05 Nov 2006 |
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Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars – Beyond the Music By Oyiza Adaba Six men who have faced unspeakable violence and injustice visited upon themselves and their families decided to rise out of the ashes singing. Their songs and lyrics are not of hate, strife or revenge, rather of hope that there is a tomorrow and the sun will shine again.The reggae-style band was formed in Sembakounya Refugee Camp in neighboring Guinea following their displacements from their homes during Sierra Leone’s vicious civil war in the 1990s. They toured other camps, and with assistance from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and later recorded an album that will resonate with the rest of the world. Improvisation - A rather big word, but one that works in most parts of the continent. This was how the music started in the camps. There were no luxuries of musical instruments, or recordings in fancy studios. In fact, the band mates had never seen the insides of a recording studio. Whatever it took to make the music, they did; flattening old cans and putting bottle tops around them, filling cans with sand to make shakers and cutting up old barrels to serve as the drums. During those dark days, they held on to the tiniest shred of hope they could find, to the little reminders of how life was before the killing and maiming. Through their music - a blend of West African highlife and reggae - they infected each camp they visited with dancing, smiles and hope. They preached resettlement and encouraged other refugees that it was ok to go back home after the war. Filmmakers Zach Niles and Banker White, who initially set out to make a film about West African music, followed the lives of the band mates in the camp and came out with the widely acclaimed documentary ’Refugee All Stars’ Band members include Abdul Rahim Kamara, Reuben Koroma, Francis John Langba and the glue that held them togethe r Efua Grace Ampomah. This band – The Refugee All Stars did not set out looking for fame or wealth. Doing what it did was simply a selfless effort. It will do for Sierra Leone what the film Hotel Rwanda did for Rwanda – that is keeping the facts about the story alive and in the limelight. Sounds of Brazil (SOBs) in New York City recently played host with a film screening and concert. The band and film are currently touring major cities in the U.S. For more information and tour dates, visit www.refugeeallstars.org Article & Pictures by Oyiza Adaba - a U.S-based International Correspondent and a contributor to this service
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