By Ibrahim S. Bangura
The Gumbe Fusion Centre, an organization dedicated to promoting Sierra Leonean music focusing on indigenous genres, will host an event showcasing David Solomon Koroma, better known as Double King, on Friday, November 1, 2024. As always, ‘Insai D Nature Corner’, aims to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Sierra Leonean music, with a focus on Gumbe Fusion, a genre rooted in the Sierra Leone Creole community.
The event will take place at the Logie Wright Auditorium, located at the Ballanta Academy of Music and Performing Arts (BAMPA) at 27 Liverpool Street in Freetown. The evening promises a blend of entertainment and education, featuring live performances by prominent Sierra Leonean artists, all dedicated to highlighting the significance and vibrancy of local music. Gumbe, an inherently vocal and percussive musical style, has long been associated with nationalist sentiment in Sierra Leone. Its origins trace back to the Jamaican Maroon ancestors of the Sierra Leone Creole people. Creole musicians such as Ebenezer Calendar and Dr. Oloh have played significant roles in popularizing this music within Sierra Leone and across West Africa. Gumbe Fusion Centre continues to promote and preserve these traditional sounds through events like this. Double King, a renowned advocate of Gumbe fusion, emphasizes the event’s dual purpose of entertainment and cultural education.
“This event will not only entertain and educate the audience but also underscore the importance of indigenous Sierra Leonean music in preserving our cultural identity and promoting our country on the global stage,” he remarked. “We want to elevate our culture through music. My fellow musicians and I will be performing original compositions throughout the evening.” Double King’s dedication to promoting local music has been evident since the inception of his career.
In one of his interviews, he reflected on his commitment to the genre: “From the start of my musical journey, I have always focused on creating and performing local music to promote our unique sounds worldwide. I usually fuse my music with Gumbe and Milo Jazz, among other contemporary genres. While many Sierra Leoneans enjoy foreign music, we want to show that our local songs have something equally special and distinctive.”
In 2022, Double King and the Gumbe Fusion Centre hosted a similar event, which received widespread praise from fans and music enthusiasts. Many expressed their appreciation for the focus on indigenous music and called for more such events in the future. The upcoming performance aims to reignite that enthusiasm, with Double King encouraging fans and music lovers to attend and celebrate Sierra Leone’s rich cultural heritage together.
“This event is an opportunity for us to connect with our roots and appreciate the beauty of our traditional music,” he urged.
As one of the few Sierra Leonean artists dedicated to Gumbe fusion music, Double King’s work has been instrumental in promoting the nation’s cultural heritage. His efforts extend beyond music, contributing to the education of Sierra Leoneans about traditional genres like Gumbe, Bubu, Milo Jazz, etc. These styles embody the power, energy, and richness of Sierra Leonean musical traditions. Double King is also a tutor at the Ballanta Academy of Music, with expertise in a variety of instruments, including the keyboard, piano, and xylophone. As the Chief Executive Officer of the Gumbe Fusion Centre and leader of the Groovy Colours, Ballanta Academy of Music Performing Arts’s (BAMPA) premier band, he has established himself as a versatile musician, songwriter, and vocalist.
His notable works include popular songs such as ‘Gumbe Dance’, ‘Take My Hand’ featuring Rozzy, ‘Mama Loving’, ‘Temeh Fafa’ in which I-Bangs featured him, and ‘Bless Me’. This event promises to be a landmark in the continued revival and promotion of Sierra Leone’s musical heritage, reinforcing the enduring significance of Gumbe and other Indigenous genres.
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