Sierra Leone: Politics tears artists apart

The controversy began when rapper Bone Na Throat (also called BNT) said popular Sierra Leonean record label KMT, which was responsible for some of 2017's biggest hits, had unsuccessfully tried to sign him. “Kabaka invited me to his studio, asking me to sign for his group,” BNT told local media Awoko. “People saw the photos posted on Facebook by the CEO himself. But I refused to sign because I noticed they were too involved in politics.”

He then alleged that KMT's Abu Bakarr Turay, popularly known as Kabaka, threatened to sue. But that is yet to happen.

BNT also attacked the famous Sierra Leonean singer Emmerson. ”He cannot survive without political songs in my latest track," he said. "That statement annoyed him and therefore used his publicist to make mockery of me on Facebook.”

Kabaka has now responded to BNT. Before the attacks, said Kabaka, KMT rejected the rapper. “He visited our studios on the recommendations of two of my friends – Amadu Lamrana Bah and Malador, to try his talents and probably sign him, but he couldn’t perform to my satisfaction. I told him, 'I will get back to you.' Nothing else. He was the one asking me later, ‘What’s next?’ but I never responded to him.”

“I’m political, but KME is not,” Kabaka said. “I’m a member of the All People’s Congress party. My business is a different thing. I’m political. I’m sure that everyone supports a political party in the country. I have been a member of APC before I formed KME.”

As response, BNT posted screenshots of the article on Facebook, saying the journalist acted in collusion with Kabaka to publish "their lies and deceptions".