By: Benedict AbuBakarr Conteh
Sierra Leone is mourning the untimely loss of one of its greatest musical icons, Lansana Sheriff, popularly known as Steady Bongo, who tragically passed away yesterday following a road accident.
The Sheriff family shared the heartbreaking news on his official Facebook page, writing:
"Dear Sierra Leone,
It is with profound sadness that we pen this letter. Yesterday, we lost Lansana Sheriff, fondly known as Steady Bongo, in a deeply tragic manner.
He devoted his entire life to his music, serving the people of Sierra Leone with unwavering passion and dedication. In light of this, we earnestly appeal to the general public to honour and safeguard his legacy by refraining from sharing the distressing images of his final moments.
If you truly loved Steady Bongo and respect his legacy and family, we implore you to remove such images from circulation.
Let us mourn him with dignity and without sharing those heart-wrenching photographs.
With all our love and gratitude,
The Sheriff Family."
President Bio also paid tribute to the late musician on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle. He wrote:
"I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Lansana Sheriff, who was fondly known as Steady Bongo. This is a significant loss for Sierra Leone. Steady touched many lives through his music, and he will be remembered for his educational and thought-provoking songs.
May we always honor the impact he had on our country’s music and culture.
Rest in peace Steady Bongo."
Steady Bongo, celebrated for his groundbreaking contributions to Sierra Leonean music, rose to fame with timeless hits such as "Ready before you marade," "American Life," "Haja Watta" and "Jaywoma." His ability to fuse traditional and contemporary sounds made him a household name and a cultural ambassador.
Fans, friends, and fellow artists have poured out tributes on social media, describing him as a national treasure and a beacon of inspiration.
The Sheriff family has yet to announce funeral arrangements as the nation continues to grieve this monumental loss.
Steady Bongo's enduring legacy as a musician and cultural ambassador will remain a source of inspiration for generations to come. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans during this difficult time.
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