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// Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars 
Listen to Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars's albums
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© Zach Smith
Rise & Shine
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars release their second album, an inspiring, bouncy testament to resilience.
The loose, skanking reggae and melodic West African grooves on Rise & Shine make for relaxed, sunny listening. The backstory may be obvious given the band’s name; the exuberant optimism of these lilting songs is an astounding testament to their extraordinary resilience. Sierra Leone’s brutal civil war raged from 1991 to 2002 and displaced over two million people. Many fled the violence to neighbouring countries and the core of this band met at Sembakounya refugee camp in Guinea. Bandleader Reuben M. Koroma galvanised the group who would play shows around the camps and found music could help forge a way through the collective trauma.
Eventually returning to Freetown, they released their debut album, Living Like A Refugee in 2006 on Anti, recorded parallel to the award-winning documentary film of the same name, directed by Zach Niles and Banker White. The band have since toured the world, and Rise & Shine was partly recorded in New Orleans with producer Steve Berlin. Their sound retains a welcome low-pressure ease with lyrics sending positive messages like on bouncy reggae protest Global Threat, featuring creamy trombone from Troy Andrews. Rippling soukous guitar powers the up tempo Tamagbondorsu while Bend Down The Corner has a Palm Wine feel. Whether recording around a camp-fire (Watching All Your Ways) or in a Louisiana studio, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars spirit shines through. The whole album feels effortlessly true to the heartfelt expression of this inspiring band.
Living Like A Refugee DVD
is out now www.sodasoap.com
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars – Rise & Shine
is out now in the US and released worldwide 26 April on Cumbancha
US tour - 07 April - 22 May. Info: www.sierraleonesrefugeeallstars.com
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars support Schools For Salone and Ninemillion.org
Introducing Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars
Jody Gillett
// ALSO
- Celebrating Sanctuary
- Tassili
- Pick A Dream
- Refugee Week 2010 launches with Celebrating Sanctuary Festival on 13 June
- L’Afrik C’est Chic // Sunday 26 April with Amadou & Mariam
- Paranoia and passion: Almodovar’s movie music
- Kenyan Connections, Extra Golden
- womex 2009, November 1st
- Khaled, Liberté
// ALL SIERRA LEONE'S REFUGEE ALL STARS'S REVIEWS
Rise & Shine
07/04/2010
// DISCOGRAPHY
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Rise & Shine (Album)
Living Like A Refugee (Album)// LINKS
RELATED ARTISTS
>> Rita Ray & Max Reinhardt
>> Kal
>> Diego El Cigala
>> Kasaï All Stars
>> Souad Massi
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