BAMPA Hosts Poetry Debut, Launches Bubu Fusion
The Ballanta Academy of Music and Performing Arts (BAMPA) hosted its inaugural poetry and music event on October 18, 2024, at its Logie Wright Auditorium, Liverpool Street, Freetown. The event featured Sierra Leonean poets and musicians and marked the official launch of Bubu Fusion music.
Julius Spencer (PhD), Chairman of BAMPA’s board, expressed excitement about the academy’s introduction of poetry, highlighting its emotional and inspirational power. “This is the first time we’re incorporating poetry into our performances, and we plan to do more. Sierra Leone has many talented poets whose work deserves to be recognized,” Spencer noted.
The event captivated the audience with poems covering themes of love, culture, gender, and death. Spencer also discussed BAMPA’s collaboration with the Playing for Change Foundation, which supported a workshop blending traditional Bubu instruments with modern music styles. He praised the creative fusion of old and new sounds during the workshop.
Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Madam Kadijatu Grace Ahene Kamara, congratulated the performers, celebrating Bubu Fusion as a symbol of the country’s cultural heritage and its potential to unite communities. She urged the youth to embrace cultural preservation while pushing creative boundaries.
Madam Elvira M.J. Bobson-Kamara, BAMPA’s proprietor, reflected on the event’s success, noting the emotional and authentic performances. She announced upcoming events, including a choir festival on October 26 at Buxton Memorial Church.
Poet Alice Sumah, currently pursuing a degree in Political Science at the University of Sierra Leone, shared her passion for poetry and the spoken word. Abu Bakarr Kamara, a physicist from Fourah Bay College, also spoke on how his love for poetry complements his academic pursuits, using it as a creative outlet for important social issues.
