Woyaya

Woyaya is the second album by Ghanaian Afro-rock band Osibisa released in 1971 by MCA. It was reissued in 2004 in a two-CD pack together with the self-titled album Osibisa by BGO Records.

Woyaya
Studio album by Osibisa
Released	1971
Recorded	1971
Studio	Air Studios, London
Length	40:44
Label	MCA
Producer	Tony Visconti
Osibisa chronology
Osibisa (1971) Woyaya (1971) Heads (1972)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Christgau's Record Guide	B−[1]

Album title

Although conventionally spelled Woyaya the album's title is actually Wɔyaya (with an open-o), which comes from the Ghanaian Ga language of the Ga-Dangme people and translates as "We are going".^[2]

The title song was covered in 1973 by Art Garfunkel on his debut solo album Angel Clare and by the group The 5th Dimension on their 1973 album Living Together, Growing Together. "Woyaya" was also used as the signature tune for the popular Ghanaian television drama series Osofo Dadzie, which was broadcast between 1972 and 1981.^[3][4][5]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Beautiful Seven"	Osei, Tontoh	6:42
2.	"Y Sharp"	Osibisa	6:20
3.	"Spirits Up Above"	Roland Kirk	7:18
4.	"Survival"	Tontoh, Osei	6:07
5.	"Move On"	Richardson	4:42
6.	"Rabiatu"	Amao	5:07
7.	"Woyaya"	Amarfio	4:28
Total length:			40:44

Personnel

Osibisa

• Teddy Osei – tenor saxophone, flute, African drums, percussion, vocals
• Sol Amarfio – drums, fontomfrom, bongos, African drums, cowbells, percussion, vocals
• Mac Tontoh – trumpet, flugelhorn, cowhorn, kabasa, percussion, vocals
• Spartacus R (Roy Bedeau) – bass guitar, prempensua, assorted percussion
• Wendell Richardson – lead guitar, vocals
• Robert Bailey – organ, piano, timbales, percussion, vocals
• Loughty Lasisi Amao – tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute, congas, fontomfrom
• Osibisa choir – friends and lovers

Production

• Producer – Tony Visconti
• Engineer – John Punter
• Recorded at Air Studios, London, England
• Cover illustration (and Osibisa logo) – Roger Dean
• Cover design - Roughedge

Charts

Chart (1971-1972)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[6]	15
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[7]	61
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)[8]	12
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[9]	46
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[10]	9
UK Albums (OCC)[11]	11
US Billboard 200[12]	66

References

1. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: O". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 10 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
2. "Osibisa – Wɔyaya" at Discogs.
3. "NA ME WO HO ON ADOM TV (19-12-13)". youtube.com. Adom TV. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
4. "Osibisa – Woyaya (live in Greece)", Explore Africa.com.
5. "We're Going", Christ Episcopal Church, Columbia MD.
6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 226. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
7. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 7737". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
8. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
9. "Offiziellecharts.de – Osibisa – Woyaya" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
10. "Norwegiancharts.com – Osibisa – Woyaya". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
11. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
12. "Osibisa Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2024.

• All information from liner notes of CD Woyaya (Copyright © 1971 MCA Records).
• Allmusic Review by j. poet

External links

• Woyaya at Discogs (list of releases)
• Lisa G. Littlebird, "Woyaya", TheBirdSings.com