Tag: music

I used to call him Steady and he responded Wise. Our days in Tongo, Panguma,
Kenema, Freetown and Maryland in the United States will forever be
remembered. When news of the death of Steady Bongo reached me from
Kenema through Noorudin Kaikai on 7 th December this year, I was devastated,
dumbfounded and in disbelief.
The late Steady was with Noorudin Kaikai at K2 Night Club in Kenema City when
he called informing me that arrangements for the 11 th January 2025 concert have been finalized, that Noorudin is a gentleman and that his entertainment spot is fantastic affirming, “l like performing in such places.”
Steady and I spoke extensively about the upcoming show, other world events and especially Sierra Leone music as well as the Superman Music by the Kenema Boys making waves on social media.
It was during our discussions that Steady disclosed that among Sierra Leonean
politicians, it is the Chief Minister, Dr. David Sengeh who surprised him recently when he gave him $3,500 to help him fix his vehicle. He further disclosed that the late President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah promised to help him buy some musical instruments which he never did until his death recalling that when the late President Kabbah invited him to his office he dressed like a royal to go there only to return home disappointed without a single cent reiterating that he would never forget that day.
“You see Mr. Wise, I offer my daily prayers and I fervently believe in God,” Steady asserted.
On the SLPP, Steady informed that he produced songs for the people of Sierra
Leone as he had passion for music and that some people were angry when he
produced songs for the KKY adding that as a musician, he would produce songs
for whosoever contracts him first and that that was what happened with KKY
adding that he however likes the SLPP and his compatriots.
I knew Steady through Amara and N’fagie Kabba. The Kabba brothers lived at
Lumley Street in Freetown. Late Amara was very fund of Steady for his eloquence in the Mende Language and his creativity.

Amara Kabba introduced me to Steady when he said, “this is your
Kenema/Kailahun brother. Lansana Sheriff is my name to which I responded thatmy name is Amadu Daramy. Since then we became friends unto his death.
Brother Olu Williams, a Nigerian businessman otherwise known as BOW based in Kenema inquired from me if I know a musician named Steady Bongo to which I responded in the affirmative. He then instructed me to go to Freetown and make arrangements for Steady to perform in Tongo.
In Freetown, I reached Steady and fortunately, I met him and Amara Kabba
together during which we discussed the Tongo performance, which was a success.
Last year, I wrote the song titled, “Tongo” on behalf of the Tongo International
Solutions while Lansana Sheriff composed the music. Plans were ongoing to
launch the song in Tongo this year but for the deplorable state of the Mano
Junction/Kono Road, leading to Tongo. The plan was shelved.
Steady Bongo is gone but his messages in his music of love, unity, peace and
justice will ever remain and always be remembered.
What the numerous fans of Steady Bongo will miss is his dancing maneuvering on stage and the songs he release yearly.
His creativity in cultural music that he blends with calypso and reggae with native Sierra Leonean cultural with only one beat will never be forgotten. He will always be remembered as Sierra Leone’s Bob Marley and Lucky Dube on 7 th December 2024.