarfio and Osei’s brother Mac Tontoh, both future members of Osibisa. However, the group eventually returned to the UK, looking for a more permanent financial situation.
Entertainment
Man rewarded for walking from Kumasi to Accra
A philanthropist has presented a brand new Renault KWID to Alhaji Yakubu Ayaana, who embarked on an extraordinary journey on foot from Kumasi in the Ashanti Region to the Greater Accra Region.
The purpose of the walk from Kumasi to Accra by the 65-year-old was to extend congratulations to President John Mahama.
The presentation ceremony took place at the Independence Square on Wednesday, January 8.
Alhaji Yakubu Ayaana was given a Renault KWID, an undisclosed amount and clothes worth GHȻ5,000 from Nineteen57 Clothing.
Speaking after handing over the items, Creative President of Nineteen57, Kofi Okyere-Darko said, a philanthropist who doesn’t want his identity disclosed was touched by Alhaji Ayaana’s walk, and therefore decided to appreciate it.
Overwhelmed by the gesture, Alhaji Yakubu Ayaana expressed appreciation for the gesture.
According to him, although, he was discouraged by people including his children on health grounds, he was optimistic that the walk was for a good cause.
He therefore thanked everyone who made his dream a reality.
This is not the first time Alhaji Yakubu Ayaana has embarked on such a journey, during former President Jerry John Rawlings of blessed memory’s regime in the 90’s, he embarked on a walk from Ghana to Mecca.
Unfortunately, the walk was truncated in Libya due to visa issues.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Entertainment
Fiifi Coleman Production launches Private Actors Welfare Scheme
Ghanaian actor and entrepreneur, Fiifi Coleman, through his Fiifi Coleman Productions has launched a Private Actors Welfare Scheme (PAWS).
The initiative which is to cushion actors in times of difficulties is championed by Fiifi Coleman, in partnership with Hollard Insurance.
Speaking at the launch which took place on Saturday, January 4, Fiifi Coleman said, actors bring joy, laughter, tears and inspiration to people but for too long their stories have ended sadly.
He said these stories of aging actors battling with ill-health, struggling to afford a comfortable living among others must be a thing of the past.
He said this is a failure of an industry to protect its own, and a failure of a community to ensure the hands that built their dream does not crumble in despair, “but today, we say enough is enough, today, we reclaim our narrative, today I present to you the Private Actors Welfare Scheme (PAWS).”
According to him, “we are stepping into an era, an era where are futures are not left to chance but secured by the very industry we dedicated our lives to.”
He noted that this scheme was more than a financial security, adding that it was dignity, respect and above all it provides hope.
Fiifi Coleman concluded by saying that the scheme would ensure that their journey ends in beauty and not despair.
On her part, Eunice Etornam Owusu, the Group Business and Partnership Manager of Hollard Insurance, interacted with the actors on modalities of the scheme and assured them of a secured future under the scheme.
The launch which was also a dinner for the actors was graced by amazing personalities such as Adwoa Smart, Akofa Edjeani, George Quaye, Mawuli Semevor, Vivian Opare, Amankwah Ampofo, Pascaline Edwards, Ken Fiati, Oscar Provencal, Naa Ashorkor, Salinko, Abeiku Sagoe, Edinam Atatsi, Fred Amugi, Nii Saka Brown, and Quappiah, among others.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
