Afropop Worldwide

By now, the world knows that we’ve lost one of the towering legends of African music, composer, bandleader, singer, guitarist and consummate arranger, a father of highlife, Afro-funk and even Afrobeat, Ghana’s Ebo Taylor. We received the news of he passing at age 90 in remote Casamance, in southern Senegal, where, oddly enough, highlife and Taylor seem to be largely unknown. But in the larger world, his legacy will endure forever.

Afropop was extremely lucky to spend fantastic days and nights in Ghana with Uncle Ebo in 2013, in researching our Hip Deep program on Afro-funk. We went deep on his history, and filmed his traditional percussion and vocal ensemble on the beach near his ancestral home in Salt Pond.

Here are some highlights from the archive of wonderful interactions with the great Ebo Taylor. May he rest in peace!

RADIO PROGRAM: Ebo Taylor and the Pioneers of Afro-Funk

Ebo Taylor speaks about the origins of Afro-funk

Ebo Taylor speaks about his album Yen Ara

Ebo Taylor: Still in the Highlife

Ebo Taylor’s final performance in New York City