Entertainment
Popular Highlife Legend Is Dead
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Ebo Taylor, the Ghanaian guitarist, composer, and band leader whose work helped define the highlife genre and influenced generations of African musicians, has died at the age of 90, his family has announced.
Born Deroy Taylor in the city of Cape Coast in 1936, he rose to prominence during the late 1950s and early 1960s as highlife became Ghana’s dominant musical form.
Over a six-decade career, he fused Ghanaian rhythms with jazz, funk, soul, and early Afrobeat and went on to inspire musicians beyond the continent.
Presidential spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu said the government and people of Ghana were “deeply saddened” by the loss of this “colossus” of the country’s music.
In his early years as a performer, Taylor played with the era’s leading bands, including the Stargazers and the Broadway Dance Band, and gained a reputation for a distinctive guitar style and detailed arrangements.
In the last 25 years of his life, his music was rediscovered by a global audience with the release of tracks like Love & Death – his reflection on relationships and mortality – driving a fresh host of fans.
A formative period in Taylor’s musical development came in the early 1960s when he travelled to London to study music.
There, he worked alongside other African musicians, including Nigerian artist Fela Kuti.
Their collaboration is now viewed as part of a wider exchange of ideas that helped shape Afrobeat, the genre Fela would later bring to international attention, with highlife playing a significant role in its musical foundations.
On his return to Ghana, Taylor became a sought-after band leader, arranger, and producer, working with some of the country’s most respected artists, including Pat Thomas and CK Mann.
Reflecting on his own influences, he told the BBC in 2014 that “with the advent of James Brown and funk music, there was the opportunity to develop highlife music. Fela did a lot of work introducing the funk into the Yoruba music, while comparatively, I did almost the same thing in Ghana.”
Towards the end of the last century and the beginning of this, Taylor spent more time teaching music at the University of Ghana and working on other people’s output, the New York Times reported.
But he then returned to the studio and his new recordings began to attract attention well into later life, with albums such as Love & Death, Appia Kwa Bridge, and Yen Ara reinforcing his standing as one of Ghana’s most important musical figures.
Taylor’s influence extended far beyond highlife.
In recent decades, his work has been taken up by international audiences through sampling, with elements of his recordings appearing in songs by artists across hip-hop and R&B.
Tracks including Heaven, Odofo Nyi Akyiri Biara, and Love & Death have been sampled by performers including Usher, the Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Rowland, Jidenna, Vic Mensa, and Rapsody, introducing his music to new listeners worldwide.
Talking about achieving wider recognition in his 70s, he said: “I think I’ve had my day, though it came much later.”
In his tribute, top Ghanaian music producer Panji Anoff remembered how everybody used to call him “Uncle Ebo,” but he treated everyone as an equal.
“He would sit with us, eat with us, drink and chill with us, some nearly 50 years his junior, as though we were all peers. He could relate with everybody, and if anybody ever needed a melody, Uncle Ebo would just plug in a guitar and show them the way,” Anoff told the BBC.
“We lost a legend whose contribution to music has created worldwide ripples. I take solace in the fact that I witnessed greatness in Uncle Ebo Taylor’s art form. Rest In Power!” singer and rapper Black Sherif said.
Reflecting on Taylor’s influence, Shatta Wale said that “his sound, vision and cultural impact opened doors for countless artists across Africa and beyond”.
“He will be remembered as one of our greatest musicians ever… as a man who strove to put Ghanaian music on the global map at a time when other genres of music were prominent,” presidential spokesperson Ofosu told the BBC’s Newsday programme.
Across Ghana and the wider African diaspora, Taylor is recognised as a foundational figure whose work helped bridge traditional and modern sounds.
By grounding innovation in cultural continuity, he left behind a body of music that continues to inform contemporary styles, including afrobeats, and remains central to the story of African popular music.
Veteran Nigerian actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has explained why he agreed to feature in Ghanaian actor and filmmaker Kwadwo Nkansah LilWin’s upcoming movie, A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu).
The respected Nigerian actor said his decision to join the project was influenced by the opportunity to contribute to a production that brings together talents from Ghana and Nigeria.
The movie is being led by LilWin, who has built a career in Ghana’s film industry as an actor, comedian and producer. The project is expected to feature a blend of Ghanaian and Nigerian actors as part of its wider African storytelling focus.
Kanayo O. Kanayo, who has featured in numerous Nigerian films throughout his long career, is regarded as one of Nollywood’s veteran performers. His involvement in the project adds another established name to the cast and highlights the continued collaboration between Ghana’s Kumawood industry and Nigeria’s Nollywood.
Explaining his decision to accept the role, Kanayo indicated that he was interested in the creative direction of the production and the opportunity it presented to work with colleagues from Ghana.
His participation also reflects the long-standing relationship between Ghanaian and Nigerian filmmakers. Actors from both countries have regularly appeared in productions across the two industries, helping create opportunities for cross-border collaborations.
A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu) takes its inspiration from Nzulezu, the well-known stilt settlement in Ghana’s Western Region. The location is recognised for its distinctive setting on water and has become one of Ghana’s notable cultural and tourism attractions.
The choice of Nzulezu as part of the film’s identity adds a Ghanaian cultural element to the production while providing an opportunity to showcase aspects of the country to audiences beyond its borders.
For LilWin, the project represents another major production as he continues to expand his activities beyond acting and comedy into filmmaking and other aspects of the entertainment industry.
Kanayo’s involvement has also generated interest among movie enthusiasts, particularly because of his status as one of Nollywood’s experienced actors.
The collaboration comes at a time when filmmakers across Africa are increasingly exploring partnerships that bring together performers, producers and creative professionals from different countries.
Such collaborations can give productions access to wider audiences while allowing actors and filmmakers to exchange ideas and experiences from their respective industries.
With Kanayo O. Kanayo joining the cast, attention is now focused on the eventual release of A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu) and how the Ghana-Nigeria collaboration will translate onto the screen.
Nigerian rapper and social media personality, Speed Darlington, has warned comedian and content creator, Carter Efe, ahead of their highly anticipated celebrity boxing bout.
The two entertainers are scheduled to face each other on October 1, 2026, at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, as part of the ‘Chaos in the Ring’ series.
Speed Darlington has continued to heighten anticipation for the bout with provocative remarks directed at Carter Efe ahead of their meeting in the ring.
The upcoming fight will be Speed Darlington’s second appearance in the celebrity boxing circuit after he lost to singer Portable in 2025.
Carter Efe, on the other hand, enters the contest after defeating Portable by unanimous decision in May 2026.
All three judges scored Carter Efe’s three-round victory 30-27 in his favour.
The rivalry between Carter Efe and Speed Darlington has also intensified during promotional activities for the fight.
At their official press conference, both entertainers were involved in a heated confrontation and had to be separated by security personnel.
The October 1 bout will mark the first time Speed Darlington and Carter Efe meet inside the boxing ring, after their exchanges have largely played out on social media and during promotional events.
The ‘Chaos in the Ring’ event will also feature other bouts, including the WBO African Light Heavyweight Continental Championship clash between Nigeria’s Godday Appah and Ghana’s Seth ‘Freezy Macbones’ Gyimah.
Young and vibrant Ghanaian fashion designer and Chief Executive Officer of Sam Creatives, Samuel Clottey, has described Black Sherif as the new face of Ghanaian music, expressing confidence that the artiste could become the first Ghanaian musician to win a Grammy Award.
According to Mr Clottey, Black Sherif has shown remarkable growth in his music career and continues to demonstrate the creativity, discipline and originality needed to take Ghanaian music to a wider international audience.
He believes the way Black Sherif continues to position himself, particularly through his music and composition, shows an artiste who is determined to push himself and contribute to the next chapter of Ghanaian music.
“Black Sherif is the new face of Ghana Music. I will not be surprised if he emerges as the first Grammy Award winner for Ghana,” Mr Clottey said.
He noted that Black Sherif’s ability to combine his unique sound with meaningful storytelling has helped him establish a strong identity within the Ghanaian music industry.
The comments come at a time when Black Sherif is promoting his latest project, SUN SHERIF, a six track EP released in September 2026.
The project features “Expresso”, “Run Around”, “Forever” featuring AratheJay, “Jolie”, “Frontline” and “Love Again” featuring Trinidadian duo Full Blown.
The release adds another chapter to Black Sherif’s growing catalogue and follows his previous projects, including his 2022 debut album, The Villain I Never Was, and his 2025 album, IRON BOY.
For Mr Clottey, however, Black Sherif’s growing profile is about more than chart positions and awards.
He believes the artiste’s approach to his craft and his ability to develop a distinct musical identity are signs of someone who is eager to take Ghanaian music to another level.
Mr Clottey’s views also come from a fashion and creative industry professional who has worked closely with some of Ghana’s biggest names in entertainment.
Sam Creatives is known for styling some of Ghana’s leading musicians, including Samini, Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale, Medikal and Amerado.
The fashion brand has also worked with prominent personalities across the clergy and business community, including Prophet Isaac Owusu Bempah and some business moguls.
The brand’s growing presence within Ghana’s entertainment and fashion space has given Mr Clottey an opportunity to observe the relationship between music, fashion and personal branding.
He believes artistes who understand the importance of their overall image, while remaining committed to developing their music, have a greater opportunity to build lasting careers.
Mr Clottey said Black Sherif’s journey is an example of what can happen when talent is matched with consistency and a clear artistic identity.
With SUN SHERIF adding to his growing catalogue, Black Sherif continues to attract attention for his music and distinctive artistic direction.
For Samuel Clottey, the bigger expectation is that Black Sherif will continue to grow, refine his craft and ultimately help place Ghanaian music at the centre of the global conversation.
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