President Kabbah Receives King Masco

Popular Sierra Leonean "King of African Dance Music" Emmanuel Oluwole Palmer, otherwise known as "King Masco" today presented a copy of his latest musical album to President Kabbah during a brief meeting at the Hill Station Presidential Lodge.

Led by Western Area parliamentary representative Hon. Manso Dumbuya and British-born artistic promoter Bill Brookman of Robert Claire and Co. Ltd, King Masco expressed how delighted he was to present what he referred to as his "small contribution" to cultural development in Sierra Leone.

The locally-produced ten-track album titled "Firestone tiday nor to Firestone traday" has already been released at the Paddy's beach bar at Aberdeen in Freetown. According to King Masco, the tracks have been designed to suit the varied tastes of every Sierra Leonean.

Receiving a compact disc copy of the new release, President Kabbah congratulated King Masco for his efforts and achievements, noting that he was pleased to be associated with someone desirous of promoting the local youth population and developing Sierra Leone's national culture and showcasing it to the wider world..

He made reference to the tireless efforts of talented compatriots like the late John Akar, who helped to set up and promote the Sierra Leone Dance Troupe in the 1960s. The President also paid tributes to Jimmy "B" and other local artistes, who together with King Masco, were all striving to fine tune local talents in order to present a good image of the country abroad. "I urge you to continue doing the fine work you are doing," the President said, adding that their efforts would complement whatever government was doing in developing local culture and tourism.

King Masco started singing at an early age with the Hastings village church choir in Sierra Leone. He then took a step further into the music scene and became a mobile DJ playing hit after hit of well-known musical recordings.

In 1980, he was guest artist on Bunny Mack's recording 'I Really Love You' at the CBS. recording studio (now Sony Music). In 1984, King Masco released his first single "African Love", followed by "Party Jam" in 1986 and "Dancing Party" in 1987. In 1988, he released the long awaited album "Take Me For What I Am", which eventually became his fans' "national anthem". In 1991, another album was released "Oh Masco"; "The Beauty of Africa" in 1992; "From Africa With Love" in 1995; "African Love" in 1996; "Mama I am Coming Home" in 1997 - a single cherished by all his fans.