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Massebe To Thrill Hundreds At A Live Concert In Philly On December 1st Monday, November 12, 2007/ Press Release Konnlove Entertainment
Philadelphia, PA - Massebe Kamara, Liberia’s reigning queen of gumbay music will light up the stage in Philadelphia on Saturday, December 1st at a popular local hotel. Hundreds are expected to squeeze in at the night of entertainment.
The concert under the sponsorship of FELMAUSA and the Konnlove Entertainment, promises to be a crowd puller as the excitement keeps pumping up since the arrival of the top selling artist from Liberia. At popular Liberian business centers on the famous Woodland Avenue, and other places in the city, the concert continues to resonate with the community.
Konnlove has disclosed that the Philly event will showcase an A-list of who's who in the Liberian community. While many people will be seeing Massebe Kamara for the first time in concert, they will also be thrilled by the lineup of big names, including young entrepreneur Ismail Donzo of New York, who’s the “Parrain” (Chief Patron) and popular Liberian woman in Philly, Mariam Bamba as the “”Marrain” (Chief Matron).
They would be joined on stage by FELMAUSA’s Board Chairman, Abraham Kromah and another popular Liberian woman from Atlantic City, Mateelah Dolleh, who will serve as the “Presidente and President D'Honours” (Chief of the Special Guests). Several local groups, including Millionaires, Lanaya, United Sisters and Les Incomparable will lighten up the event. These groups will show their support to the Queen who has made “us proud as Mandingoes from Liberia. For many people, Massebe sings songs that are very much rooted in the rich Mandingo culture of West Africa,” Nvasekie said.
Konnlove President, manager and promoter of the Liberian star, Nvasekie Konneh excitedly said plans are being completed for the successful holding of the event in Philadelphia on December 1, 2007. He said the admired singer, who arrived in the United States last Thursday along with Liberia’s assistant Minister of Information, Abu Kamara, will continue her tour in Minnesota, Atlanta, New York and New Jersey following the Philly jam.
Massebe Kamara is the first Liberian Mandingo recording artist. Since the release of her hit single, "Dengo", her popularity has soared in the West African sub-region. The debut CD continues to gain more airtime in Liberia and Guinea. She enjoys strong media coverage in both nations. Her biggest concert was recently held at the Palace National in Conakry, Guinea during the launching of an album by a Guinean musician, Manu Fofana.
Though it was Ms. Fofana's night,
Massebe got more love when she ignited
the crowd with her “Dengo” song. She
became the biggest crowd puller more
than other performers. "Dengo" remains
the best seller in that country. At most
Liberian and Guinean programs in the US,
“Dengo” continues to pop out of the DJs’
gargantuan speakers. It keeps the party
alive.
Smith, as he is affectionately called by
his admirers, noted that “for long our
culture has been suppressed and I am
truly happy to see Massebe and other
talented singers from our ethnic group
coming in the limelight to show that as
Liberian Mandingoes, we have great
talents among us.” According to him, “I
have known Massebe over the years and I
am happy for her progress.”
Also in another interview, the Marrain, Madam Mariam Bamba, in smiles, said, “It is a good thing that we support our own. All along we have been supporting the Guineans, Ivorians and other African musicians, but this time we will support our own daughter who has made us proud to be Mandingoes from Liberia."
Abraham Kromah simply put it this way,
"It is good to see our people at all
levels of the society whether politic,
business, or in art and culture." The
former Liberian army chief of staff,
furthered, “As an ethnic group, our
culture is among the best and to see our
cultural values being promoted in songs
by this young sister is very
encouraging. Her music takes us back to
the days when we were active with the
gbombay." He promises to be there in
full force and will encourage others to
come and "support their own."
Her sophomore album, "Enyamala" has been released in Monrovia. The CD commands the various air waves of local radio stations in the city. Her latest work is unique in many ways, but because she sings one of the tracks, “No More War,” in English, that makes a huge difference. The new album shows great improvement over the previous one. She sounds more confident and in control of her craft.
Following the US tour, the Queen of
Gumbay music will travel to Conakry for
the official launching of her sophomore
CD. The program in Conakry will be under
the patronage of Aicha Keita, the former
wife of Sekou Damate Konneh. This well
politically connected “iron” lady is a
strong fan and patron of Massebe's
music. “Since the release of "Dengo,"
Aicha has been very supportive of me.
She is like a big sister to me," said
Massebe.
Critics are ignorant
Nvasekie, who is also the President of the Liberian Writers Network USA frowned on critics who think he's wasting his time promoting music. “Most of these critics are ignorant and they don't know what they’re talking about,” he said and added, “Once, some of our people thought sending us to school was wrong, but today we have realized it was a wrong thinking.”
Nvasekie says he will not waiver in his quest to promote the hidden talents across ethnic lines. “I will produce any talented Liberians, not only Mandingoes.” He encouraged other Liberians to come forward, and “Konnlove would be there to sell you to the larger audience.”
“I will not be deterred from what I am doing right now. The fact that people who support our effort outnumber those who are still stuck with the old ideology, speaks volume that people need to get out of the box to see the real world. Before, we were told that sending your child to English school would mean an end in the hell fire, but that is the case today. How dumb was such thinking? And we still have the same dumb thinking about singing today. I am happy that we are defying such backward thinking and moving ahead making progress towards the future." Sidiki Trawally contributed to this article
For more information on the concert, please contact the following individuals below:
215 869 2463 (Nvasekie Konneh,
Philadelphia, PA)
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