The Dark Road From Romarong...
THE DARK ROAD FROM ROMARONG is the second book by West African born hip hop artist and author FREDDY WILL. Like his first book, this one was also written under his given name of Wilfred Kanu, Jr and published by Soul Asylum Poetry and Publishing in Ontario, Canada on October 10th, 2010. To commemorate the 50th, anniversary of Sierra Leone the book was re-published on November 11th, 2011. This book was published on the same day as the release of Freddy Will's first Krio language album entitled "Dark Horse From Romarong ...a city of kings". The album features several songs performed in the Krio language of Sierra Leone and it was produced by JUNO award winner, Eddie Bullen while Freddy Will stood as its executive producer. All of the song recorded for this album were non explicit songs which marked Freddy Will's departure from the explicit lyrics that he had been known for on his previous albums. There is only one English song on the album which is titled "Save - feat. Carvin Winans". Featured guest include; Meena, Eddie Bullen and Carvin Winans.
Concept
"The Dark Road From Romarong" is based on two concepts.
1. It translates the songs founds the "Dark Horse From Romarong ...a city of kings" album from Krio to English; and
2. It tells a story of a place called Romarong in ancient West Africa where prehistoric tribes from the Sudan and Northern Sahara migrated only to be colonized and renamed Sierra Leone. The title "The Dark Road From Romarong" symbolizes the accomplishments of the Sierra Leone people who have gone through many phases in their struggle to be a unified nation in peace and justice. "Dark Horse From Romarong ...a city of kings" represents an individual discribed as a dark horse who rose to prominence after facing steep opposition and adversities in their quest to rise from ashes.
This part history part entertainment non fiction book story of how a country, named Romarong traveled on a very dark path to become the West African nation of Sierra Leone. Early tribes traveled from the Western Sudan and the Northern Sahara regions to assemble in the rainforest in Romarong to settle their families, build their settlements, grow their crops and trade. This book unveils a glimpse into the sophistication of lost medieval African Empires rarely spoken of, like the Fouta Jallon. Freddy Will’s perspective outlines the culture, lifestyle and traditions of the main West African tribes that evolved from those fallen empires and traced how their influence affected their inter-migration from Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Senegal, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, The Ivory Coast and Guinea to where Sierra Leone and Liberia were being formed.
As time pressed on, the Trans-Atlantic slave trade brought wealth, influence and power to countries such as Portugal, Germany, Spain, France and England. Their presence in West Africa changed innumerable lives. Even touches of Islam and Christianity came to overshadow the long standing traditions of African religions. The eventual end of the slave trade and the emancipation and repatriation efforts saw a massive haul of ex-slaves being delivered back to Romarong. What tribes would survive under the insurmountable pressure of being taken and forced into slavery? How could their foreign masters gain such dominance? What were the ex-slaves experiences and contributions once repatriated? What final war defined the heroes of a burgeoning nation and yet, crushed the country’s inhabitants into submission? The Dark Road From Romarong begins…
Background
The album "Dark Horse From Romarong ...a city of kings" was released on October 10th, 2010 on the same day as the second published book by Freddy Will. It was released using a limited amount of CDs and primarily distributed through the internet. Customers who purchased the November 11th, 2011 revised hard cover version of the book also had the option to purchase the album which is sold on a flash drive containing the entire album, a music video, ring tones, posters, screen savers/wallpapers and the album art.
It was performed in the Krio Language for one reason. That reason being, to connect Africans in Africa and the African diaspora in the West with Freddy Will who at the time had felt that his African roots were being overlooked by the public.
His last album was saturated with melodious R&B like hooks/choruses which had made the albums very enjoyable. However, some critics had pointed out that his explicit gangster content was too reminiscent of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious BIG and that if the album hadn't had such melodious choruses it would have been a failure.
To refute those charges Freddy will decided to record a non explicit album in Krio that would not only showcase him to an African audience but would also disclaim his critics that he relied on commercial choruses sang by others in order for his songs to be enjoyable. Therefore, he featured less singers and sang many of his own hooks/choruses. He stated in an interview that he wanted to meet the challenge of holding down an entire album as much as possible.
Similar criticisms were made earlier in his music career when some antagonists began rumors that Freddy Will was not original. But then, after they learned that he wrote all his songs without the use of ghostwriters those antagonist then charged that there was nothing that separated Freddy Will from the rest of the other rappers out there who rap about sex, drugs and violence. Subsequently, Freddy Will launched a literary career and authored his first book, launched this blog page and began counter acting his antagonists and critics via his Facebook, Myspace and twitter pages. So, is of no surprise that Freddy Will would establish a Krio music career in addition to his English music career.
When the Krio album album was released it surprisingly received much praise from western audiences who heard the album. Much of the feedback from western audiences praised the indebt cultural value of the album saying though they did not understand the language they could feel the emotions in the songs and that made them connect to the music as if they understood what he was saying.
The album features titles such as; Jos Cam feat. Meena, Promise, Athen Of West Africa, Flash, King Of Kings, Temperature, Intellectual Thug, Angel and Save feat. Carvin Winans. It was released off his Ghetto Breed Entertainment record label and distributed through the Internet primarily on iTunes, CDBABY, Amazon, Napster and Rhapsody.
Singles
1. INTERNATIONAL - The first single released off the "Dark Horse From Romarong ...a city of kings" album was a song called "Interational". It was released in Freetown, Sierra Leone on January 9th, 2010. I t recieved many positive reviews and inspired some Sierra Leonean music indusTry hopefuls to plung deep into the international music circle.
2. ATHENS OF WEST AFRICA - On March 22nd, 2010, Freddy Will's second single off his Krio album was released. Attempting to establish a direct connection with the Sierra Leone people in West Africa the single was again released to radio DJs in Freetown. The song which talks about Sierra Leone in its hay day when it was held the only university in West Africa, recieved many praised for its upbeat and energetic feel.
3. ANGEL - The third single off "Dark Horse From Romarong ...a city of kings" was released in Franklin, New Jersey on June 25th, 2010. It is an emotionally charged love song which laments on finding love in the African Diaspora after immigrating out of West Africa. This song did not only hit among Africans but westerners also showed a tremendious appreciation that sparked a western interest in the Krio album. It also crossed over into Europe and Asia where a new demographics of African and western audiences began to anticipate the released of the entire album.
On August 10th 2010 due to very high anticipation for the Krio album Freddy Will Industries were compelled to released more songs from the album which was scheduled to drop on October 10th, 2010. So while in Jersey City, New Jersey Freddy Will appeased his supporters with the release of three singles on one day.
The first of the three singles released on the eve of his birthday was the album's title track "Dark Horse From Romarong feat. Eddie Bullen".
The second of the three songs revealed was a reggae crossover entitled "Promise".
And the third of the three song triology released in Jersey City on August 10th, 2010 was the hop hop charged Krio song entitled "Endurance".
Music fans were excited about these songs released and as the Krio album introduced Freddy Will as an African artist of western orientations it also brought it western counterparts with a new brand of cultural music. And the fans could also read the book where the Krio words are translated.
Written by: FWI Publicist.
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