Ghana’s music fraternity is mourning the loss of one of its most revered trailblazers. Highlife and Afrobeat pioneer Ebo Taylor has died at the age of 90, marking the end of a career that helped define modern African sound.
News of his passing was first shared by his son, Kweku Taylor, in a Facebook announcement on Sunday morning, February 8, 2026.
He posted: “The world has lost a giant. A colossus of African music. Ebo Taylor passed away yesterday; a day after the launch of Ebo Taylor Music Festival and exactly a month after his 90th birthday, leaving behind an unmatched artistry legacy. Dad, your light will never fade.”
Organisers of the Ebo Taylor Music Festival, known as EBOFEST, later confirmed the development in a tribute shared on Instagram, celebrating the musician’s remarkable life and cultural impact.
They wrote: “With heavy hearts and deep gratitude, we announce the passing of our beloved legend, Ebo Taylor — a musical titan, cultural architect, and one of Africa’s greatest gifts to the world.
After celebrating his remarkable 90th birthday and launching EBOFEST, a historic movement where the world came to Ghana to honor his life and legacy, Papa Ebo has peacefully transitioned, surrounded by love, music, and the spirit of unity he spent his life building.
Ebo Taylor was more than a musician. He was a teacher, a revolutionary sound, a bridge between generations, and a global ambassador of Ghanaian and African music. His rhythms shaped movements. His melodies carried our stories across oceans. His spirit will forever echo in our hearts.”
Widely regarded as one of Ghana’s most respected musical figures, Taylor built an international reputation through his innovative approach to highlife and Afrobeat. His mastery as a guitarist, composer and arranger placed him at the centre of the evolution of Afrobeat during the 1960s and 1970s.
Across a career that spanned over six decades, Taylor maintained an active presence in the music scene, continuously recording new material and performing on stages around the world, solidifying his legacy as one of Africa’s most influential musical icons.
