‘Let’s sing like Sierra Leoneans artists…’ - Jah Man

By Keifala Kosia

Popular Sierra Leonean Reggae musician Jah Man says our musicians should desist from copying the Nigerian (foreign) way of singing and try to be original.

He says the practice of some musicians singing like Nigerians is a negative trend and that such songs will not last the test of time.

He appeals to his fellow musicians to realize that they are cultural ambassadors who should help to promote the positive aspects of their country. He mentions the role that Jamaican musicians play to make their country ‘a Mecca for Tourists’.

“Musicians are supposed to be another form of identification of a country,” he says.

He also mentions Country music, Western music and Jazz, which he says can be identified as music from the United States of America.

“Have you ever seen a British musician doing Country and Western music?” asks Jah Man.

According to Jah Man, Sierra Leonean musicians who imitate Nigerian style of singing in Pidgin are destroying their roots. He, however, commends Emerson Bockarie whom he says sings like a Sierra Leonean and successfully blends Krio and English.

“Nigeria has enough of musicians who sing in their Pidgin without listening to Sierra Leonean musicians who they don’t know,” says Jah Man.

Jah Man condemns the recent destruction of the beach bar ‘On the Rock’ and describes the act as negative.

“Government can’t employ all the youths; so if they are engaged in fund raising activities I don’t see why they should be discouraged,” he says.

People, mostly tourists, used to visit The Rock to buy cultural art and craft wares and to have good time.