During its 2009 cultural festival on
Pens Landing in Philadelphia where artists from Liberia
and other African countries were present, the Liberia
based artist, AB Swaray was awarded the "African Artist
of the Year" award.
This award is valued at $25,000.00 and it comes with a
recording contract between ACANA and the Liberian
artist. This will allow AB Swaray to record his next
album at the ACANA's state of the art recording studio
on Chester Avenue, Southwest
Philadelphia. According to the official letter sent to
Swaray in Monrovia, Liberia, his selection as the
“African Artist of the Year” was inspired by his songs
that "promote Social Justice, Peace and Unity in Liberia
and Africa as a whole."
The letter further stated that ACANA is "committed to
promoting and commissioning" AB Swaray's new recording.
Annually, ACANA recognizes the works of African cultural
artists all over the world through its festivals and
other programs. Other African artists at this year
festival held on August 1, 2009
included the Ghanaian super star KK Fosu and Mozambiquan
international singing and dancing sensation Marllen as
well as Liberia international musical star Peter Cole
based in Senegal.
AB Swaray's musical career goes as far back as his days
at Bong Town High School in Bong County, playing bass
guitar. Years later in Monrovia, Swaray formed the band
“The Intruders” which later on became “Right Culture.”
When the war started, the group members scattered and AB
ended up in Ivory Coast where things really picked up
for him musically.
Ivory Coast being the major hub of African reggae
was the right environment for the consummate artist. It
was in Ivory Coast AB met the Liberian comedian Kekura
Kamara of Malawala Balawala who would become his
manager. As the war came to an end, Swaray returned to
his native land determined to continue his music career.
While he and Kamara were trying to put together a plan
for collaborative projects in Liberia, the war hit
again. As a result of the renewed war, both AB Swaray
and Kekura Kamara traveled to Senegal, Mali and South
Africa.
Back in Liberia, Swaray and his manager Kekura
Kamara have been very much involved with the efforts to
create awareness about the government's Poverty
Reduction Strategy (PRS). During these programs, Swaray
has been promoting his latest release "Freedom," for
which he won the ACANA “African Artist of the Year”
award. For AB Swaray, this is a crowning achievement of
his musical career.
Even though he did not make it to
the festival this year, Swaray is expected to arrive in
the US very soon to receive his award and begin working
on tracks for his new album at the ACANA state of the
art recording studio. He will also be joining with other
Liberian artists on Balawala International Tour of
various states in America under the patronage of ACANA.
Other Liberian artists on the tour which will kick off
on September 13, 2009 in
Philadelphia are the Bassa King Singer Caesar Gaator and
Moses Swaray, another Liberian rising star.
