Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars

About Me

CHECK OUT OUR MERCH - SIERRA LEONE'S REFUGEE ALL STARS CDs, T-SHIRTS, HATS & MORE AT THE BAND'S ONLINE MERCH STORE - CLICK ON THE ICON ABOVE! ************************************************************ ************************
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars are a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the transcendent power of music. Born in the midst of a violent, decade-long civil war, the band and its music celebrate our ability to sustain hope, inspiration and creativity even in a climate of rage, loss and madness.
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars are comprised of musicians who lived for years as refugees in the West African nation of Guinea. Before having to flee their country, all of the members of the band lived in or around Sierra Leone's capital city, Freetown. Throughout the 1990s, Freetown had remained relatively safe from the rebel war that had turned much of the country into a bloody battlefield. Then in 1999 rebels attacked the city and forced a panicked mass exodus to neighboring countries. Many of the band members separately made their way to Sembakounya Refugee Camp in Guinea. Music brought them together and through a Refugee Aid Organization they were able to acquire a couple of beat up electric guitars along with a rusted out sound system and began forming Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars.
At Sembakounya Camp, an American documentary film crew met Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. After hearing their music and listening to their stories, they decided to make the band the focus of their new film. Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars documentary film has now won thirteen major film awards at festivals across the world. The film recently aired on PBS nationwide on the Independent Documentary Film Series, Point of View (P.O.V.) and was officially released on DVD via Netflix.
The music of Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars is a spirited, infectious, and soothing blend of traditional West African music, roots reggae and classic Rhythm & Blues. Their message-oriented songs decry the insanity of war, call out for social justice and wryly comment on the corruption that surrounds them. Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars use their music to transform and uplift, to carry them beyond their past, and to heal. The band has seen the worst that this world can offer - yet, through their unflinching spirit and joyful sound they celebrate the best in all of us, and thankfully, they are now sharing their message and uplifting music throughout the world.
* Tour dates and show details are listed on this page.
For more great photos of Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, you can visit Jane Richey Photography
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars http://SLRAllStars.bebo.com/

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 1/18/2006
Band Website: sierraleonesrefugeeallstars.com/
Influences: Bob Marley, James Brown, S.E. Rogie, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Busta' Rhymes, Ice Cube,Culture
Sounds Like: ************************************************************ **********************
SIERRA LEONES REFUGEE ALL STARS TOUR IS NOW UNDERWAY - CHECK OUT OUR TOUR DATES TO FIND A TOWN NEAR YOU!
The NORTH AMERICAN WINTER TOUR for Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars BEGINS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23RD!CHECK OUT OUR FRIENDS LETTER HERE TO GET UP TO DATE ALL STARS INFO - all the details of band events throughout the tour, upcoming projects and new merch available for purchase!!
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SLRAS PERFORM "YA N'DIGBA" AT FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL IN JAPAN
BLACK NATURE FEATURED ON MTVu's "CAUSE EFFECT" PROGRAM
DOCUMENTARY FILM PREVIEW FOR "SIERRA LEONE'S REFUGEE ALL STARS" AIRED ON PBS' ACCLAIMED P.O.V. SERIES
SIERRA LEONE'S REFUGEE ALL STARS DVD - - BUY THE DVD HERE!
SLRAS SEGMENT AIRED ON VOICE OF AMERICA (VOA)
SIERRA LEONE'S REFUGEE ALL STARS TO PLAY LANGERADO FESTIVAL!

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Record Label: ANTI- http://www.anti.com/artist.php?id=37
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

S.L. ALL STARS FEATURED ON NEW "AFRICA CELEBRATES U2" ALBUM, IN STORES APRIL 1!

SIERRA LEONE'S REFUGEE ALL STARS FEATURED ON "IN THE NAME OF LOVE: AFRICA CELEBRATES U2," IN STORES APRIL 1 Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars appear with Aerosmith's Joe Perry on a cover version of U2'...
Posted by Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars on Thu, 28 Feb 2008 03:50:00 PST

SIERRA LEONES REFUGEE ALL STARS TOUR BEGINS 1/23!

The NORTH AMERICAN WINTER TOUR for Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars BEGINS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23RD! Check out our friends letter below to get up to date on all the details of band events throughout t...
Posted by Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 02:00:00 PST

Sierra Leones Refugee All Stars member Black Nature featured on MTVus Cause Effect Program

Black Nature, the youngest member of Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, is featured on an episode of MTVu's program "Cause Effect," airing this Wednesday, December 12th. "Cause Effect" profiles student...
Posted by Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:55:00 PST

MERCH SALE JUST ANNOUNCED! Special Holiday Savings on Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars Gear!

Greetings Fans!Port Merch, the official online store for Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, would like to offer you a special discount on your next purchase! Prices have been lowered on many of the ite...
Posted by Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars on Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:19:00 PST

RECENT TOURING HIGHLIGHTS & COLLABORATIONS

Only recently having emerged from refugee status themselves, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars have already begun helping others still in need through their work with Amnesty International, the United ...
Posted by Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars on Sat, 13 Oct 2007 04:22:00 PST

Documentary Sierra Leones Refugee All Stars

Backed by the likes of Keith Richards, Sir Paul McCartney, Ice Cube, Angelina Jolie and executive producers Steve Bing and Shelley Lazar - the resulting documentary film, Sierra Leone's Refugee All St...
Posted by Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars on Sat, 13 Oct 2007 04:20:00 PST

Living Like A Refugee - Album & Song descriptions

Championed by The New York Times, critic Stephen Holden wrote, "As harrowing as these personal tales may be, the music buoying them is uplifting. The cliché bears repeating: music heals and creates co...
Posted by Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars on Sat, 13 Oct 2007 04:18:00 PST

History of the Band

Near the turn of the 21st century, rebel forces attacked Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone, forcing a panicked mass exodus to neighboring countries. Among the thousands who fled were musician...
Posted by Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars on Sat, 13 Oct 2007 04:15:00 PST

Jambase Review

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars:Living Like a Refugee By: Chris PacificoLiving Like a Refugee is clear evidence of the power of music to heal and overcome life's most trying tribulations. Sierra Leon...
Posted by Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars on Mon, 02 Apr 2007 01:09:00 PST

A Letter From Reuben

Photo by: Rob WilliamsWe have just returned from our very first tour of Europe and we are eager to go back already and see the rest of the continent. It was nice seeing people in London and Amsterdam ...
Posted by Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars on Sat, 23 Dec 2006 05:59:00 PST