Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars August 19, 2007

The music of Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars is a spirited, infectious, and soothing blend of traditional West African music, roots reggae and classic Rhythm & Blues. Comprised of six musicians living in or around Sierra Leone's capital city, Freetown; their stories and music became the subject of an acclaimed documentary. The core sound of this 14-piece afrofunk orchestra is Afrobeat: a big-band funk invented by Fela Kuti in 1970s Nigeria. Afrobeat is a spicy stew of modern jazz, Yoruba tribal music and burning rhythms. Chopteeth then mixes in classic Ghanaian funk, Senegalese rumba and Jamaican ska and stirs it all thoroughly to create a massive groove.