Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars

This article is about the band. For the documentary film, see Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars (film).

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars playing at the Festival International de Louisiane
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars playing at the Festival International de Louisiane
Background information
OriginSierra Leone
GenresBaskeda, World, African
Years active2002–present
LabelsCumbancha
Websitewww.sierraleonesrefugeeallstars.com

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars (also called Refugee All Stars) is a band from Sierra Leone which was formed by a group of refugees displaced to Guinea during the Sierra Leone Civil War. Since their return to Freetown in 2004, the band has toured extensively to raise awareness for humanitarian causes.[1] Their story is documented in the 2005 documentary film Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars.[2]

Performing at SXSW in 2006

Their debut album, Living Like a Refugee, was released on the label Anti in Europe on 25 September 2006, and in the US on September, 26 2006.[3][4][5] Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars' second studio album, Rise & Shine, was released 23 March 2010 by Cumbancha, and earned 2010 Album of the Year on the World Music Charts Europe.[6][5] The album was produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, recorded at Piety Street Studio in New Orleans and features local guest musicians Trombone Shorty, Washboard Chaz, and Bonerama.[7]

The band's third studio album, Radio Salone, was released on 24 April 2012, by Cumbancha. The album was produced by Victor Axelrod, aka Ticklah and recorded at Dunham Studios in Brooklyn, NY.[8] Marking the band's 10th anniversary, their most recent album Libation was released on 18 March 2014. It features elements of highlife and reggae as well as Afro-Latin rhythms.[9] The album was recorded at Lane Gibson Recording & Mastering, produced by Chris Velan, and mixed by Iestyn Polson.[10]

The band is formed of musicians Reuben M. Koroma (vocals), Ashade Pearce (vocals, rhythm guitar), Jahson Gbassay Bull (keyboard, organ, rhythm guitar), Alhaji Jeffrey Kamara aka Black Nature (rap, vocals, percussion), Mohamed Kamara aka Makengo (vocals, percussion), Augustine Kobina Valcarcel (lead guitar), Dennis Bakarr Sannoh (bass guitar, vocals), and Christopher Wagbay Davies (drum kit, percussion).[8]

  1. ^ POV (23 January 2007). "Film Description | Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars | POV | PBS". POV | American Documentary Inc. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  2. ^ Refugee All Stars, Sierra Leone's, retrieved 24 July 2019
  3. ^ "Sierra Leones Refugee All Stars Living Like a Refugee". ANTI-. Archived from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  4. ^ Eyre, Banning (17 October 2006). "Band on the run Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars". Phoenix Media/Communications Group. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Our Story". sierraleonesrefugeeallstars.com. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  6. ^ "Rise & Shine, by Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars". Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars". www.rosebudus.com. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Radio Salone, by Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars". Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  9. ^ "Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars Celebrate 10 Years With 'Libation'". OkayAfrica. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  10. ^ "Libation, by Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars". Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. Retrieved 24 July 2019.