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Sierra Leone Entertainment News
The Unity Tour Kicks Off at Zanzibar With a Successful Launch
08.12.08
The Unity Tour kicked off with a successful launch at Zanzibar on the waterfront in Washington, DC this past Saturday, August 9th with over 350 Sierra Leoneans enjoying the sounds of Jimmy B, Comfie, Med Tutu, JR, Fulani and Kassa Africa. The event started with a welcome address from the CEO of Sierra Gold who intimated that the concept of the Unity Tour means different things to different people. He mentioned that Sierra Leone has just come off a divisive Presidential elections and the Unity Tour was a way to unite members of both political parties together. For some people it means unity after relationship problems with a spouse or loved ones. For others it means unity within oneself after a spiritual struggle. Sheku emphasized that after grueling primary elections campaigns in the US he hoped that the sounds of Jimmy B and the other artists will unite democrats, republicans, conservatives and liberals under one roof for the best interest of the country. That was the most serious segment of the night as VOA radio personality David Vandy introduced Ghanaian band Kassa Africa to entertain the crowd.
Kassa Africa thrilled the audience with authentic African drums and rhythms. Kassa Africa was followed by Comfie who moved the crowd with her gospel sounds of Never Ever Give Up Love. When she was done it seemed as if the holy spirit had descended upon the crowd at Zanzibar . One could feel the presence in the room. As the MC David Vandy put it, “the gospel had arrived at Zanzibar ”. Comfie was followed by the sweet melodies of Med Tutu, an up and coming artist who sang tracks such as JC Wahala about the problems caused by Sierra Leoneans visiting the motherland and the friction that sometimes exist between the JCs and the home based brothers and sisters. Following Med Tutu were the reggae sounds of JR with his signature Born Sierra Leonean track. This brought to life the patriotism of Sierra Leoneans who despite being grateful to their adopted country the United States were just as proud of their native land. Following JR were the sounds of Fulani who rocked the audience to some of their latest tracks such as African Woman and Hold Me. International DJ, Aki played some of the best Sierra Leonean music that kept the crowd longing for more as diva and business woman Milly Terry took over the reigns from David Vandy to introduce the Sierra Gold team who are partly responsible for bring the Unity Tour to the US. The other partners are Sa Lone Bor Bor Entertainment and Malaika Entertainment taking care of the shows in Atlanta and Boston. The crowd could no longer wait for the Godfather himself to take the stage.
Jimmy B and his back up singers and dancers all dressed in white took to the stage with tracks such as Guilty, Beautiful, Chika Chika, Make Em Bounce and Sa Lone Forever. Jimmy B proved why he is known as The Godfather. The performance was tight and nothing short of what is expected of The Godfather. It was a short 45 minute performance that left the crowd wanting for more. According to COO of Sierra Gold Fatoma Kallon, this was a calculated move to leave the audience hungry for more. The Unity Tour now moves unto Atlanta on August 16 th and then Boston on August 22nd . The long awaited premier of the movie Aminata will be shown at an invitation only event on the 24th of August at the Mirage in Langley Park, Maryland. The Unity Tour has had a successful launch and this writer was certainly ready for the Jimmy spell to take over. Tell your friends that the Unity Tour is on the way to their city. It was a night of elegance and showcasing of Sierra Leone 's best.
Sierra Gold and Paradise Bring You The Unity Tour
08.07.08
There is a new marriage about to take place in the world of Sierra Leone entertainment. That is the union between Sierra Gold and Paradise Entertainment. The two organizations are partnering to bring you African inspired music and movies from the motherland to the United States. Sources reveal that an exclusive distribution business contract has been signed between Sheku Kallon Jr, CEO of Sierra Gold and Jimmy Bangura CEO of Paradise. This is a great day for entertainment lovers all across Africa as these two organizations pride themselves on delivering quality sounds and movies from Africa.
The first partnership sees the duo embarking on The Unity Tour headlining Jimmy B who is performing for the first time in the United States. In addition to Jimmy B, there will be performances by Fulani, Med Tutu and JR. The tour begns on the 9th of August at Zanzibar on the waterfront, then proceeds to Atlanta on the 16th and Boston on the 22nd.
Speaking to the CEO Sheku Kallon who is one of the stock holoders of the New People as to what Unity means to him, he moved from the spiritual to abstract in his usual deep thinking. "Unity means a lot to different people. There are spiritual struggles, political struggles, relationship struggles that have caused some sort of disunity among brothers, sisters, friends, spouses. The songs of Jimmy B speak about love and finding the right balance between ying and yang. When you listen to Jimmy you get inspired to love that special someone in your life and that is what we expect The Unity Tour to do for people that attend the show".
NOSLINA: National Awards Dinner and Dance
4.14.08
Be in the DC Metro Area on April 26th
Roland Marke : A Poet
3.21.08
Roland Bankole Marke is a Florida based freelance writer, poet and songwriter, who was born and raised in Freetown , Sierra Leone , West Africa . Marke started writing in order to satisfy his own soul. His passion for humanity that is depicted in his writing helped to consummate a lasting marriage. Marke's work has appeared in several publications, both in print and online journals/magazines. These include World Press, Free Press, Guardian Weekly UK, Liberia Sea Breeze, The Patriotic Vanguard, Florida Times Union, Kwenu.com, Jacksonville Advocate, Mabayla Review and Pambazuka.org. He has published three poignant CDs - The Gift of Life, Jesus Dwells in My Soul and Love and Happy New Year: His published books are –Teardrops Keep Falling, Silver Rain and Blizzard: Angelic Flames. His most recent book is –Harvest of Hate –Stories and Essays; “Fuel for the Soul.” email: bankole@mindspring.com Website: www.Rolandmarke.com “ Roland Marke's work speaks of our urgent need to heal and to hope. Roland's poetry, story, and songs are inspirational. Like all great writers, he lifts suffering to a higher plane of regard. Please take the time to listen to his message and spread the good word. We can work together for a more human, caring world.” - Nile Stanley , Ph.D. Chair, Childhood Education author, poet University of North Florida Jacksonville,
Sample poem:
Bunce Island
Amid the rumbling Sierra Leonean waters,
Enveloped into the deep of Atlantic Ocean ,
Stood this dark and mighty fortress, called
Bunce Island : that caricatures the-Bastille,
Dark-dungeon to stockpile African slaves:
History sleeps here like a one-eyed man.
Around 1700s -1800s our ancestors were
Chained, led to the ‘Point of no Return,'
A warehouse of humanity, and waiting
Shipment onto Charleston , Savannah in
The South or New York in United States ;
Gullahs from beloved home worked rice
Farms in South Carolina : the grim trade's
Intertwined with blemished history of UK ,
United States and motherland Sierra Leone :
Neither time nor distance, would triumph
To eradicate our gloomy, enduring legacy.
Can One Human Being Save The World? Sierra Leone's War in Pictures.
Writer: Charlene Collins Haug
Can one human being save the world? A “Superman?” In his current exhibition at the Noyes Museum, Richmond Otolorin Garrick gives us a personal glimpse of the emotional toll of war-torn Sierra Leone. Compelling, large-scale figures spill off the canvas into the viewer's personal space. We are witnesses implicated in the action, caught-up in the terrible events. According to Mr. Garrick, he wants his paintings to “engage with the viewer so the viewer can have a dialogue with the work. You don't get the message immediately. You piece things together and then you begin to get the message.”
Like contemporary Impressionist paintings, the lush, impasto, textured works draw the viewer in for close inspection. In “Ambush,” boy soldiers are expressively painted in strong brush strokes that emote and pull the viewer's eye through the surface, past fleshy tones and a dark, shadowy, compositionally exciting backdrop. Figures emerge from the paint. As you step back they coalesce – boys holding guns, boredom and anxiety showing in their features. Through his paintings Garrick tells us about the personal cost of the war. He says “I use the canvas to put (record) my own burden, my own problems. My canvas is the only place where I can show my deep emotion.”
In “The Rescue,” a figure is being dragged by his arms, his foreshortened hand extends into the viewer's plane. The scumbled, bloody lip drips red onto a blue and white striped shirt whose brush strokes move like a roller coaster, describing the broken body and frantic energy of dragging the heavy, wounded man. In “Resistance,” a larger than life figure lays supine, hands drawn-up close to the face and clenched in the rigor mortis of terror. An eerie light bathes the face, hands, and chest; the rest of the figure dissolves into the canvas and drops off our frame of view. We look down on the figure in a perpetrator or bystander's perspective. Raw and powerful emotion engages the viewer. In a change of pace, Mr. Garrick has eight ball point pen drawings, an homage to civil rights leaders and prominent African Americans.
My favorite is the one of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The viewing space is personal as one leans in for a closer look at the fine details of these beautifully rendered works. Dr. King has a twinkle in his eye. The drawing is exuberant and joyful. Garricks' work is powerful and moving, a first person account of the tragedies of war. The drawings, as you enter the gallery, seem to point generally toward resolutions and leadership and forces of light and hope; men and women who are superheroes. Mr. Garrick's work is on display at the Noyes Museum until April 10, 2008 in an exhibition entitled, Portraits: Defining the Foundation for Humanity and Expressions of Oppression: A Metaphor for Thinking about the Unthinkable.
D-Ex-3 - "Salone Girls" and the Bold Experimentation with Cross-Atlantic Musical Genres
2.17.2008
Sierra Leone's young musicians are experimenting very boldly with a cross-cultural blend of trans-Atlantic musical genres. Here, the trenchant rythms of Jamaican dancehall especially Mr. Vegas' hot-wrenching "Tek Weh Yuhself" dance style overlaid with indigenous Sierra Leonean dancehall chants. It is a cultural contribution to world pop music with a slight social critical edge to the praise heaped on our Salone beauties.
In the following video, brought to our readers courtesy of YouTube, KallboxX Records Promotions puts D-Ex-3 (Daddy Ish, Sheng Daddy, Father Gee, & Majeed) on show.
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Freddy Shabaka Cole and Thomas Peters
2.7.2008
Historians usually under play the cross transfers in the diaspora as former natives became resettlers in their own motherland by the cruel twist of two centuries of chattel labour and dehumanisation.
Sierra Leone born native, frederick Cole, now known as Shabaka re-vists and re-narrates that history with passion and poignancy in his latest release.
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Read more about Shabaka
His music has been described as poignant, churning, lilting and heartfelt. The Washington Post said, "If West African born singer/songwriter Freddy Shabaka doesn't win listeners over with his words, the odds are good he'll do it with his music . . . Shabaka knows how to make his point effectively on several levels as a singer, songwriter and arranger." Shabaka was born Frederick Cole in Freetown, Sierra Leone. His music has a Reggae and African flavor that is both authentic and compelling. Shabaka's music has political, social and Rasta anthems that figure in the mix. The songs are thoughtful and no matter how impassioned the message or how diverse the elements, the music has a sunny allure that's hard to resist. The strength and richness of Shabaka's vocals, the soulfulness of his voice and the power and passion in which the songs are delivered are a treat to all who listen.
Shabaka, who is from the Creole people of Sierra Leone says, "My ancestors were descendants of freed African American slaves, Maroons from Jamaica and freed Africans who were returned to Freetown when the slave trade was abolished. This African ancestral mix is reflected in the music I make." The influences of great reggae singer/songwriters like Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, and Burning Spear are evident in Shabaka's music, however, his style and authenticity ushers in a new chapter in the marriage of reggae music and African rhythms.
At the age of nine, Shabaka formed his first band called The Black Sparrows. He and his band mates put on shows with instruments they made from cardboard, cups, pots and pans. During his college years he was the lead singer of Fusion, a nine-piece reggae/afro-funk band that he formed with friends. They were known for their grand live performances. Shabaka's first recording, "Free," spawned two number one hits in Sierra Leone “Dem Nor Wan Dance" and "Goombay Jamming." The CMJ New Music Report described the tape as ". . . the best self produced demo tape I have received all year . . . the single, "Dem nor wan dance" deserves to be heard on dance floors, radio stations and boom boxes nationwide . . . The fact that he remains unsigned is as amazing as the churning, lilting, heartfelt music that Freddy creates on Free." Shabaka's last CD, "A Chapter of Roots" received a great deal of airplay on college radio stations and introduced many Reggae lovers to his music. On this CD he collaborated with a brilliant Cameroonian guitarist and producer Henry Tanash, whose guitar skillfully weaves through each song. Shabaka's music has deep and driving bass lines, that are kept in check by the drums and an array of African percussion, topped off with sweet, simple horn and string arrangements.
Shabaka's new CD the "Black Loyalist" was inspired by the fascinating story of Thomas Peters, a man captured in Nigeria in 1760 and brought to North Carolina as a slave. He and others secured their freedom in 1776 when they fought on the side of the British during the American revolutionary war. They were called the Black Loyalists. On January15, 1792, Peters led a contingent of 15 ships carrying 1,196 blacks to create a new settlement in West Africa. They named it Freetown, presently the capital of Sierra Leone. The story was told beautifully in a recent book called "Rough Crossings" by renowned historian Simon Schama.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade. As part of the commemoration, a replica of the Amistad ship will retrace the route used by slave traders across the Atlantic Ocean. In December 2007, the Amistad will dock in Freetown, Sierra Leone and Shabaka's "Black Loyalist" will be used as the official song to commemorate this historic event. This will mark an important moment in Shabaka's career, as this album not only celebrates Sierra Leone's history it speaks to its present and hopes for its future. In "See Dem a Come," Shabaka sings of the recent civil war in Sierra Leone and the use of child soldiers; "Who is the Enemy" is a commentary on the corruption of African leaders; "African Spirit" is a song of inspiration for the children of Africa; and "Mr. Jackson" chronicles the return to the continent of an African-American from Mississippi.
"Black Loyalist" was recorded and mastered at the legendary Lion and Fox recording studios in Virginia with Jim Fox at the controls. It was produced by Shabaka and Henry Tanash. They perform with 3 new artists: the young, beautiful and talented Latin singer Nyl Medina; hip-hop sensation Joaquin; and the upcoming King of Dancehall, Sprouty. All the songs were written and arranged by Freddy Cole Shabaka.