Hello world!!!
Hope all is well with you and yours. I've been doing great, thanks be to God! This past Saturday, I attended the First Annual Sierra Leone Association of Artists and Musicians (SLAAM) Lifetime Achievement Awards in Washington, D.C. Singer and actress, Mrs. Giileh Kebbie Scholz is the Founder and President of this organization, and I must commend her on a job very well done. The event was well organized and seeing some of Sierra Leone's greats in the arts and entertainment industry brought back fond childhood memories for me growing up in Freetown.
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA Ruby B. Johnson at the 2012 SLAAM Awards |
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Miss Sierra Leone USA presenting an Award to Ms. Louise Metzeger's representative;
Ms. Metzeger received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Fine Arts |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA with Giileh Kebbie Scholz, Founder and President of SLAAM |
Mrs. Giileh Kebbie Scholz is a US-based Sierra Leonean who founded the Sierra Leone Association of Artist and Musicians (SLAAM) in 2011. Mrs. Kebbie Scholz is also a gospel singer, an actress, an IT professional, and a philanthropist. She's one of the most hardworking and dedicated people I know, and she has the cutest little kids! Since its creation, SLAAM is currently based in the United States, United Kingdom, as well as in Sierra Leone; each branch has its Board of Directors.
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA Ruby B. Johnson with Professor Richmond Garrick |
Prof. Richmond Garrick received a Fine Arts Recognition Award. He is an award-winning artist from Sierra Leone whose paintings reflect issues dealing with socio-political matters. Behind us are some of Prof. Garrick's work that was on display at the event. Before and during the Show, there were displays of arts by some of the arts recipients. View more of Prof. Garrick's work
here.
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With former Miss Sierra Leone USA, Alphina Dumbuya;
Alphina ByFaith is also the host of Talk ByFaith |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA with reggae artist and SLAAM Founding Member, Jay Arr |
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Miss Sierra Leone USA with Mr. Sully Hamid, also known as DJ Pas Ar Die
Mr. Hamid received the Disc Jockey Lifetime Achievement Award |
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Miss Sierra Leone USA Ruby B. Johnson with former Miss Sierra Leone in DC and
Miss World Sierra Leone 2011, Swadu Natasha Beckley |
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Accepting an Award on behalf of Freddie Shabaka, who received a Music Recognition Award
Pictured here with Event MC, Mr. David Vandy |
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Miss Sierra Leone USA with DJ Songo Train a.k.a Mr. Gibril Sesay;
DJ Songo Train received a Disc Jockey Recognition Award |
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| L-R: Guest, Miss Sierra Leone USA, and Mr. Solomon Scholz (husband of Giileh Kebbie Scholz) |
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With Mr. Donald Nat-George, also known as Dan Dogo;
Mr. Nat-George received a Theatre Recognition Award |
Other Award recipients were: DJ Trekson (Disc Jockey Recognition Award); Collins Pratt (Gospel Lifetime Achievement Award); Johnny Wisdom Koroma (Gospel Recognition Award); Mucktarr Tejan-Cole a.k.a TJ Cole (Film Lifetime Achievement Award); Jimmy Bangura a.k.a Jimmy B. (Film Recognition Award); Sana Kanu (Film Recognition Award); Afro National (Band Lifetime Achievement Award); Muyea Power (Band Recognition Award); Bunny Mack (Music Lifetime Achievement Award); Abu Whyte (Music Recognition Award); Freetong Players (Theatre Recognition Award); The Professionals (Comedy Lifetime Achievement Award); Ernest Brewah a.k.a Vamboi (Comedy Recognition Award).
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| Artists and musicians on stage singing "Salone Man Unite," led by Bizo Da Mayor (a.k.a Edward Kargbo) |
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| With member of Ronko; Ronko received a Theatre Recognition Award |
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| With rapper Menace Da General but I also call him the man of many titles |
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| With rapper and SLAAM Founding Member, Papa Tee |
There were music performances by JayArr, Vickie Fornah, Red Wyne, Edward Kargbo (Bizo Da Mayor), Trybe Entertainment, ShadyBaby, etc. There was a skit performance done by David Vandy, Lady Dija, and Sao Bangura. In addition, we had lots of laughs from comedians such as MOBB, Mr. David Vandy, Mr. Donald Nat-George, Ms. Lucy Nahim, etc.
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With singer, Vickie Fornah
Seen behind us is the very funny man, MOBB |
Ms. Vickie Fornah received a Gospel Music Recognition Award. She is one of my favorite singers, and I remember purchasing the lyric sheets for "Dis wol" and "Cry Africa" back in 2002 around the Lumley area when heading to my aunt's house from school. Her songs and albums are chart-toppers and she has received multiple awards in Sierra Leone and worldwide. She is also a dedicated humanitarian and one of the Founding Members of Feed The Hungry of Sierra Leone.
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA with singer and dancer, ShadyBaby |
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With members of Tabulay Theatre and Mrs. Giileh Kebbie Scholz;
Tabulay Theatre received a Theatre Recognition Award |
Overall, I had a great time at the SLAAM Awards and it was great being surrounded by so many of Sierra Leone's greats. Bravo to the SLAAM Executives and Members and I wish them all the best in their future endeavors. For more information, visit the
SLAAM website.
Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA
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