Share ....For this mild mannered singer/songwriter, whose decent stems from the migrants of the Bantu tribes of south central Africa (the Tiv people, he talks too much too), the journey thru the world of music has been adventurous as an Indiana jones story. Going against the prevalent examples of artistes who have crossed over from Christian music to the secular field, Bem Sar has gone in the opposite direction. This change came early in his career so that none of his work in that period made headway beyond Makurdi, Benue state. However, it was significantly strong enough to earn him the recognition and fellowship of several industry practitioners. Starting from a foundation of R n B and Hip Hop, Bem Sar struggled to write lyrics that were relational and socially conscious. It was the late 1990s. Making friends with DJs helped get rotation on the local station and built his reputation as an artiste, particularly on the campuses of the Benue State University and The federal university of agriculture. Seeking to expand his horizon, he took a trip to Abuja. This coincided with a two million man march in 1998 when he got his first taste of performing with a live band at the Nicon Noga Hilton for a few nights. This singular experience drove him to pick up the guitar his father once taught him with. At this point dissatisfactions about his life began to set in and thru a unique experience his brother had, coupled with his search for wholeness in scripture,he declared a turn in his life thru Jesus Christ and dropped music altogether. It took the words of an aquiantance, whom he was sure knew nothing of his creative passions, to put him back on course. "That day" He says "I knew what it meant to hear from GOD." For the next several months all he did however, was study scripture and learn what message to carry and how to deliver it. Not knowing many Christian artistes, Bem Sar had little support but went on in the pattern that he knew, writing relational and socially conscious songs, but this time reflecting his new faith. His involvement with a youth based church in Gboko, Benue State offered a platform for this new expression and it was at this time that he wrote his most celebrated song "Something good". He relocated to Abuja where his network of contemporaries grew. Bem Sar has two bodies of work ‘For the life of me’ which is currently for sale online and ‘Raising Dust’. A fast growing community of followers of his can be found at www.myspace.com/bemsar and www.facebook.com/bemsar. ‘ I am bound by the meaning of my name which means Peace Spreader, to spread the message of the peace of God beyond known and acceptable territories.’He currently lives in Abuja and performs regularly, expanding his playing field to various longes, schools, faith based organisations and events hosted by media outfits and the diplomatic corps. Bem Sar is also an enthusiast of the culinary arts and sees himself as a re-crossover act.Contact/enquiries: +2348058234701, +2348050736444,
[email protected]
