Osibisa in Chennai

OMG! I can't believe it. Osibisa is playing in Chennai as part of The Hindu's Novemberfest. I missed them when the band played in Chennai in 1984, during their glory days. The band is on a 40'th year anniversary tour. One of their players Dakua Potato is no more. Osibisa opened with Andanda Shankar's "Ragupathi Raghava" in Chennai in 1984. Will they do that this time too?

By the way if you are wondering if you have heard Osibisa before here goes. If you have been watching "Asatha Povathu Yaru" on SunTV or "Rasika Raaja" on Surya TV the music you are hearing in between the shows is from Osibisa's hit "Ojah Awake".

Osibisa's and many other African artistes and bands make Happy music. Singapore in the late 90's used Osibisa's "Sunshine Day" extensively for their "smile" campaign. Music director M.S. Vishwanathan's songs in the Tamil movies "Ninaithaale Inikkum" and "Ore Vaanam Ore Bhoomi" seemed to have been heavily drawn from the music of Osibisa particularly the keyboard music of "Dance the body music". In fact the sound of the keyboard in this song only instantly recalls these old Tamil movies shot in foreign locations.

From among other hits of Osibisa the ones I like are, "Sakabo", "Music for Gong Gong", "The warrior", and "Welcome Home".

You can book tickets online at the The Hindu, November fest's site. Official tickets go on sale only after November 6'th. But you can book your tickets online. Hurry! This time I am not missing them live.