A4P campaigns for peaceful elections

By Ahmed Sahid Nasralla (De Monk)

Artistes 4 Peace musicians, Velma and Wahid

Artists for Peace on Sunday performed in the Eastern town of Kenema as part of their provincial peace campaign for the forthcoming local government elections.

The local peace ambassadors performed songs, comedy, drama and cracked jokes promoting the twin message of peace and non-violence among supporters and elections candidates.

The artists were reportedly literary mobbed by crowds of fans that came out on the street in front of the Capitol cinema.

Earlier, on their arrival in the township, the A4P paid courtesy calls on the Police and NEC officials, and visited ghettoes appealing to the youth to love one another, abhor violence, and resist being misused by politicians.

The artists had lengthy discussion with the Police on the subject of security.

This has been their routine in each of the towns they have toured since they left Freetown more than a week ago.

“The role of the police is crucial in complementing our efforts to promote peace and non-violence among the people,” leader of the group, Cee Jay, told KES on the phone from Kenema yesterday.

In Kono, where they spent three days, the A4P lodged at the D&S Guest House and performed to a large crowd outside the Opera cinema.

From Kono they traveled to Makeni and stayed there for two days. Some members lodged at the popular MJ Hotel while others put up with a local friend called King Nado. They performed at the Independence Square on their second day in the township before leaving for Kenema.

Yesterday, the area around the Capitol in Kenema was crowded with people as the A4P performed and passed on the peace and non-violence message.

Today the A4P are expected to travel to Bo where they will end their provincial tour and return to Freetown for a massive rally.

A total of 26 members (including two UNDP officials) made the trip. Cee Jay, Wahid, Buberry, Camouflag, Lady Laurish, K-One, Problem M, DX3, Peoples, Black Juice of Positive Crew and B-Black are part of the entourage. Also famous cultural group Freetong Players, MC Huzo Rex, popular comedian Vamboi, and visual artist Ken.

The A4P are working in close collaboration with the UNDP in Sierra Leone. Their role in spreading the peace message across in the last general elections was highly commended. The former ERSG to Sierra Leone, Victor Angelo, described them as the true heroes for peace and non-violence in the 2007 general elections while new Minister of Information and Communications, Mr I B Kargbo, hailed them as the best citizens of Sierra Leone.

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Good News for Musicians: UNDP ready to fight piracy

By Ahmed Sahid Nasralla (De Monk)

Peter Tayong

UNDP’s Communication and External Relations Specialist, Peter Ngu Tayong, has said he’ll soon start a vigorous campaign against piracy in Sierra Leone.

“It’s a shame; almost everybody is selling a pirated copy of the works of artists along the streets of Freetown,” lamented Tayong.

He said it’s a real pity that most Sierra Leonean artists couldn’t have two square meals a day despite their tremendous works of talents out there in the market.

“Artists must live on their talents. Nobody should deprive them of that,” said Tayong, who’s working closely with the Artists for Peace in promoting peace and non-violence among Sierra Leoneans.

Mr Tayong was speaking last Thursday at an informal meeting of local poets at the Bamboo Hut at Wilkinson Road.

Tayong’s outburst on piracy will be greatly welcomed by local artists who have repeatedly accused the government of treating the blatant piracy in the country with levity.

Last month musicians Shadrach and Ragga Spice were molested when they attempted to personally arrest traders selling illegal copies of artists’ music albums.