Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars

In the early years of the civil war, Freetown remained on the outskirts of the most violent areas, but was attacked by rebels in the late 1990s. Among those who fled the country were musicians Reuben Koroma, his wife Grace, and Franco (Francis Langba), friends from the Freetown music scene who reconnected in the Kalia Refugee Camp in Guinea. The filmmakers followed their tour for three years, recording their joyous receptions, the traumas they faced, and the production of their first album, Living Like a Refugee, back in Freetown. == International recognition ==

The 2005 documentary film ''Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars,'' their three albums, and U.S. tours helped expand their following, leading to performances at New York's Central Park SummerStage, Japan's Fuji Rock Festival and the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. The All Stars also contributed a song to the Blood Diamond film soundtrack, participated in the U2 tribute album in the Name of Love: Africa Celebrates U2, and earned praise and backing from Sir Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, Ice Cube (an executive producer for the band's documentary film), and Angelina Jolie. One of "the most surreal moments of their climb to fame" was their performance opening for Aerosmith in November 2006 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. ==Genre and musical style==

Although Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars' music has been described as having a reggae feel, it is more directly influenced by the baskeda folk music of Sierra Leone which "is close to reggae in sound and spirit." but in their most recent album Libation, their "unplugged" style is a "return in a way to the days in the refugee camps when the band had to make do with whatever instruments they could round up or make by hand, and do without amplification and electronics." in 2006 ==Discography==

• Living Like a Refugee (2006) • Rise & Shine (2010) • Radio Salone (2012) • Libation (2014) ==Filmography==

• ''Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars'' (2005) ==References==