Ghanaian highlife meets afrofunk on Edikanfo’s 1981 LP The Pace Setters

Produced by Brian Eno.

Ghanaian group Edikanfo’s 1981 album The Pace Setters is being reissued on vinyl for the first time, via Glitterbeat this May.

Watch next: The story of Ghanaian highlife legend Ebo Taylor’s “lost tapes” in his own words

Led by Gilbert Amartey Amar, Edikanfo comprised of Osei Tutu, Ishmael Odai “Smith”, Albert Williams “Bobo”, Paa Akrashie, George Williams, William Quist, and Kwesi Okran.

The Pace Setters was produced by Brian Eno in Accra, Ghana, and originally released on E. G. Recordings in 1981.

While the album was commercially successful, the 1981 coup d’état in Ghana saw Edikanfo suffering financial setbacks that caused the band to dissolve.

In 2020, Edikanfo’s surviving members reunited for the first reissue of The Pace Setters.

The Pace Setters follows Glitterbeat’s release of the Tamikrest LP Tamotaït.

Head here for more info in advance of The Pace Setters’ 8th May release, check out the artwork and tracklist below.