Veteran Ghanaian musician and actor Tumi Ebow Ansa has revealed that he is the original composer of ‘Welcome Home’ song.
‘Welcome Home’ is a popular song sung by the popular Ghanaian-British Afro-rock band, the Osibisa band.
According to Tumi, the Osibisa band never credited him for songs like ‘Welcome Home’, ‘Woyaya’, ‘Oranges’, and ‘The Dawn’ – all of which he said he is the original composer.
The veteran actor disclosed this in an interview with Mutombo the Poet on the ‘If More, Let’s Divide’ podcast.
When questioned about his experience working with band, he said “You know, Osibisa is an area that I really don’t feel comfortable. Because I was in an experience that I had never seen before.”
- Tumi Ebow Ansa
“I was young, I was very eager, I was free because I was on TV, films and the music too so when Osibisa came and out of the blue picked me up and took me to Tunisia, it was an adventure. But we didn’t have a song between us. When we arrived there we had to go for audition. It was my song that we rehearsed quickly to go and get a job,” he narrated.
Tumi also said that prior to joining the Osibisa band, he already had a band called the Afro Deity.
He lamented that he had no idea the band had an ulterior motive for recruiting him.
“I didn’t know they had this ulterior mind to credit themselves with my music. But I was not able to tell. The first time I was asked I felt a bit uneasy but it’s alright. They’ve done their thing and they are gone.
“But to be asked about them, that hurts…hurts so much. How can you take somebody’s music and credit it to yourself, make so money with it and you don’t give a damn?” he said.
GHAMRO reacts to Tumi’s claim
Reacting to these claims by Tumi, Rex Omar, the Chairman of the interim management committee for the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO), said the burden of proof lies on Tumi Ebow Ansah.
In an article by MyJoyOnline.com, Mr Omar is said to have stressed that until that is done Tumi cannot claim ownership of the songs.
“This is the first time I am hearing this. I know Tumi. I know the songs you are talking about but the question is that if he is the original composer where is the evidence? Does he have anything to prove?
“Because these songs have been in existence for quite a long time. And if Osibisa recorded this song for more than 50 years and they played all over the world, they have been touring with them, they have perhaps registered them in their name and have been ‘chopping’ the royalties.
“So for him to wait all this while to come and say this right now, unless he has a proven evidence, it will be difficult,” he told Joy News’ Jacqueline Yeboah in an interview.
Legal Redress
Asked if Tumi Ebow Ansah can reclaim his rights if he provides evidence, Rex said “then he has to go through some legal issues to claim the rights. I find it difficult how someone can write five songs for a group, without the credit being given to him and he keeps quiet all these years. I mean it is very difficult.”