Sierra Leones Refugee All Stars Recent News

Sierra Leone's Refugee All-Stars Bring Their Message of Hope and Courage Back to the U.S

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:12:00 -0800

Six Week Tour Visits Universities, College Campuses and Theaters
The Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars return to stages across the U.S. early next year in support of their acclaimed Anti- Records release Living Like A Refugee, bringing with them a spirited and infectious fusion of traditional West African music, roots reggae and classic rhythm 'n blues. The national tour will touch down on campuses and theaters, including a performance at Royce Hall at the University of California Los Angeles, famed for its "UCLA Live" cultural series. The SLRAS' tour will conclude in March with a performance at 2008's Langerado Music Festival alongside the likes of R.E.M, the Beastie Boys and the Roots.

The past few years have been an exciting time for the former refugees. They have appeared on everything from NPR's "Talk of the Nation" to the Oprah Winfrey Show, describing their journey fleeing from civil war in their home country of Sierra Leone, to the refugee camps in West Africa where the All Stars met and became a band, into the world's spotlight, where they proclaim their inspirational message of hope and courage through infectious grooves.

Additionally, the self-named documentary film which started their journey from refugee camp to world stage has screened to great critical acclaim at film festivals all over the world over the past few years, winning 13 awards, such as the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the AFI Film Festival in 2005. They have been hugely supported by celebrity/activists such as Sir Paul McCartney, Keith Richards and Angelina Jolie in the presentation of the film, which documents the story of the band and their triumph over the worst kinds of adversity.

The All Stars appeared with R.E.M, U2, Green Day and others on the Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur release, Instant Karma. On the CD, the band collaborated with the legendary rockers Aerosmith on the John Lennon classic, "Give Peace A Chance." The band is also joined by Joe Perry on a cover version of U2's "Seconds" for the compilation CD, In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2, set for release April 1st, 2008. A portion of the album's proceeds will directly benefit The Global Fund and features 12 artists each representing a different region of Africa.

Diverse in age and character, from Reuben M. Koroma, the sage, 43-year old songwriter and guiding light of the group, to Black Nature, an orphaned 20-year-old rapper, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars have a common bond of in the loss and displacement and a shared belief in the transformative power of music. "As harrowing as these personal tales may be, the music buoying them is uplifting," writes New York Times critic Stephen Holden. "The clichÃ© bears repeating: music heals and creates community."

Make sure to catch the spirit with the Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars on the following dates:

1/23/2008 - Agnes Scott College - Decatur, GA
1/24/2008 - University of Tennessee - Knoxville, TN
1/26/2008 - The Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC
1/27/2008 - Carver Theater - Birmingham, AL
1/28/2008 - Middle Tennesee State University - Murfreesboro, TN
2/2/2008 - Granada Theater - Dallas, TX
2/4/2008 - The Blue Note - Columbia, MO
2/6/2008 - Fox Theatre & Cafe - Boulder, CO
2/8/2008 - Wheeler Opera House - Aspen, CO
2/9/2008 - Lensic Performing Arts Center - Santa Fe, NM
2/10/2008 - KTAO Solar Center - Taos, NM
2/13/2008 - Irvine Barclay Theatre - Irvine, CA
2/15/2008 - UC Santa Barbara-Campbell Hal - Santa Barbara, CA
2/16/2008 - UCLA -Royce Hall - Los Angeles, CA
2/17/2008 - Scottsdale Center for the Arts - Scottsdale, AZ
2/19/2008 - Rio Theatre - Santa Cruz, CA
2/20/2008 - Humboldt State University - Arcata, CA
2/21/2008 - John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts - Eugene, OR
2/23/2008 - Moore Theatre - Seattle, WA
2/24/2008 - Broadway Center for the Performing Arts - Tacoma, WA
2/26/2008 - Wilma Theater - Missoula, MT
2/27/2008 - Emerson Theater - Bozeman, MT
3/3/2008 - Guthrie Theater - Minneapolis, MN
3/7/2008 - Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation - Big Cypress, FL

Sierra Leone�s Refugee All Stars are covered by Newark Star-Ledger

Sat, 21 Oct 2006 00:10:00 -0700

Inspiring refugees: Life in Sierra Leone -- one of the poorest countries in the world -- was already bad, but it got worse in the 1990s, when it was torn apart by 10 years of horrific civil war. The conflict sent one-third of the population into ragtag refugee camps.

Among those refugees lived Reuben Koroma, a musician who realized music could do more than just entertain -- it could heal.

A year after leaving his home for a refuge camp in Guinea in 1997, Koroma got together with other musicians in the refugee camps and began to sing songs he wrote about their life there. While the lyrics are often dire, the music -- a mix of reggae and West African sounds, and an occasional bit of rap -- was generally upbeat; not surprising, since the music was made to lift the spirits of destitute people.

The group, now known as the Refugee All Stars of Sierra Leone, brings the mixed emotions of their songs to Manhattan's S.O.B.'s Tuesday. A documentary about the group runs before the concert.

In the title song, "Living Like a Refugee" (Anti), Koroma paints a bleak inventory of life in the camps: "You got to live in a tarpaulin house, which is so hot/You got to sleep on a tarpaulin mat, which is so cold." In another tune, he writes about homemade soda soap, which the refugees had rejected in their former lives, but were now forced to use.

The group fled again when Guineans attacked their camp. As the band moved from camp to camp, it added members -- and instruments. (It began with just voices, an acoustic guitar and a bit of percussion.) A Canadian aid group gave the band electric guitars and a beaten-up sound system.

In 2002, the performers met two American filmmakers, Zach Niles and Banker White. The duo realized the group's story needed to be told, so over three years they filmed and interviewed the members. The documentary, "The Refugee All Stars," became a hit at film festivals and led the band to a recording contract. They went from playing dusty refugee camps to tony concert halls.

Also in 2002, United Nations and British troops helped broker a ceasefire in Sierra Leone and Koroma, and the All Stars returned to their homes. Asked how he is doing, Koroma said he is "living with no fear."

While the group's music was created principally to give themselves and their fellow refugees hope, they continue to play. Their goal now is to let people around the world know about the horrible conditions in which refugees live, and that "war is not good for every human being," Koroma said.

Koroma said he would like to go to other areas where there are camps, such as the Darfur area of Sudan, to play and give the people hope.
"I think I'm a model -- I overcame the refugee situation. I can give them courage."

"There's a lot of poverty," Koroma said about the current state of his homeland, but added "as long as there is peace, there is hope for development."

Friday, October 20, 2006
BY MARTY LIPP
For the Star-Ledger

Sierra Leone�s Refugee All Stars visit the Wonder Ballroom

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 00:09:00 -0700

November 11th: Sierra Leone�s Refugee All Stars and Guests will visit the Wonder Ballroom. Debut Album out on Anti- Records September 26th!

Sierra Leone�s Refugee All Stars will play the Wonder Ballroom on Saturday November 11th, 2006 at 8:00pm. Doors will open at 7:00pm, this an all ages show with full bar available for 21+, tickets are $18 in advance plus service charge. Tickets are available at the Wonder Ballroom Box Office, Jackpot Records, and all Ticketmaster outlets.

With a spirited and infectious fusion of traditional West African music, roots reggae and rhythmic traditional folk, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars craft music that transforms and uplifts. Their songs decry the insanity of war and call out for social justice while instantly compelling you to get on your feet and dance. Having lived through unimaginable tragedy, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars have become an inspiration and a symbol of the healing power of music. As New York Times critic Stephen Holden wrote, �As harrowing as these personal tales may be, the music buoying them is uplifting. The clich� bears repeating: music heals and creates community.�

For more info check out:

http://rosebudus.com/refugeeallstars/index.html