/ARTS WEEKLY/MUSIC-SIERRA LEONE: South African Reggae Star Thrills Fans

By Lansana Fofana Reprint | | Print |

Lansana Fofana

FREETOWN, Jan 9 2003 (IPS) - South African-born reggae sensation Lucky Dube thrilled thousands of his fans at the National Stadium in the capital, Freetown, in a yearend concert dubbed ”Smile Sierra Leone”.

”We put up the concert because we are sure of peace and security in the country now and knew Lucky Dube is immensely popular in Sierra Leone with his political as well as soothing lyrics,” says Ahmed Sesay of Pyramid Promotions, one of the organisers of the show.

Lucky Dube’s performance was electrifying and sent top government officials, holidaymakers from Europe and North America and youth in the mood of celebration.

The youth were in the majority and they came from various backgrounds: ex-rebels and government soldiers to demobilised militia fighters.

It was a moment of peace and national reconciliation as former rival youth fighters hung out together, puffing joints of marijuana smoke and talking about consolidating the peace, something unthinkable barely a year ago.

The West African state of Sierra Leone ended a decade of violent civil war in January last year. Previous attempts to bring Dube were thwarted by the climate of insecurity and chaos in Sierra Leone.

Dube himself said in local radio interviews that ”it was an opportunity for me to come to Sierra Leone and send my message of peace and love out to the people”.

Music analyst George Cole says: ”I believe Lucky Dube is the most widely loved reggae artist in Sierra Leone after the late Bob Marley” of Jamaica.

Cole says Dube’s political lyrics and energetic stage performance is an added factor for his popularity in Sierra Leone.

The organisers of the ‘Smile Sierra Leone’ concert say their motive was to prove to the world that it is not all about doom and gloom in Sierra Leone and that the country is now enjoying peace while looking forward to foreign capital and tourism inflow.

Sierra Leoneans are no strangers to reggae music and big international acts who stage concerts in Freetown. Jamaican groups performed twice before in the 1990s and are equally as popular.

But the Dube concert was much more popular because of people’s expectation and yearnings for post-war revitalisation. The National Stadium has been rehabilitated with help from the Chinese and cultural as well as musical concerts are being staged there.

When Dube took the stage at about 2 a.m., the several thousands of fans went haywire. They sang in unison with Dube and followed the dance steps of his back-up band members. From songs like ”Slaves” and ”prisoner” to ” victims”, Dube took his audience through a series of albums, not resting for two or so hours. The audience was held spellbound, and asked for more.

As Dube leaves the shores of Sierra Leone, he leaves behind a controversial debate about his energetic performance. ”As far as I know Lucky Dube neither smokes nor drinks. He is cool and level headed,” says Sesay.

Joseph Kamara, 20, who attended the concert, retorts: ”With Lucky Dube’s performance style, the guy must have extraordinary energy.”

Like before his arrival, Dube’s music is still blaring from speakers across the city, in night clubs, pubs and public transport vehicles. One fan told IPS: ”Lucky Dube will remain a legend here, we love him.”