Natasha Swadu Beckley: A True Cultural Icon
Her name is Natasha Swadu Beckley. If you are not familiar with her name, please check out CNN’s African Voices, a mini-documentary that captures the pioneering work of one of Africa’s innovative minds and trendsetters. Natasha Swadu Beckley is one of Sierra Leone and Africa’s biggest female rap artists of this generation. She is a popular household name across Sierra Leone, who constantly transcends boundaries and positions Sierra Leone’s entertainment industry globally over the last decade. A friendly and truly inspiring figure, Natasha is not only known for her music prowess but also as a politician who contested for the mayoral office in her hometown of Port Loko and served as a Councillor in the same township. She is a true philanthropist helping build the requisite human capital for young girls and boys in Sierra Leone. This Port Loko lady is a “big problem bizness” on stage.
A Thoughtful Decision for Cultural Promotion
The organization’s executive decision to invite the most inspiring female artist in Sierra Leone’s entertainment industry was not a gamble. It was a well-thought-out decision as Natasha embodies values that align with the organization’s goal of promoting Sierra Leone’s culture in the diaspora. Miss Swadu arrived in Stockholm and delivered what is believed to be a great summer show. Her stage presence is unmatched by any Sierra Leonean female artist I have ever seen. The way she handled the crowd left many gentlemen dismantled throughout her performance. The crowd was mesmerized every minute since she entered the hall, and those who had their doubts within our community may have had to change their minds about the decision to invite her to grace the usual summer outing and after-party events organized by the community organization. Miss Swadu is a big player in the industry, and Sierra Leoneans should be proud of her contributions to Sierra Leone’s cultural revival.
Unprecedented Enthusiasm and Community Reunion
Information about her arrival triggered a frenzy, never before witnessed by the organizers. Calls from every part of Sweden, from Sierra Leoneans who had never attended an event by the organization, kept some executive members’ phones constantly ringing. The event was a very good moment for a reunion of some sort, as most of our compatriots in Scandinavia had gone under the radar over the years.
Celebrating Sierra Leone’s Cultural Heritage
The show was the third in a series of cultural events sponsored by Stockholm City’s Municipal Council. Under the project theme: ”Paddle Cultural Festival,” the organization aims to promote Sierra Leone’s cultural heritage and stimulate interest in our entertainment and tourist industries. The organization of Sierra Leoneans in Sweden has been at the forefront of visualizing Sierra Leone’s rich cultural heritage. The funding for this project has helped the organization unlock huge talents from Sierra Leone and laid the foundation for future promotion of our talents and culture in the Nordic region. Earlier this year, our community members benefited from the much-talked-about performance by the iconic Usif Jalloh (Cowfoot Prince), followed by a very informative seminar lecture by the hardest working Mayor of Freetown, Her Worship Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr. Ending the festival with an outing and an outstanding performance from our entertainment industry’s colossal was a feat in itself.
