Emmerson Bockarie

Emmerson
Background information
Birth name Emmerson Amidu Bockarie
Born December 23 1977
Freetown
Origin Kenema, Sierra Leone
Genres
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Years active 2002–present
Labels Sugar Entertainment
Associated acts
  • Timaya
  • Wahid
  • Shadow Boxer
  • Phino
  • Bracket
  • Slim G
  • Zainab Sheriff
  • Star Zee
  • 2 Face
  • Mr 1ne
  • Kao Denero
  • Pupa Banja
  • Buberry
Website myemmerson.net

Emmerson Amidu Bockarie (stage name Emmerson) is a Sierra Leonean Afropop singer who has become well known in his country for lyrics that promote social change, and that criticise corruption in the government of Sierra Leone.[1][2][3] He sings in the Krio and English languages.

Bockarie was born in Freetown. He dropped out of a computer engineering programme at the University of Njala to pursue his aspirations in music.[4] His first release was a mixtape called Bodyguard Compilation, Volume One (2002), which contained an original single, "Yu Go See Am".[5] A studio album followed in October 2004: Borbor Belleh, with supporting vocals by Velma "Vee" Richards.[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 anticorruption-themed protest songs, "Borbor Bele" (which means "Potbellied Boy"), helped inspire the populace to vote the Sierra Leone People's Party out of office in favour of the All People's Congress, in the Sierra Leonean general election, 2007.[10][11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Brown, Ryan Lenora (10 June 2016). "Sierra Leone's politically minded pop star captures his country's ear". The Christian Science Monitor. Christian Science Publishing Society. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  2. ↑ Hanciles, Oswald (22 January 2014). "Emmerson's Political Bomb or Love Warning…". Sierra Express Media. Adeyemi Paul. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  3. 1 2 Kabba, Karamoh (24 October 2005). "Tutu Party Is "Tutuerapeutic"". Awareness Times. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Emmerson". Music in Africa. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  5. ↑ "Emmerson Bockarie: Description". YouTube. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  6. ↑ "Emmerson's new album on course to break record sales". Sierra Express Media. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  7. ↑ Remoe, Vickie (3 January 2014). "Emmerson's songs of love and protest Home and Away album now on iTunes". Switsalone. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  8. ↑ "Emerson's latest album Survivor sells 12,000 copies in 24 hours". Satellite News. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  9. ↑ Yai, Corner (17 April 2015). "Sierra Leone Music: Latest from Emmerson is 'Telescope'". Switsalone. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  10. ↑ Carnwath, Ally (18 January 2011). "How the General soundtracked the 'Jasmine Revolution' in Tunisia". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  11. ↑ Kraft, Scott (3 January 2010). "In Sierra Leone, pop music is a beat that drives politics". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 July 2017.

Further reading

  • Sesay, Alusine (30 December 2013). "Sierra Leone: Emmerson's "Kokobeh" Song, the Truth Revealed". ThisIsSierraLeone.
  • Sorie, Abu (29 July 2016). "Emmerson causes commotion in APC government as Al Jazeera journalist declared wanted". Sierraloaded.


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