Biography
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Born In
Freetown, Western Area (Freetown), Sierra Leone
Emmerson Amidu Bockarie (born December 23, 1980), better known as Emmerson, is a Sierra Leonean Afropop singer. His music focuses on political topics relating to corruption in the government of Sierra Leone, and he has become well known in his country for lyrics that promote social change. He sings in the Krio and English languages.
Bockarie was born in Kenema, Sierra Leone. He dropped out of a computer engineering program at Njala University to pursue his aspirations in music. His first release was a mixtape called Bodyguard Compilation, Volume One (2002), which contained a single, "Yu Go See Am". A studio album, Borbor Belleh, with supporting vocals by Velma "Vee" Richards, followed in October 2004. His later albums include 2 Fut Arata (2007), Yesterday Betteh Pass Tiday (2010), Rise (2012), Kokobeh (2013), Home and Away (2014), and Survivor (2016).
One of Emmerson's anti-corruption-themed protest songs, "Borbor Bele" (which means "Potbellied Boy"), spoke to the frustration and disillusionment Sierra Leoneans felt towards their leaders/ruling class. The album largely addressed the kleptocratic institutions and the culture and ideology that drives them.
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