Jungle Beat at Samaka Studios (4)

I am not sure if I deliberately did this. Why did I do this? Gosh, why did I with Teddy Osei-Mac Tontoh-Sol Amarfio's Osibisa? I had placed my childhood heroes at number four with the track 'Che Che Kule' written by drummer Sol "Rhythm Man" Amarfio and first released in 1972 during the band's PYE years in London.

Somehow, I would think it's not right for what I have done. But think about it though, Fela, Masekela and Di Bango who topped Osibisa earned the slot on the list. Also, I had missed my favorite Osibisa track 'Woyaya' which I recited verbatim while growing up and my little nephew, only two years old, sang along with me. And only God knows, according to Osibisa:

Woyaya means we are going
Only God knows where we are going
We are going
Heaven knows where we are going
We know we will...
We will get there
Heaven knows how we will get there
We know we will
It will be hard we know
And the road will be muddy and rough
But we will get there...
We will get there
Heaven knows how we will get there
we know we will

That line alone made everybody's day listening to this legendary group do their thing.

No question, the coinage "Afro Rock" being a combination of highlife and Western rock became a household name established by Osei and his Ghanaian brothers together with their Caribbean folks they met in London - Spartcus R., on bass and Wendell Richardson, on Lead guitar, acoustic guitar and vocals - playing gigs to entertain audiences not familiar with the kind of vibes in the 70s disco era, introducing a new kind of "jungle beat," making Osibisa the inventors of Afro Rock which was universally accepted into world class music.

The 'Che Che Kule' from this particular album, was a national anthem emulated by many other local emsembles. But at number four in my compilation, I really "dunno!" Track 7 of this compilation features another great song by Osibisa. 'Happy Children,' the band's fourth album was a knockout, and I remember as a kid, we recited that "Ayele" stuff meaning double winner in a card playing contest.