The legendary highlife and Afrobeat musician, whose career spanned more than six decades, blending traditional Ghanaian rhythms with jazz, funk, and global influences, bid his fans farewell in an unusual way.

Mr Taylor died on 7 February 2026 at the age of 90, just one day after the soft launch of EboFest, a festival created in his honour and held at Alliance Française in Accra on Friday, 6 February.

Born Deroy “Ebo” Taylor on 6 January 1936 in Cape Coast, Taylor rose to prominence in the late 1950s as a guitarist and bandleader with influential ensembles such as the Stargazers and the Broadway Dance Band.

He later took his Black Star Highlife Band to London, where he worked with pioneering Nigerian Afrobeat artist Fela Kuti, before returning to Ghana to produce recordings for major artists and refine his signature fusion sound.

Over his long and distinguished career, Taylor became a central figure in shaping both highlife and Afrobeat, influencing musicians across West Africa and beyond.

His work has been sampled by international artists and featured on critically acclaimed albums such as Love and Death, Appia Kwa Bridge, and Yen Ara.

The EboFest Soft Launch on Friday at Alliance Française was part of a broader initiative to honour Taylor’s life and work.

Organisers described the event as a celebration of his 90th birthday and musical legacy, featuring live performances and cultural tributes that brought together fans and fellow musicians.

The soft launch formally introduced the upcoming EboFest, a larger festival planned for later this year in Saltpond, Taylor’s hometown, which was to serve as the ultimate celebration of his contributions to music and culture.

The timing of Taylor’s death, coming a day after the launch, has transformed the event into a poignant final tribute, with many attendees and cultural commentators noting the symbolic resonance of celebrating his life just before his passing.

Tributes have since poured in from across Ghana and the international music community, lauding his influence and expressing sorrow at the loss of one of Africa’s most enduring musical voices.

As plans continue for the main EboFest in Saltpond later this year, organisers and fans alike now view the festival not only as a cultural celebration but also as a memorial to a man whose rhythms and melodies helped put Ghanaian music on the world stage.