Source: classfmonline.com
Enoch Nana Yaw Oduro-Adjei, professionally known as Trigmatic, has highlighted Ebo Taylor’s legendary pioneering of Afrobeat.
The genre’s creation is often credited to Nigeria’s Fela Kuti, who learned much while visiting and playing music in Ghana. He had fans among many Ghanaian music performers, including Ebo Taylor, who he influenced.
Trigmatic spoke to Prince Benjamin (PB) on the Class Morning Show (CMS) on Class 91.3 FM.
He revealed how and where he met Ebo Taylor, why he is fond of him, and excitedly announced the release of their debut collaborative work, Ghana Yoo.
Meeting Uncle Ebo
“I can’t believe that I actually got Uncle Ebo to understand that I wanted to do something with him. I remember we met in Nigeria for Felabration. That was the first time we met. We performed on the same stage. I’m humbled for that.
“He called me again. I went to Saltpond on my own and performed for him. Again, I did Osagyefo’s Night. I gave him a citation because I really adore him,” Trigmatic narrated, beaming.
Afrobeat Legacy
The abundantly decorated singer-songwriter and rapper, as though to explain his previous thought, asserted: “In fact, if we have Afrobeat today, it’s because of Uncle Ebo Taylor. If we have Afrobeat today, it’s because of Uncle Ebo Taylor.”
Ebo Taylor’s iconic and boundary-breaking music legacy, the media star noted, “is clear; it’s evident when you see the likes of Usher and all these international artistes sampling his songs, so I was thinking why not ourselves, too? Efie ne fie!”
Amapiano with Ebo Taylor
“I reached out to them [Ebo Taylor’s team], and he was like: ‘Yeah, man, do something.’ I said: ‘Uncle Ebo, I’m not going to do the usual Afrobeat with you that people know. I’m going to switch it a bit. We’re going to make it urban, and I got S’villa on it’,” the Safoa Band founder and frontman recalled.
Other Collaborators and Atwer Abroba Sample
He explained how successful and respected South Africa’s S’villa is, having “over 30 something million views on YouTube. You can check him out. Amazing Amapiano guy.”
“We got Epic Minds, who are also big Ebo Taylor fans, and we decided to do another version of Atwer Abroba, which is one of the songs from Uncle Ebo. Yeah, enjoy it,” the National Folklore Board member disclosed.
“But the song comes out first week in August. But for radio, I mean, you [Class FM] are playing it for the first time. Yes, and it’s going to continue playing until we release it first week in August.”
In conclusion, the Motromodwo hitmaker invited his fans “in Europe or if you’re going to Europe anytime soon, catch me at The Hague African Music Festival where I’ll be performing on the 28th of July. So let’s catch up. And yeah, Ghana to the world!”
Singer, guitarist, and composer Ebo Taylor, affectionately called Uncle Ebo, is an uber-influential musician who rose on the music scene in the 50s and 60s. As a songwriter, he worked with Highlife greats like the late CK Mann and Pat Thomas, to name a few.
Saltpond of the Central Region’s gift to the world, Ebo Taylor is 88 years old and has been recognized for influencing African music for more than 60 years. His greatest inspiration was saxophonist and singer ET Mensah, hailed as the King of Highlife. Meanwhile, Ebo Taylor first met his friend Fela Kuti in London, UK.
Usher’s She Don’t Know featuring Ludacris references Heaven by Ebo Taylor.
