Dubbed “the golden voice of West Africa” Pat Thomas embodied the glory days of Ghanaian highlife in the 60s and 70s alongside the great Ebo Taylor. The music fell out of fashion in the 80s but Thomas never stopped.
He made a much-praised comeback in 2015 with the Kwashibu Area Band thanks to Ghanian musician and producer Kwame Yeboah and together they’ve now released another gem: Obiaa! (Everyone).
Listening to Pat Thomas and Yeboah, two generations of highlife, discussing their love of the music, where the “high” in highlife came from and how the younger generation is discovering the importance of this music, the precursor to Nigeria’s afrobeat.
“They themselves realise you have to go back to the roots,” says Thomas. “We’re doing lots of collaborations and it’s working out good.”
Obiaa! is out on Strut Records.
Pat Thomas and the Kwashibu Area Band are on a European tour. You’d be a fool to miss them live. Check out their facebook page for details.
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