Music in Sierra Leone – The new political drive

Musical Legends - Sabanoh 75

Sierra Leone’s political debates are never complete without the introduction of protest songs. In the past, songs have had so much impact that they have even toppled governments or influence the electorate to vote the government in power into a second term of office. Mostly, uneducated people depend on songs rendered in the vernacular krio language to get a clear understanding of current events happening around the country for them to form an opinion as to what political loyalty they would exercise with their right to vote.

On a tour of some dejected parts of Freetown, the Capital of Sierra Leone, a young vocalist named Innocent heard people saying they were fed up with lies, theft and corruption. The government had to go, they said, and they begged Innocent to speak out. Listening carefully to their concerns Innocent drove to a music studio and start putting together a song to reflect the views of the people. He came up with a song entitled ‘Injectment Notice’ – ‘eviction notice’ . That helped dissuade electorates from voting in the 2007 elections that resulted in the SLPP losing power to the APC. The theme of the song was ‘ If you don’t like this government, vote them out’ The people responded in numbers at the ballot box and voted the SLPP out of power.

I must say that the song alone was not responsible for the demise of the SLPP – The SLPP leader and then President of Sierra Leone, Ahmed Tejan Kabbah had left indelible memories in the minds of Sierra Leoneans when in his quest to regain power after he was overthrown in a coup, he ordered ECOMOG troops to Bomb their way into the City, Freetown and killing people at random to ensure his return to government. This barbaric act of abuse of human rights is still in the minds of a lot of Sierra Leoneans who lost their loved ones and may be the ultimate reason why the SLPP will never assume political power in Sierra Leone again. Recently, there have been calls for the ICC, The International Criminal Court, to investigate the massacre that took place in Sierra Leone. In its early days, Kabbah must have used his UN influence to suppress any investigations into the ghastly crime. But some of us in the media will continue to demand an investigation and call on the ICC to listen to the peoples cry.

Hip-hop, and reggae sounds became prominent in Sierra Leone after the end of the 10-year civil war as a large number of radio stations played these songs day-in and day-out, leaving a lasting impression in the minds of the people. Music in Sierra Leone is more than just entertainment. It has become the drive for instigating national debate and political involvement. The people rely heavily on their music stars to provide them with an independent take on what’s going on in the political scene of the country. And the musicians themselves rely on the peoples expressions of concern to coin their songs into hits! These songs are the only way the people can express what they want and their true feelings of the state of things in the country.

Recently, Innocent, who claims to be a grandson of the late Nigerian Afro beat super star Fela Ransome Kuti, has been locked in battle within the politics of music with one of the country’s singers, Emmerson Bockarie competing for a place in the political minds of the people as to how the government is performing. Difficult as it is to get a clear answer in a fledgling democracy where people’s expectations of the government in power are extremely high, both Innocent and Emmerson had helped create the environment that toppled the last government. In the political forums of Sierra Leone, heated debates about Emmerson’s new song ‘ Yesterday Betteh Pass Tiday’ meaning that the yester years were more economically better than today, took the form of nasty political rancour when members of both political spectrum engaged in unpleasant verbal tirades. The current administration’s contributors were claiming that ‘Tiday betteh pass yesterday’ meaning that the current economic and political climate is more better in the country. Whichever side one belongs to , it was interesting to see Sierra Leoneans both in the country and the Diaspora engage in lively debates about the direction the country should take!

Both Emmerson and Innocent are fine ambassadors of their trade and I am more concerned about how their talents could be best enhanced and utilised to help drive a pop industry atmosphere that will develop muscal talent in the country and rekindle the musical sensation of  the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s in Sierra Leone that ensure the emergence of never-to-be-forgotten groups like Afro-National, Super Combo, Sabanoh 75,  Muyeah Power and musical legends like Abu White, Ayo Roy Macauley, Sulay Abubakarr, Patricia, Lebbie, El Muzay, Zozo, Freddie, Sokoli, John Gbla, Pas-ar-Die, Hassan Bongay, Palus and Freddie Cole. Sierra Leone’s musical rise in the West African region should also be attributed to the important role DJ’s like Super Maurice: Maurice Dorman Korsah, Le President, Milton Boyle, Syl Juxon-Smith of Sombrero Fame and a few others. Night Clubs like Eugiene’s Countdown, Syl’s Laronda later changed to Sombrero, Sim Turay’s Kay’s and Musa Suma’s Lagunda all contributed in the somewhat musical revolution of Sierra Leone.

The musical history of Sierra Leone can never be complete without paying tribute to some of the country’s finest. Phillip ‘Kandapa’ Bangura thrilled audiences with his amazing dance moves and beautiful voice for over a decade. The Kowa sisters with Josephine at the helm along with the Gorvie Sisters with Kema as lead vocal, gave audiences unforgettable entertainment shows. Not forgetting the Davalgee Brothers who ushered in a new era of musical performances that encompasses conventional pop and hip-hop styles.

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