CINEMA-SIERRA LEONE: Lights, Camera, Smile!

By Lansana Fofana Reprint | | Print |

Lansana Fofana

FREETOWN, Sep 8 1998 (IPS) - Multi-talented artist Ernest Brewah oftern is described in Sierra Leone as this West African nation’s version of the African-American movie star Eddie Murphy.

The sassy, broad-shouldered and broad-minded Brewah is an actor, dancer, dramatist, script-writer, poet, producer and director all rolled into one. He describes himself as: “A local actor, somebody you know, your friend born right here in Freetown, who is always happy to see or put smiles and laughter on other people’s faces.”

He idolises comedian/actor Murphy. ” Eddie Murphy is my model. I want to be able to perform and act to my best…” Brewah says

The talented articst got his start during high school. “After I played the role of Shakespeare’s MacBeth to the astonishment of several dignitaries at my school’s auditorium, I was instantly spotted by a kind teacher who told me I would be a big actor some day.”

When he finished high school in 1985, Brewah briefly worked as a prison warder and then took to the dance stage with ‘The Whispers Group’. He danced and pantomimed to thousands, and was quickly nicknamed ‘John Travolta The Dancer’.

Five years later in 1990, Brewah joined the Bintuman Players and was featured in dozens of plays which he either wrote, directed or produced. This group was quickly signed up with a local beach hotel in Freetown and has entertained hundreds of tourists from western Europe and North America.

“It was quite exciting to be performing to a sophisticated audience at the hotel resort. And today, I can say those formative days helped shape my creative abilities,” Brewah told IPS.

Besides the Bintumani Players, he also leads another drama group, Kailondo Theatre. But his most popular role is that of Vamboy, a character created by the Bintumani Players.

“Vamboy is a 65-year-old man, a smart old guy who loves his name. He’s excited when you call him the only Mende (one of the local ethnic groups) with dignity and quality, and he loves his wife so much and pretends to be clever,”