THE BIRTH OF OSIBISA

In Ghana in the 1950s, Teddy Osei, Sol Amarfio, Mamon Shareef, and Farhan Freere played in a band called The Star Gazers.

They left to form The Comets, with Osei's brother Mac Tontoh on trumpet, and scored a hit in West Africa with their 1958 song "(I feel) Pata Pata."

In 1962, Osei moved to London to study music on a scholarship from the Ghanaian government. In 1964, he formed Cat's Paw, an early "world music" band that combined highlife, rock, and soul. In 1969, he persuaded Amarfio and Tontoh to join him in London, and Osibisa was born.

Osibisa were the most successful and longest lived of the African-heritage bands in London and they were largely responsible for the establishment of world music and Afro rock as a marketable genre.

Among some of the beautiful songs were;

1. Woyaya - 1971

2. Happy Children - 1973

3. Welcom Home - 1975

4. Celebration - 1980

Only to mention few. You can always check their songs out and i know you will love it.

THE GEREWOL FESTIVAL

Country: Niger

Tribe: Wodaabe Fula People

The Gerewol festival is an annual courtship ritual competition among the Wodaabe Fula people of Niger.

Young men dressed in super colourful ornaments with traditional face painting gather to dance and sing, with the hope of attracting the attentions of marriageable young women.

The Gerewol occurs each year as the traditionally nomadic Wodaabe cattle herders gather at the southern edge of the Sahara before dispersing south on their dry season pastures.

They gather around In-Gall in northwest Niger, where a large festival, market and series of clan meetings take place for both the Wodaabe and the pastoral Tuareg People.

The actual dance event is called the Yaake, while other less famous elements—bartering over dowry competitions or camel races among suitors—make up the week-long Gerewol.

To attract beautiful women, why don't you try it the Wodaabe Fula way.

Who knows, something great might turn up in your favour.

THE BATAKARI KESE

Country of Origin: Ghana

Tribe: Asantes

The Batakari Kese which was a gift given to the then Otumfour of Asantes, Otumfour Osei Tutu the first by Yaa-Naa Gariba, the Overlord of the Dagbon in 1715 when he was invited to the Asante Empire to discuss a peace treaty.

The Batakari kese is a traditional war amour that is passed on immediately to the next chosen king of Asante.

Whenever the king is adorned in this war regalia no metal weapon, whether it being a knife or a bullet can penetrate his body.

It has been tried and tested.

Otumfour Osei Tutu II is the only Asantehene in history who has worn this batakari kese twice, ie. during his enstoolment and the funeral rites of his mother Nana Afia Kobi who was the Asantehemaa reigning from 1977-2016