In the autumn of 2018 a diverse group of musicians from Iceland, Ireland, the UK and Sierra Leone gathered in Freetown and now the fruits of their labour is out in the world. Brought together by the Freetown Music Festival, Osusu is a British Council and Aurora Foundation-supported project that saw 17 artists gather for a week with the likes of Sierra Leone’s Drizilik, Daniel Bangura and Fantacee Wiz joined by Loah, Nabihah Iqbal and Rudimental’s Mark Cross. The resulting singles have been released on a regular basis, each one accompanied by a corresponding image from British Sierra Leonean photographer Henry J Kamara.

And now, the collective has released the compilation album, Osusu Volume 1, featuring 12 tracks that were created during that fruitful recording session. Released on Molten Keys and Cuppa Gumbo, it comes stunningly presented in cloth from menswear designer Foday Dumbuya of Labrum, while a three-part documentary will launch soon, too.

“This is such a modern celebration of all the best parts of an increasingly accessible and globalised world,” opines Sallay Matu Garnett, aka Loah, an artist with Irish and Sierra Leonean heritage. “At the root of the music and the films was all the artists' commitment to creativity, expression and the generosity of spirit and lack of ego that it takes to successfully collaborate with total strangers.” Gospel singer Daniel Bangura agrees: “The overall vibe is great. Listening to all of the songs again made me realise how much talent we have and how blessed we are to be able to write these songs together.”

The undeniably good energy of Osusu can be attributed in part to the fact that it was built in this enduringly inspiring West African country. “There is a warmth, gorgeousness and rugged humour to the project because it took place in Sierra Leone - or Sweet Salone as we call it - which is both utterly charming and yet also very logistically challenging,” explains Garnett. “We were all in it together. It's the first experience of its kind here and I really hope we've set a precedent for much more community sharing.”

Bangura adds: “I learnt that despite our different cultures and background, we speak the same language and that is music.” This Sierra Leonean star also hopes that the efforts of this musical group will help refocus public perceptions of his country into positive realms driven by local creativity. “I hope to see a paradigm shift about Sierra Leone in this album,” he says. “We should be known for creativity in music and art not just for Ebola, mudslide and a gruesome rebel war.”

With its soulful sounds, ranging from afrobeats to jazz, disco, reggae and new school rap, this truly collaborative work exudes uplifting messages and innovative compositions that look to the country’s huge potential. “I would love for this project to allow people to see how beautiful Sierra Leone is and how creative and hardworking its people are,” Garnett muses. “Don't sleep on Salone because there are some really serious and talented people with big, big stories to tell of the ups and downs that have gone on there the past few decades. I'm really excited about the future. The only way is up.”

Osusu Volume 1 is out now on Molten Keys/Cuppa Gumbo and features Drizilk, Fantacee Wiz, Daniel Bangura, Emmanuel Edwards, The Jellibas, Solo’s Beats, Mark Crown, Nabihah Iqbal, Brother Portrait, Loah, Arnljótur, Cell7, Hildur, Logi Pedro and Samúel Jón Samúelsson

Photography Henry Kamara

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Published on 25/12/2019