Miss Salone returns from Miss World with honours

Chic, slim, elegant, vivacious, articulate Miss Salone, 20-year-old Fatmatu Turay, returned home last week Wednesday, December 5, 2007, from the Miss World Annual Premier Beauty Pageant held in Sanya, China, on December 1, 2007 (World AIDS Day) full of determination to continue flying the country's flag in future contests.

Fatmata Turay, reports say, outshined her fellow Africans and ended up with an enviable 20th position out of 106 countries that participated.

However, the outspoken Miss Sierra Leone was quick to point to the country's nonchalant attitude towards the promotion of such cultural activities.

While all the other contestants had their families and friends around to ginger them on with countries like South Africa having their President at the pageant, she said she had to face it all alone.

Miss Turay proudly announces that in the sub segments of the competition, she won the Miss West Africa hands down as well as qualified for the grand final which comprises of 25 contestants.

It was all in all a very pleasant experience for Miss Turay considering the initial hurdles she faced getting her ticket and visa.

She arrived in China later than all the other contestants.

She said the very afternoon she got there, she met the contestants training and without any protest joined them and immediately threw shivers into them as she knew all the steps and moves. I formed great friendships in China, she said especially with Miss Sweden and Miss Vietnam.

She said she had an invitation from Miss Sweden to visit that country. Many spin off benefits accrued to Miss Turay for taking part in Miss World

Miss Turay's path to Miss World was preceded by a win of twelve local competitions - she is simply unbeatable at home. The last she won before taking part in Miss World was Miss Mabinty. "I don't feel inclined to take part in any more local beauty shows, considering the level I have attained," she said.

Miss Turay said she visited many parts of China. "China is extraordinarily beautiful," she explained, "but very cold during this time of the year."

She has invitations to other pending beauty events like the penultimate Miss Earth.

Along the way also she picked up modeling advert invitation from England and many other promoters. "I am now set to go places." She said the one month she spent in China had given her a smattering of the Language and that she can now sing in Chinese. Sierra Leonean musicians based in China like KOK gave her support during the competition.

Miss Turay's trip to China was sponsored by Madam Yoko Entertainment proprietor Mr. Sida Mansaray who spent over Le35 million to get her to China. "Mr. Sida Ansumana Mansaray is a true patriot of this country and has plans to improve the Tourism Industry," Miss Turay noted.

Mr. Sida Mansaray is a Sierra Leonean from Bumbuna area in Tonkolili district. He has made a lot of donations to his native people in Tonkolili where he grew up and attended both primary and secondary school.

He has established Madam Yoko Entertainment in England and Freetown             

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BIC in Kiss 104 FM Carnival

By Abubakarr Kamara

With less than a week to KISS 104 FM carnival in Bo Coronation Grounds on the 24^th, 25^th and 26^th December, several artistes are warming up to grace the occasion and make a name for themselves.

Among such artistes is a group named Born Inspiration Citizens (BIC)-a group comprising of three male and a female. Their names are Lamin Sandy (L-Max), Augustine Sennu (Base Ball), Ishmael Bayoh (Ish B) and Isatu Kemah Bayoh (IK).

BIC were in Freetown two months ago to record their debut album at Forensic Records under the technical assistance of both Dave Mike and the most experience engineer in town, Alie Conteh. The group is now set to perform in front of its numerous fans at home in a carnival that most people in Bo town compared to the annual Premier Media/Celtel Musical Awards.

Speaking to KES last Saturday, leading vocalist Lamin Sandy said the album is almost done, adding that they are going to perform at least two songs from their new album at the carnival and was pretty sure that they would send the audience to wild jubilation.

He said BIC is a household name in the township and therefore has no doubt that when their promo comes out next week, it will be appreciated by the people.

“The album is a 12-song album comprising of Hip-Hop, Zouk, R&B and African beat. We’ve been in the business for quite a long time and therefore knew exactly what type of music Sierra Leoneans want,” said Lamin Sandy.

Lamin revealed that their album also features Sierra Leone’s rap master Pupa Baja and the Lady’s doctor M2,

When M2 was contacted, she said she has been longing to go to Bo town and performed at the Coronation grounds in order to form a vibrant fan club in the township. She said her collaboration with BIC will be a stepping stone towards achieving her aspirations.

“BIC is a very young but energetic and talented group. I’m very pleased to have collaborated with them in two of their best songs and God willing, I’ll be in Bo Town during the launching ceremony,” said M2.

BIC’s Manager Osman Kamara said everything is in place for both the VIP and public launching on the 12, 13 and 14^th February. The VIP launching will take place at the Methodist Youth Resource Center in Bo Town on the 12^th, while the public launch will take place at the Coronation Grounds on the 13^th and 14^th. He said the launching is going to be a first of its kind with several notable artists from Freetown set to grace the show.

“We’ve done everything humanely possible to see BIC attain the pinnacle of music in the country. We’ll surely do our best to release the album in mid January,” said Kamara

The show will also host more than 20 secondary schools in a Miss Valentine contest. The contest will be done in both junior (for JSS schools) and senior (for SSS schools) categories, which will see the top three of each category receiving attractive prizes and certificates of merit. All participating schools will receive consolation prizes and certificate of participation.