Sundaygar Dearboy

Michael Davies, popularly known by his stage name Sundaygar Dearboy, is a Liberian singer, songwriter and record producer from Grand Bassa County.[1] He sings primarily in Bassa and Liberian English and has released several studio albums, including See Boyee, Don't Live with Woman (2007) and Rebirth (2012). He was named the Liberian Musician of the Year in 2005-2006, and has produced 13 albums to date.[1][2]

Sundaygar Dearboy
Birth nameMichael Davies
BornDistrict 2, Grand Bassa County, Liberia
GenresHipco, contemporary gospel
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer

Life and music career

Sundaygar Dearboy was born in District 2, Grand Bassa County, Liberia. He is the father of two and the guardian of several others.[2] Dearboy graduated with a degree in criminal justice from AME Zion College.[1] He is the project manager for Liberia Trading & Investment Company (LINTRACO), one of Liberia's trading groups.[3] Dearboy has a significant following among Liberians in the diaspora, particularly in the United States.[2] Speaking on the challenges currently facing the Liberian music industry, Dearboy said, "Not many local artists listen to other music and try to emulate or learn from them. Plus, the local market is not accustomed to promoting what belongs to them. They prefer something from outside".[2] Dearboy produced "Let Us Vote Ma Ellen", the official campaign song for the Unity Party. The song was released during Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's 2005 presidential campaign.[4] Following the song's release, Dearboy's music career hit a political low for nearly four years. He revived his career by releasing "Bayjay", a song endorsed by the Liberian populace.[5] "Bayjay" won Song of the Year at the 2009 Liberian Entertainment Awards.[6]

In 2007, Dearboy released Don't Live with Women, an album that contains the single "Bayjay" and the song "Evil Genius". The album was sponsored by Cellcom and launched at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium. On May 26, 2007, Dearboy performed at UNIBOA's 17th National Convention in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.[1] On June 10, 2012, he released his eight studio album Rebirth.[7] It was distributed by RK Enterprises and features guest appearances from Tupee, Carol Kaifumba and Ghanaian artist Odefor. The album comprises seven songs, including "Gbema", "Zima-Day", and the dancehall track "Monkeh".[8] In June 2013, The Inquirer newspaper reported that Dearboy and several other musicians criticized and belittled the establishment of the Arts & Culture Council of Liberia. They said the organization does not, in any way, represent the views and aspirations of the Liberian entertainment industry.[9] On December 13, 2013, he and other Liberian musicians performed at the National County Sports Meet (NCSM) official kick off, an event sponsored by the Liberia National Culture Union (LINU) and the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT).[10]

In 2020, Dearboy collaborated with Takun J, DenG, Tan Tan, Soul Smiter, Odemz, and Amaze to produce the hipco song "Sanitize". The artists released the song in order to raise awareness about Covid-19 and encourage Liberians to practice good hygiene.[11]

NPFL controversy

In 2008, Dearboy admitted to being a member of Charles Taylor's defunct National Patriotic Front of Liberia rebel movement. During the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) public hearings, Dearboy said he was forcefully enlisted into the NPFL, in 1992, while searching for his girlfriend in Grand Bassa County.[12][13] Three witnesses stated that Dearboy raped a young woman and murdered several men, women, and children in Grand Bassa County during the civil war. Dearboy denied the accusation leveled against him and expressed penitence for his role in the rebel movement, saying, "The past is what no one is in control of. No one is reading my mind except God. But I want to say if I hurt anyone during the war, I am sorry, very, very sorry from the depth of my heart. I am sorry for whatever role I played during the revolution." [13][14][15]

Personal life

In an interview with Radio France Internationale in 2015, Dearboy said 19 members of his family died from the 2014 Ebola outbreak.[16]

Awards and nominations
Year Event Prize Nominated work Result Ref
2009 Liberian Entertainment Awards Song of the Year "Bayjay" Won [6]
2014 Liberia Music Awards Artist of the Year Himself Nominated [17]
Male Artist of the Year Nominated
Gbema Artist of the Year Nominated
Liberian Artist in Africa Nominated

Discography

Studio albums
  • See Boyee [18]
  • Don't Live with Woman (2007)[4]
  • Rebirth (2012)[19]

See also

References
  1. "Sundaygar Dearboy Rocks Uniboa Convention". Sundaygar's Performance at the Uniboa Convention. Uniboa.org. Archived from the original on 29 October 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  2. "Sundaygar On The Future of Liberian Music". Sundaygar Dearboy's Interview. Oberia.net. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  3. "LINTRACO IDENTITIES WITH BUCHANAN HOSPITAL". The Inquirer. 13 September 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  4. Bayjay, Nat (19 March 2013). "'The Rebirth of Sundaygar Dearboy'". The Liberian Journal. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  5. "President Sirleaf Observes First Anniversary". Executive Mansion.gov. 16 January 2007. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  6. "First Liberian Entertainment Award Gets Rave Reviews". The Liberian Journal. 28 April 2009. Archived from the original on 29 December 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  7. "Rebirth - Sundaygar Dearboy". iTunes. 10 June 2012. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  8. "Top Liberian Singer Sundaygar Dearboy To Release New Album". Sundaygar Dearboy's 8th Studio album. Nordic Africa News. 18 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  9. "Liberian Artists Oppose New Group…Encourage Colleagues To Attend Nat'l Confab". The Inquirer. 12 June 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  10. "Ahead of county meet official kick off: Culture Union, MICAT to hold social evening". Sundaygar Dearboy's NCSM Performance. Heritage Newspaper. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  11. "Liberian Hipco Stars Fight COVID-19 Through Music". Accountability Lab. May 13, 2020. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  12. David, Alloycious (November 2008). "Sundaygar Admits Being NPFL Fighter". Uniboa.org. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  13. "Liberia's Musical Sensation Admits He Was A Taylor Rebel". Voice of America. 1 November 2009. Archived from the original on 19 January 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  14. Kpargoi, James Jr. (4 December 2008). "Sundaygar Dearboy Admits Role in NPFL". Liberian Journal. Archived from the original on 29 December 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  15. "Buchanan City: Day 1". Michael Davis TRC Hearing. Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  16. Sébastien Nemeth (22 February 2015). "Liberian singer Sundaygar Dearboy: "Fighting ignorance over Ebola"". Radio France Internationale. Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  17. "Liberia Music Awards Nomination Process". 2014 Liberia Music Awards. Liberian Music Awards. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  18. "Sundaygar Dearboy - See Boyee". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  19. "Rebirth by Sundaygar Dearboy". CD Baby. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
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