Afro4 pays tribute to Osibisa at Jazz In January Festival
The Afro4 band from Nigeria had the stage to themselves for the whole night on Day 3 of the 2025 Jazz In January Festival at the +233 Jazz Bar and Grill, Accra and they ‘killed it’.
Afro4 are leader Bright Gain (bass), Luyanda Madope (keyboards), Wale Adeyemi (drums) and Victor Ademofe (horns & percussion).
Playing before an audience that had never heard their music before, they wooed and wowed them with their musicianship and mastery of their instruments.
They played two sets that roped in some of their classic compositions including ‘Theban Legion’ and ‘Agbajowo.’
Bright Gain paid tribute to African super group of yesteryear, Osibisa, before they performed their interpretation of ‘Flying Bird’ from Osibisa’s 1976 ‘Ojah Awake’ album.
Bright vowed that they were walking the trail left by Osibisa and would exceed the heights achieved by the band known worldwide for their ‘criss-cross rhythms that explode with happiness.’
Peter Fisher, who presents the ‘Jazz and Conversations’ programme on LagosTalks91.3FM in Nigeria, saw AFRO4 at +233.
He called their performance “an able introduction of the next super group to come out of Africa.”
Osibisa, which started in England in the late 1960’s, was applauded for its vibrant mix of Highlife, Rock, Soul, Jazz and other genres.
The band had Nigerian musicians at various times. They included Loughty Lasisi Amao (tenor sax, flute, congas and vocals), Remi Kabaka (drums), Fred Coker (bass), Mike Odumosu (bass), Jake Solo (rhythm guitar) and Abdul Remiola (trombone).
It is an acknowledged tradition in Jazz circles for contemporary players to recognise the exploits of their predecessors. The audience at +233 gave the thumbs up to Afro4 for appreciating the wonderful work Osibisa did for Africa and the world.
The Jazz In January Festival was organised by the +233 Jazz Bar & Grill in collaboration with the Ghana Jazz Foundation. Other performers at the event were Lipstick Queens, Native Vibe, West Coast. Band, Etienne Mbappe, GHJazz Collective, Godwin Louis and Simon Moulier.