Khady Black
Encyclopedia
Khadyja Fofana better known by her stage name
Khady Black is a Sierra Leonean rastafarian and Roots reggae
musician
. She is Sierra Leone's first international female reggae artist http://70.90.214.244/africa/khady.asp. Khady Black sings mainly in English
, Krio
and in her native Mandinka language
.
Because of her style of singing, many refer to Black as a social activist whose songs address key issues affecting Sierra Leone’s youth and in particular women. Her lyrics, which poke fun of real life situations like calling for education of youths in her "Mr. Government" song and teasing black women who get caught up in wearing skin-lightening creams in “Cosmetic Girls” is a testament of Khady Black’s satirical genius. Like other Rastafarian, Khady Black is a huge fan of Jamaican international Reggae star Bob Marley
. Khady Black is getting ready to release her new and nationally anticipated album called Flying With Jah Love, with her new record label Black Records.
In June 2005, Khady Black released her debut album Mr. Government at the National Stadium
in Freetown
in front of thousands of fans. The album was a huge success in Sierra Leone and internationally. In November 2005, Khady Black won the TBS Music Award held in Freetown, Sierra Leone for Best Reggae Album - Mr. Government.
Khady Black performed together with dozens of international musical artists from Africa
and the Caribbean
to mark the 200th Anniversary of the abolition
of the transatlantic slave trade held on August 27, 2007 at the Queen's Gardens in Hull
, England
. The event celebrated African and Caribbean culture and featured several international artists from Africa and the caribbean
http://www.news.sl/drwebsite/publish/article_20056367.shtml..
In November 2005 Khady Black and her label the Supreme Inc went on tour in the United States
with fellow Sierra Leonean musician Emmerson
and his Borbor Bele fame crew. On the tour in U.S., she performed in New York City
, Philadelphia, Pensilvania, Atlanta, Georgia
and in Langley Park, Maryland
. She also went on tour in September 2005 in England
and performed at the VIP Charity Navo's nightclub
in London
and at the Brixton Recreation Centre also in London. In July 2005 she had a Special performances at Le Palais and Vibrations Nightclub in Conakry
, Guinea
. In August 2005 she performed at Jokor and Calabash in Banjul
, The Gambia
.
in Eastern Sierra Leone to deeply religious muslim
parents Haja Fanta Saccoh and Alhaji Mustapha Fofana. Both of his parents are members of the Mandingo
ethnic group. As the last daughter in a family of fourteen, Khady had always been the darling of the family. She is a graduate of the Koidu Girls Secondary School
in Koidu Town.
with Emmerson and Borbor Bele fame crew. On the tour in U.S., she performed in New York City
, Philadelphia, Pensilvania, Atlanta, Georgia
and in Langley Park
, Maryland
. She also on tour in September 2005 in England
and performed at the VIP Charity Navo's nightclub
in London
and at the Brixton Recreation Centre also in London. In July 2005 she had a Special performances at Le Palais and Vibrations Nightclub in Conakry
, Guinea
. In August 2005 she performed at Jokor and Calabash in Banjul
, The Gambia
.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Khady Black is a Sierra Leonean rastafarian and Roots reggae
Roots reggae
Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of the artists concerned, including the spiritual side of Rastafari and with the honoring of God, called Jah by rastafarians. It also is identified with the life of the ghetto sufferer, and the rural poor...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. She is Sierra Leone's first international female reggae artist http://70.90.214.244/africa/khady.asp. Khady Black sings mainly in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Krio
Krio language
Sierra Leone Krio is the lingua franca and the de facto national language spoken throughout the West African nation of Sierra Leone. Krio is spoken by 97% of Sierra Leone's population and unites the different ethnic groups in the country, especially in their trade and social interaction with each...
and in her native Mandinka language
Mandinka language
The Mandinka language is a Mandé language spoken by millions of Mandinka people in Mali, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea-Bissau and Chad; it is the main language of The Gambia. It belongs to the Manding branch of Mandé, and is thus fairly...
.
Because of her style of singing, many refer to Black as a social activist whose songs address key issues affecting Sierra Leone’s youth and in particular women. Her lyrics, which poke fun of real life situations like calling for education of youths in her "Mr. Government" song and teasing black women who get caught up in wearing skin-lightening creams in “Cosmetic Girls” is a testament of Khady Black’s satirical genius. Like other Rastafarian, Khady Black is a huge fan of Jamaican international Reggae star Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
. Khady Black is getting ready to release her new and nationally anticipated album called Flying With Jah Love, with her new record label Black Records.
In June 2005, Khady Black released her debut album Mr. Government at the National Stadium
National Stadium (Sierra Leone)
Brookfields National Stadium is a multi-use national stadium of Sierra Leone, located in the capital city of Freetown. It is used mostly for football matches and it also has athletics facilities. It is the largest stadium in Sierra Leone and has a 45,000 capacity...
in Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
in front of thousands of fans. The album was a huge success in Sierra Leone and internationally. In November 2005, Khady Black won the TBS Music Award held in Freetown, Sierra Leone for Best Reggae Album - Mr. Government.
Khady Black performed together with dozens of international musical artists from Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
to mark the 200th Anniversary of the abolition
Abolition
Abolish means to put an end to something or to stop something.Abolition may refer to:*Abolitionism *Abolition of death penalty *Abolition of monarchy*Prison abolition movement...
of the transatlantic slave trade held on August 27, 2007 at the Queen's Gardens in Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The event celebrated African and Caribbean culture and featured several international artists from Africa and the caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
http://www.news.sl/drwebsite/publish/article_20056367.shtml..
In November 2005 Khady Black and her label the Supreme Inc went on tour in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with fellow Sierra Leonean musician Emmerson
Emerson (Sierra Leonean musician)
Emerson Amidu Bockarie better known by his first name Emerson is an internationally recognised Sierra Leonean afropop musician and the biggest and most famous musician from Sierra Leone at present. He uses his music against political corruption in Sierra Leone, while addressing the struggle of...
and his Borbor Bele fame crew. On the tour in U.S., she performed in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Philadelphia, Pensilvania, Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and in Langley Park, Maryland
Langley Park, Maryland
Langley Park is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in the Washington, D.C. metro area. It is located inside the Capital Beltway, on the northwest edge of Prince George's County, Maryland, bordering Montgomery County, Maryland....
. She also went on tour in September 2005 in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and performed at the VIP Charity Navo's nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and at the Brixton Recreation Centre also in London. In July 2005 she had a Special performances at Le Palais and Vibrations Nightclub in Conakry
Conakry
Conakry is the capital and largest city of Guinea. Conakry is a port city on the Atlantic Ocean and serves as the economic, financial and cultural centre of Guinea with a 2009 population of 1,548,500...
, Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
. In August 2005 she performed at Jokor and Calabash in Banjul
Banjul
-Transport:Ferries sail from Banjul to Barra. The city is served by the Banjul International Airport. Banjul is on the Trans–West African Coastal Highway connecting it to Dakar and Bissau, and will eventually provide a paved highway link to 11 other nations of ECOWAS.Banjul International Airport...
, The Gambia
The Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
.
Biography
Khadyja Fofana, better known as Khady Black, was born on June 21, 1980 in Koidu Town, Kono DistrictKono District
Kono District is a district in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. Its capital and largest city is Koidu Town. The other major towns in the district include Yengema, Tombodu, Motema, Jaiama-Nimokoro and Sewafe. Kono District is the largest diamond producer in Sierra Leone.The population of Kono...
in Eastern Sierra Leone to deeply religious muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
parents Haja Fanta Saccoh and Alhaji Mustapha Fofana. Both of his parents are members of the Mandingo
Mandingo people of Sierra Leone
The Mandinka people of Sierra Leone is a major ethnic group in Sierra Leone and they are the descendants of Mandinka settlers from Guinea who migrated to Sierra Leone between 1840 to about 1900...
ethnic group. As the last daughter in a family of fourteen, Khady had always been the darling of the family. She is a graduate of the Koidu Girls Secondary School
Koidu Girls Secondary School
Koidu Girls Secondary School is a government-sponsored secondary school for girls located in Koidutown, Kono District, Sierra Leone. Koidu Girls Secondary School was founded in 1952 to educate the girls in Koidu Town. It is the most prominent girls secondary school in the Kono District and one of...
in Koidu Town.
Tour
In November 2005 Khady Black and her label the Supreme Inc went on tour in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with Emmerson and Borbor Bele fame crew. On the tour in U.S., she performed in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Philadelphia, Pensilvania, Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and in Langley Park
Langley Park, Maryland
Langley Park is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in the Washington, D.C. metro area. It is located inside the Capital Beltway, on the northwest edge of Prince George's County, Maryland, bordering Montgomery County, Maryland....
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. She also on tour in September 2005 in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and performed at the VIP Charity Navo's nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and at the Brixton Recreation Centre also in London. In July 2005 she had a Special performances at Le Palais and Vibrations Nightclub in Conakry
Conakry
Conakry is the capital and largest city of Guinea. Conakry is a port city on the Atlantic Ocean and serves as the economic, financial and cultural centre of Guinea with a 2009 population of 1,548,500...
, Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
. In August 2005 she performed at Jokor and Calabash in Banjul
Banjul
-Transport:Ferries sail from Banjul to Barra. The city is served by the Banjul International Airport. Banjul is on the Trans–West African Coastal Highway connecting it to Dakar and Bissau, and will eventually provide a paved highway link to 11 other nations of ECOWAS.Banjul International Airport...
, The Gambia
The Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
.
NGO Ujima Ambassador for Africa Development
Today, Khady Black feels her biography will not be complete without making mention of Ujima, an NGO that took a bold step by appointing her as the first Sierra Leonean artist ever to be named “Goodwill Ambassador.” In a proud voice, she tells Kalleone Entertainment & Sports Newspaper – “before now, only international artists were selected to be such, you know what I mean, I like rewriting the history books.Donation to charities
In a very short period of time, she settled in as a perfect Goodwill Ambassador, donating one million Leones to her fan club to promote micro-economics on behalf of the NGO that she had vowed to support. She again became the first female Sierra Leonean artist to visit the sad victims of her country’s 10 year rebel war to offer words of comfort and donate thousands of used clothing to the wives of amputees in their amputee camps. “It is not their fault that they have turned out this way, some of us with the upper hand should not forget them in their sad states,” she said in a soft voice. “Ujima has helped empower me and I now know my full potential and understand how to help myself so I can help others along the way, I want to pass on this message to my brothers and sisters who are still not aware of their potentials.”Khady Black resume as an artist and performer
- 2002 – Mandingo song recorded for PRSP a nation building effort
- 2003 – Produced a single to help promote the fight against HIV & AIDS effort towards nation building
- February 2005 – A National performance at the Free HIV & AIDS Awareness Concert at the National Stadium Brookfields Freetown.
- April 2005 – Discovered by Supreme Inc at the “Peak Men show” at the National Stadium, Brookfields, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- June 2005 – Album Release party Mr. Government at the British Council followed by another one at The National Stadium, Brookfields, Sierra Leone.
- July 2005 – Special performances at Le Palais and Vibrations Nightclub in Conakry, Guinea
- August 2005 – Special performances at Jokor and Calabash in Banjul, The Gambia
- September 2005 – VIP Charity performance at Navo's nightclub, London, England
- September 2005 – Live Charity performance at the Brixton Recreation Centre, Brixton, London, England
- October–November 2005 – Supreme Inc USA tour with Emmerson and V of Borbor Bele fame
- November 19, 2005 – Khady Black wins a TBS Music Award in Sierra Leone for "Best Reggae Album – Mr. Government.
- December 16, 2005 – LIVE Band performance at the Celtel Premier Music Awards. Again presented with an award for Best Reggae Artist.
- January 2006 Guest and Star appearance at the NGO - Ujima for Africa Development's official launching at Silver Wings Entertainment Complex, in Freetown Sierra Leone.
- May 11, 2006 – Special guest appearance & performance at the Bob Marley Reggae Jam Splash; a LIVE band performance with other leading reggae artists.
- July 17, 2006 – Appointed as Goodwill Ambassador for an NGO; the first time ever for a Sierra Leonean artist.
- August 2006 – Goodwill tour for Ujima for Africa Development
- September 2006 – Special appearance at a fundraising dinner for VP Solomon BerewaSolomon BerewaSolomon Ekuma Dominic Berewa was Vice-President of Sierra Leone from May 2002 to September 2007...
– London UK
External links
- http://www.khadyblack.com/
- http://70.90.214.244/africa/khady.asp