Freemuse interviewed Sierra Leone’s superstar Daddy Saj in August 2007 to learn more about why he was imprisoned in 2004 after publishing a song about corruption.
By John Sahr Sahid, freelance journalist and writer
– reporting for Freemuse from Freetown in Sierra Leone
Many musicians in Sierra Leone have found themselves victims of threats, torture, jail sentences and abuse whenever they have expressed themselves on sensitive issues.
Daddy Saj – one of Sierra Leone’s most famous musicians – is an example of this. He was imprisoned in June 2004 and spent a month in the notorious Pademba Road Prison in Freetown because he wrote a song about the corruption in the country.
Call for a ban
His debut album ‘Corruption’ was released in 2003 and quickly became a bestseller. Many Sierra Leoneans welcomed the song ‘Corruption E Do So’ (“Corruption – Enough Is Enough”) at a time when corrupt practices by authorities had become rampant. The song spread like a bush fire in terms of the rate of airplay on radio stations as well as its rotation in street bars, pubs and restaurants.
However the airplay of the song did not last long. Certain officials, members of parliament and even some ministers publicly announced their opinion – that the song contained words which did not reflect the reality of the government. They warned that the song could become a catalyst for public unrest.
Even though the bileager Anti-corruption Commission started to use the song as their theme song in the fight against corruption – even sponsored the distribution of it – politicians outrightly called for a ban of the song. Also, rumours started going around that there was a five million Leones price tag on his head.
Freemuse: Your song ‘Corruption E Do So’ was a big hit. Did you ever imagine it would be so?
Daddy Saj: “To be honest with you: no! I just wanted to produce songs in my own way, that’s all. You see, I do believe many out there would agree with me that music did play a great part in bringing together many opposing parties during the war, and it also has helped to sustain our peace process after the war ended. Many of the songs had peace, reconciliation, unity and love messages. The corruption was another war in itself and it had to be fought through music.”
You were sent to prison then by the political elite accusing you of facilitating civil unrest through your songs. What was your experience in prison like, and how did you feel after your release?
“Well, for me it was a tough time to go through as a young musician. Mind you it was my first song to go public so I had mixed emotions about the way some people view music in general. In prison I was threatened and assaulted several times. They thought someone had paid me to produce the song, but no… [pause]… it was all about how I felt at the time. About the bad practices in our society. For many who appreciate my music, the imprisonment was a wake-up call. It made them join the fight, the fight against corruption.
I was arrested by police officers in civil clothes whilst I was touring the central district of the capital, just after the release of the song. They told me they had an arrest warrant against me, I asked them to give me reasons – they refused to say a word. When I tried to restrain them from arresting me, one of the police officers slapped and kicked me to the ground, so that they could handcuff me, before taking me to the prison.
In prison I wasn’t given any food for at least three days, and I had to sleep on the empty floor – very cold – which gave me some skin decease.”
“I was arrested on the grounds of the Public Order Act of which it was alleged that through my songs I was expressing words which were too offensive, you know. Luckily for me I was not taken to court. I think they feared that it would lead to more public outcry in favour of me.
My release from prison was thanks to that public outcry. I had sympathisers who felt that my freedom had been taken away unjustifiedly, and my song was just merely talking about the bad way things had been done in Sierra Leone at the time.
Like my many other arrests the government always does take the advantage of arresting anyone they feel is a threat to them – whether a musician, journalist or radio broadcaster.”
“After my release from prison I thought my career was over, but a colleague of mine said: ‘You need not to give up, you have to be strong!’. Since then I have not stopped in my career as a musician. My songs are all on issues of great concern; that’s me. My latest album, ‘Faya 4 Faya’ (‘Fire for Fire’) is yet another. Watch out!”
Has censorship affected the way you compose and sing your songs?
“Yah, sure! When you are censored it does affect your input in the messages of your songs, the words and titles of songs as well. Not only me but other musicians as well are affected greatly because most are afraid to sing about tough issues [laughter]. They are restrained from using ‘tough’ words in order to appease the critics – it is really tough for us.”
Music crusader
In 2006, a BBC journalist labelled Daddy Saj “the biggest star in Sierra Leone right now”. He has also been called “The Music Crusader” and “The Lyrical Warrior of Sierra Leone”.
“Saj” is actually an abbreviation for “Sir Junior”. His real name is Joseph Gerald Adolphus Cole. He was born in Freetown in 1978, and started singing in a church choir when he was seven years old. Aged only 11 years he entered a recording studio for the first time.
Has your musical career been a smooth journey?
“Absolutely not; like any other pursuit, life in general is not a bed of roses at all. During the civil war I had to flee to neighboring Guinea. In fact I developed maturity in the field of music there because I was exposed to many old and new musicians there that I became friends with.”
Did you go into mainstream pop music straight away when you returned to Sierra Leone?
“When I came back home in 1999, I started working with Jimmy B [Jimmy Bangura – founder and owner of Paradise Family & Record Studios]. He already had had more exposure in music internationally. Jimmy has been a great pioneer in promoting our music to the outside world. So for me it was a great priviledge to work with him, it was like being in a furnace; purifying myself for the tasks ahead [laughter]. There, I did lots of recorded hits songs with the Paradise Family. I then left Paradise Family in 2003 to start my own label, Daddy Saj Entertainment. ”
Daddy Saj about Freemuse
I asked Daddy Saj how he sees Freemuse and the idea of an international body advocating for the freedom of expression of musicians and composers against censorship and other forms of violations.
“I am very happy to know as of now that such a body exist and the work you are doing in terms of advocacy for freedom of expressions for musicians. I must admit this is my first knowledge of Freemuse. I really appreciate the work you are doing for us musicians. I hope Freemuse will expand its network to other places in the world,” replied the lyrical warrior of Sierra Leone.
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