The News Review:

- Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars
The Age – Mar 22, 2007
Reunited with Langba, andkitted out with an antiquated, rusting sound system andjust-functioning guitars provided by a Canadian refugee aidorganisation, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars were born. Soon theywere an eight-piece; they even had a rapper. As stability returned to Sierra Leone, the band members weregradually able to repatriate themselves. Their debut album waspieced together between 2002 and 2005. The story of the musicians’return to Sierra Leone and subsequent recording of the songs theyhad worked up in exile was captured in Banker White and Zach Niles’film The Refugee All Stars. The resulting debut album is infused with Koroma’s beloved rootsreggae rhythms and has a campfire charm, where harmonies andspirits shine equally. Access to music in the media-saturated West has never beeneasier, but any assumption that Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Starshave a narrow musical map is incorrect…
As stability returned to Sierra Leone, the band members weregradually able to repatriate themselves. Their debut album waspieced together between 2002 and 2005. The story of the musicians’return to Sierra Leone and subsequent recording of the songs theyhad worked up in exile was captured in Banker White and Zach Niles’film The Refugee All Stars. The resulting debut album is infused with Koroma’s beloved rootsreggae rhythms and has a campfire charm, where harmonies andspirits shine equally. Access to music in the media-saturated West has never beeneasier, but any assumption that Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Starshave a narrow musical map is incorrect. Living Like aRefugee is overflowing with contemporary influence, from PatMalonthone’s devastating guitar work, to the ragamuffin vocals ofWeapon Conflict and the dub of Compliments for thePeace. Koroma describes the film as the band’s “foundation”.