I used to call him Steady, and he responded Mr. Wise. Our days in Tongo, Panguma, Kenema, Freetown, and Maryland in the United States will forever be remembered.
When news of the death of Lansana Steady Bongo Sheriff reached me from Kenema through Noorudin Kaikai on 7th December this year, I was devastated, dumbfounded, and in disbelief.
The late Steady Bongo was with Noorudin Kaikai at K2 Night Club in Kenema City when he called to inform me that arrangements for the 11th January 2025 concert have been finalized, that Noorudin is a gentleman, and that his entertainment spot is fantastic, affirming, “I 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 us that he produced songs for the people of Sierra Leone as he had a 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 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 fond 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 that my name is Amadu Daramy. Since then we became friends until his death.
Brother Olu Williams, a Nigerian businessman otherwise known as BOW, based in Kenema, inquired from me if I knew 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 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 releases yearly.
His creativity in cultural music that he blends with calypso and reggae with native Sierra Leonean culture with only one steady beat will never be forgotten, hence his name, Steady.
He will always be remembered as Sierra Leone’s Bob Marley and Lucky Dube on 7th December 2024.
