There are few artist that I always find myself coming back to year after year. Ghanaian guitarist and master of highlife and afrobeat Ebo Taylor b. 1936 is definitely one of them. Well known worldwide by his afrobeat endeavours, Taylor was a key player in pushing highlife music to new audiences and places outside Ghana and West-Africa. 
Here I have split this mix in two parts, Part one is dedicated to collaborations with Taylor and his often-times partner, another highlife legend singer Pat Thomas. Expect upbeat, cool and funky highlife with great guitar work by Taylor. 
Again I have included tracks here that have been previously unavailable online before.
Part two is maybe a little less heard side of Taylor and is purely spiritual music designed to lift up the spirit of the listener. Its gospel and spiritual-tinge highlife with Ebow (like he's many times spelled in record sleeves) playing alongside the likes of Jewel Ackah, C.K Mann and Saltpond Barkers Choir. All original vinyl. 

Part one: Ebo & Pat
Skin Pain
Isu A Murusu
Mpaebo
Wompea, Obi Pe Me
Gyae Su
Hiani Sui Efiri A Oyi Abebrese
Ene Nyame Nam A, Mensuro

Part Two: Spiritual music
Ewuradze Nye Mo Guanhwefo
Twer Nyame
Etuei
Azom Dzii Da Me Do
Kanea A Yedze Hwe Kwan Mu

"Gospel Of Ebo" Ebo Taylor Highlife & Gospel mix

On March 6, 1971, a group of some of the top musicians from the United States – Ike & Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett, The Staples Singers, Santana, and more – boarded a plane bound for Ghana to perform in a musical celebration that was dubbed the “Soul to Soul Festival”.  Thousands of audience members filled Accra’s Black Star Square for a continuous 15 hours of music.  The festival was planned in part for the annual celebration of Ghana’s independence, but also an invitation for a “homecoming” for these noted African-American artists to return to Africa.  This episode revisits the famed music festival at its 50th Anniversary and explores the longstanding legacy of cultural exchange with African diasporans originally set forth in the 1950s by Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana.  Tune in for interviews with noted musicologist John Collins, poet and scholar Tsitsi Ella Jaji, concert goers and more.  Produced by Brandi Howell.

APWW #829

Soul to Soul at 50 - A Look Back at Ghana’s Legendary Music Festival

Title IX

LAVA LAVA RESIDENTS MIX

Ebo Taylor and Pat Thomas - Ene Nyame (Henrik Schwarz Blend)
Dexter - In your Eyes (Instrumental Mix)
Joe Davies - Errol Dub
Marina Trench - Sunrise
Flabaire - Sud
LEYO - Without You
Fun Boy Flynn - Death of a Detroit Fountain Climber
Simon Field - One More Time (For The Panda)
Kathy Brown - Can’t Play Around
Pacific Coliseum - Feel Free 
Daisy Moon - Tonyo
Okain - Mercure & Ice Cubes
Sasha - How To Wear Raybans Well (Nathan Fake Remix)
Âme - Asa (Extended Mix)
La Fleur - Plastic Miami (Extended Mix)

LAVA LAVA GUEST MIX 147: Squidgenini

Episode 227 / Guest Mix 144: Squidgenini

This Hip Deep edition, based on field work in Ghana, tells the story of how highlife turned into Afro-funk. Guitarist/composer/bandleader Ebo Taylor, is our principle guide, taking us to his hometown Saltpond to explore the roots of his complex sound, and recounting his highlife years, and his deep study of American jazz in London in the early 60s—all part of a remarkable mix. We also hear from Ghanaian Afro-funk pioneer Gyedu Blay Ambolley and other observers and veterans of this history. Among the figures that interweave this story are James Brown, his most successful African successor Geraldo Pino, and, of course, the creator of Nigerian Afrobeat (a variety of Afro-funk), Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Produced by Banning Eyre.

APWW #667

Ebo Taylor and the Pioneers of Afro-Funk

The 1960s and 1970s were a time of profound change and unrest across the African continent. As countries achieved long-sought independence from colonial rule, they faced the challenge of building democratic institutions and uniting diverse ethnic communities within borders arbitrarily drawn by colonial powers. During this transformative period, young musicians in nations like Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Togo, Zambia, and Algeria embraced the spirit of revolution and change, birthing a new musical genre that blended traditional African rhythms with Western psychedelic rock and funk. What makes Afro Psychedelic Funk a compelling soundtrack for this historical moment isn’t just the reverb-drenched, fuzzed-out guitar solos or the Eastern influences borrowed from Western psychedelic rock. Instead, it’s the music’s shared narrative of political unrest, its celebration of once-repressed cultural identities, and its bold rejection of colonial rule in the pursuit of peace across the continent.

Originally aired February 4, 2025 on dublab
https://www.dublab.com/archive/joko-homo-discoteca-imaginaria-afro-psychedelic-funk-02-04-25

~NIGERIA~
War-Head Constriction – Shower of Stone
Ofo The Black Company – Allah Wakbarr
Sweet Breeze – She My Choice
Tirogo – Float
Waves – Mother
Ofege – It’s Not Easy
Jay-U Experience – Baby Rock
Blo – Native Doctor
~GHANA~
The Psychedelic Aliens – Blofonyobi Wo Atale
Pat Thomas & Marijata – Brain Washing
Ebo Taylor & The Pelikans – Egya Edu
Free Youth – We Can Move
~BENIN & TOGO~
Les Sympathics de Porto Novo – A Min We Vo Nou We
TP Orchestre Poly-Rythmo – It’s a Vanity
Gnonnas Pedro et Ses Dadjes – Dadje Von O Von Non
Ferry Djimmy – Love Love
~ZAMBIA~
Cosmos Zani – Poverty
EyeQ – Making Life out of Music
WITCH – Living in the Past
Amanaz – Khala My Friend
Rikki Ililonga – Sheebeen Queen
Oscillations – Kapande
Mike Nyoni – My Dear Girl
The Peace – Black Power
Chrissy Zemby Tembo – Trouble Maker
~ALGERIA~
Rachid & Fethi – Utopia
RaÏna RaÏ – Sidi Bel Abbes
Abranis – Chenar Le Blues
Ahmed Malek – Autopsie d’un complot
Hourya – Abadane

Discoteca Imaginaria: Afro Psychedelic Funk

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Rare sounds of the world from my personal collection. Vinyl archeology with focus on Finland, Africa, Caribbean and odd elsewhere. Deep love for original vinyl. 
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Afropop Worldwide is an internationally syndicated weekly radio series, online guide to African and world music, and an international music archive, that has introduced American listeners to the music cultures of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean since 1988. Our radio program is hosted by Georges Collinet from Cameroon, the radio series is distributed by Public Radio International to 110 stations in the U.S., via XM satellite radio, in Africa via and Europe via Radio Multikulti. 

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Musicians*Producers*Agitate Instigate and Originate*Think First Reggae/AfroBeat/HighLife/Jazz & Beyond.  Contact: ForzaEntertainmentLLC@gmail.com Connect+ Engage+ Share!

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