Sierra Leone's Ahmed Janka Nabay was the undisputed king of the country's bubu music. Bubu is a centuries-old folk music with mysterious origins. It is typically performed for high ceremonial purposes, such as the processions held during Ramadan, but its roots precede Islam.
Nabay began his career by playing reggae inspired by one of his idols, Bob Marley, but he also played bubu, whose folk form features instrumentation such as bamboo flutes and blowing on metal pipes (often auto exhaust and building conduit) and handmade drums.
He entered a talent contest with his band (...