JJC
February 2006 - Sierra Leone's music scene unearthed
Welcome to another edition of Africa On Your Street. This month I will be looking at what's happening in Sierra Leonean music, both in Sierra Leone and in the Diaspora
Sierra Leone
In 1991 the West African country of Sierra Leone saw the start of a more than a decade long civil war which left 50,000 people dead and many more affected emotionally and physically (the rebels' atrocities included hacking off the hands of their victims). It took a huge number of foreign troops to disarm the thousands of rebels and militia fighters. The war ended in 2002 with the official withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping force on 31 st of December 2005. A month before, on 26 November, more than 15,000 people attended the 'War Don Don, Peace Don Kam' music festival to celebrate the peace. The festival bill included the cream of Sierra Leonean stars.
But Sierra Leone's problems are not over: there is poverty, tribal rivalry and official corruption. Although Sierra Leone is rich in diamonds, the trade in illicit diamonds was particularly rife during the war as it partly funded the conflict with weapons being bought from the foreign diamond trade.
On Kanye West's latest album, one of the tracks shows that he is one of the most diverse rappers, in terms of music and lyrical content. The single 'Diamonds from Sierra Leone' is about the so-called 'blood diamonds'.
You can find out more about 'blood diamonds' or 'conflict diamonds' on the Amnesty Interanational website , on the UN website and the Global Policy Forum. The documentary 'Bling: Consequences and Repercussions' by Kareem Edouard also tackles the issues behind hip-hop's obsession with diamonds and the illegal trade in countries like Sierra Leone. Narrated by hip-hop legend Chuck D of Public Enemy, the 10 minute film is not for the faint-hearted as it contains contains graphic scenes of violence:www.wghfilms.com .
Chosan and Anis Halloway
Featured in the intro of Kanye West's 'Diamonds from Sierra Leone' video (watch it here ) is Bronx-based rapper Chosan .
Born and raised in Sierra Leone, he moved to Canada, the UK, then the USA. He began making a name for himself as rapper while living in London, winning talent contests and having his tracks played on Kiss FM. Chosan also managed to secure warm-up spots for artists such as Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss and Dead Prez . His debut album 'The Beautiful Side of Misery' takes the listener from the slums of war-torn Sierra Leone through the London underground, and finally to the streets of New York's Bedford Stuyvesant. 'The Beautiful Side of Misery' is a powerful album by a promising rapper who has something to say and knows how to deliver it. It is available as a digital exclusive at iTunes, Napster, MSN Music, AOL MusicNow and Calabash Music , the world's first fair trade music company. You can watch Chosan's 'Ride' video here and log on to his website for all the latest info.
Another fresh talent of the Sierra Leonean Diaspora is
Anis Halloway
, a young London-based R'n'B/ Soul/ Nu Soul act who grew up in Sierra Leone. 
Anis has faced many challenges throughout his youth and on arriving in the UK he was given the opportunity to develop his creativity by writing, recording and performing his own music. Anis who is 23 years old has a great soulful voice which could be attributed to his strong gospel background. This singer songwriter has a bold outlook in life, is focussed, intelligent and bursting with creativity and knows the only direction he can go from here is up. For more info on Anis and to download tracks log on to GDM Records' website .
Daddy Saj
So what's actually happening in Sierra Leone (or 'Salone' as it's known)? Probably the most well-known Sierra Leonean track is 'Let Me Love You' by Bunny Mack , an African national anthem on par with the likes of 'Sweet Mother'. But the youth in Sierra Leone is listening to artists like Emmerson ( 'Borbor Bele' is a megahit), Manzu Avec C-Bolt , K-man , Pupa Baja , Baw Waw Society and Jungle Leaders s who are all currently tearing up the airwaves of Freetown.
The biggest star in Sierra Leone right now is Daddy Saj . Born Joseph Gerald Adolphus Cole in Freetown in 1978, Daddy Saj, also known as the 'Music Crusader' and 'Lyrical Warrior', has been dominating the Sierra Leonean music scene for a few years now. He started music as a church chorister aged 7 and began going into recording studios at age 11. During the war, he left for neighbouring Guinea where he gained lots more experience and met many musicians. In 1999 he returned to Freetown and started working with Jimmy B , the godfather of music in Sierra Leone, and the Paradise Family and recorded scores of hit songs.
He left Paradise Family in 2003 to start his own label, Daddy Saj Entertainment. In the same year he released the song 'Corruption - E Do So' . 'E Do So' means 'Enough is enough' in Krio, a Creole language derived from English. The problem of corruption is rife in many African countries with Sierra Leone being one of the biggest offenders. When Daddy Saj said enough is enough it stroke a chord with Sierra Leoneans, as well as Africans from other countries.
'Corruption' was such an important and powerful song that it enraged politicians and even temporarily landed Daddy Saj in prison. (The song was also featured on the excellent 'Indestructible African Beats' compilation by AOYS' Rita Ray and Max Reinhardt of The Shrine .)
After receiving a number of accolades Daddy Saj now launches his third new album called 'Faya 4 Faya' (Fire for Fire).
All his trademarks are there: catchy tunes blending hip-hop and traditional goombay music that make you want to get up and move, plus lyrics, mainly in Krio, Sierra Leone's national language with a message - basically entertainment and education. For instance, the track 'E Don Cam' is, in rather blunt terms, telling Sierra Leonean to use condoms. About the opening track, 'Sorriest Part' , Daddy Saj says 'I dreamt Sierra Leone like a paradise but the saddest part of it is when I woke up, I found Sierra Leone most deteriorated'. The title track 'Faya 4 Faya' is a call to Sierra Leoneans to get ready for the up-coming elections.
Also available is a VCD compilation called 'Faya 4 Faya' which includes videos to tracks of the new album plus some older videos too, like , 'Corruption - E Do So' . Both the CD and VCD, apart from having the emblem of the Anti-Corruption Commission Sierra Leone on them, have a rubber stamp and Daddy Saj's signature on the front - a measurement he uses to discourage bootleggers (make sure you pick up an original copy get yours from Robert Claire & Co Ltd, 5/6 Discovery Business Park, St James's Road, London SE16 4RA, Tel: 020 7231 9000, open: 8am - 5pm).
Explore Sierra Leonean music
If you want to get a proper feel for what's going in the country check out The Beautiful Struggle , a radio documentary by BBC 1Xtra's Rodney P from his recent visit to Sierra Leone. You can also check out an image gallery on the Africa Lives On the BBC website .
Another good way of exploring Sierra Leonean music is the internet radio station Sierra Leone Radio . One of the most prominent shows is by UK-based Sierra Leonean DJ collective and promoters outfit SL4U (=Sierra Leone For You), a group of nine young entrepreneurs all hailing from different ethnic regions in Sierra Leone.
The SL4U radio show is on every Thursday, 8 - 11pm, (repeated Sunday, 1 - 4pm, and Monday, 11.30am - 2.30pm) and features SL4U members Dr Mo, Benson and DJ Little playing the best and latest of Salone music as well as interviews and chat, conducted mainly in Krio, which addresses topical entertainment and social issues affecting the Sierra Leonean community both at home and abroad.
The artist line-ups of past events promoted by SL4U have included the likes of Manzu Avec Cbolt, Bunny Mack, and UK-based artists King Masco (check out his excellent 'Fire Stone' album) and Abdul Tee-Jay . SL4U's residential club is Sierra Leonean hang-out Fus, Camberwell Road, Camberwell Green, South London. Later this month SL4U will celebrate their first birthday with a special event (details to be announced shortly, contact sl4u@hotmail.co.uk / 079 0323 3737 / 079 0812 1304 ). Also watch out for more info on the Sierra Leone Independence event to take place last weekend in April and the End of Summer Jam to take place end of September.
Salone music is a real revelation - the blood diamonds are making way for the true diamonds from Sierra Leone. Keep your ears and eyes open for the real sparkle coming out of this rejuvenated country!
Until next time.
JJC
JJC's recommended CD's
Daddy Saj - 'Faya 4 Faya'
Various Artists - 'Indestructible African Beats'
Chosan - 'The Beautiful Side of Misery'
Anis Halloway - 'Going On'
Check out my recommended CDs this month in the CD Reviews section or go to Music Search to look at our archive of recommended CDs.