Emmerson Bockarie

Emmerson Amidu Bockarie (born December 23, 1980), better known as Emmerson, is a Sierra Leonean Afropop singer. His music focuses on political topics relating to corruption in the government of Sierra Leone, and he has become well known in his country for lyrics that promote social change.[1][2][3] He sings in the Krio and English languages.

Emmerson Bockarie
Background information
Birth nameEmmerson Amidu Bockarie
Born (1980-12-23) December 23, 1980
Freetown, Sierra Leone
OriginKenema, Sierra Leone
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, Actor and Activist
Years active2002–present
LabelsSugar Entertainment
Websitemyemmerson.net

Life and career

Bockarie was born in Kenema, Sierra Leone. He dropped out of a computer engineering program at Njala University to pursue his aspirations in music.[4] His first release was a mixtape called Bodyguard Compilation, Volume One (2002), which contained a single, "Yu Go See Am".[5] A studio album, Borbor Belleh, with supporting vocals by Velma "Vee" Richards, followed in October 2004.[3][4] His later albums include 2 Fut Arata (2007), Yesterday Betteh Pass Tiday (2010), Rise (2012), Kokobeh (2013), Home and Away (2014), and Survivor (2016).[6][7][8] In May 2017 he released a new single, "Love Me". Among his previous singles are "Telescope" (2015) and "Tutu Pati".[9]

One of Emmerson's anti-corruption-themed protest songs, "Borbor Bele" (which means "Potbellied Boy"), spoke to the frustration and disillusionment Sierra Leoneans felt towards their leaders/ruling class. The album largely addressed the kleptocratic institutions and the culture and ideology that drives them.[10] "Borbor Bele" spoke about many of the reasons as to why the incumbent Sierra Leone People's Party should lose to the All People's Congress in the 2007 Sierra Leonean general election.[11][12]

See also

References
  1. Brown, Ryan Lenora (June 10, 2016). "Sierra Leone's politically minded pop star captures his country's ear". The Christian Science Monitor. Christian Science Publishing Society. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  2. Hanciles, Oswald (January 22, 2014). "Emmerson's Political Bomb or Love Warning…". Sierra Express Media. Adeyemi Paul. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  3. Kabba, Karamoh (October 24, 2005). "Tutu Party Is "Tutuerapeutic"". Awareness Times. Archived from the original on September 16, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  4. "Emmerson". Music in Africa. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  5. "Emmerson: The pop star challenging Sierra Leone's presidents". Al Jazeera. March 27, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  6. "Emmerson's new album on course to break record sales". Sierra Express Media. January 10, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  7. Remoe, Vickie (January 3, 2014). "Emmerson's songs of love and protest Home and Away album now on iTunes". Switsalone. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  8. "Emerson's latest album Survivor sells 12,000 copies in 24 hours". Satellite News. April 23, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  9. Yai, Corner (April 17, 2015). "Sierra Leone Music: Latest from Emmerson is 'Telescope'". Switsalone. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  10. Aminata Kamara, Esther (May 21, 2018). "Following Government Suppression, Sierra Leone's 'People's Popstar' Is Finally Allowed to Perform". OkayAfrica. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  11. Carnwath, Ally (January 18, 2011). "How the General soundtracked the 'Jasmine Revolution' in Tunisia". The Guardian. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  12. Kraft, Scott (January 3, 2010). "In Sierra Leone, pop music is a beat that drives politics and he is about to drop his new albun come on august 2020". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 2, 2017.

Further reading
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