Anatomy Of A Song: A Sequel

Sierra Leone First Lady Dr. Fatima Bio, and Speaker of Parliament, Segepoh Solomon Thomas

By Farook Abdul-Karim Sesay, a Sierra Leonean Writer. Poet. Legal advisor. Political commentator  

When a song becomes both a saga and sagacity, a storm and a stampede erupt. Weaving a life of its own. With collateral damage, to say the least. Particularly and singularly so, in a country as bereft of other searching and overarching fixtures or focal points to be the fulcrum for voter and party. When a people and party are unhinged – an outlet is constantly needed to serve as a catharsis or catalyst! Here comes the popularly “notorious” song: ” U COCO ROS HO”! – as that beautiful song turned excitingly raunchy and ugly! By a conclave within its own house. Such are the ironies and vicissitudes of intra-partisan politics!

And, it can lead to curating the truth! U COCO ROS HO – has a duality – if not a duplicity to it. When one listens to its lyrics, devoid of frenzy or party fervour, one would highly likely appreciate such a song! For its rhythmic allegory and insinuating liquorice poetic justice! A country where colourful soundbites can cajole and entice the imagination of the masses with either a buzz phrase or words – the spontaneity can also sprout mischief and misogynistic jabs and leer! If only such a song had been devised or machinated by the main opposition( APC part) – just a few months to the slated 2028 General elections! What a coup it would have been! Such songs with catchy tunes and buzzwords that even innocent kids can sing along to, without comprehending their ulterior motives, have hugely helped the main opposition party to storm into power! In 2002, it was the “We na U Kolonko tae go” song for the deceased president Ahmed Tejan Kabba. In 2007, it was about rice waste on the streets! And, in 2018, it was the “Maada Bio! Maada Bio aye” catchy, one-liner, that caught the nation’s imagination and the opposition, by storm!

Songs have a potency in Sierra Leone’s political landscape – that only its people do fathom! They bring jitters and glitters! Depending on which side of the pond you are standing on! Particularly so, when the incumbent is a “lame duck president”! When such a saga or narratives about damaging events occur, there is a patriarchal rush to curate the truth. If not to overhaul the mess – at least to do damage control through spin doctors or public opinion pundits.

The government in waiting is kicking itself in the shin. How it wishes such a saga had happened a few months before the elections! How it could have made such a political culinary mince meal out of it! But like vultures – the All Peoples Party is waiting in the wings! No pun intended. Never mind, its seasoned veterans would opine. A week is a long time in politics! We are bidding our time! For they know that it is an unconventional template that anytime a song becomes a political mantra and even the kids on the street, sang it with such melodious ease – the Party in power needed to be very very afraid!

U COCO ROS HO could have come into the political public space seemingly, too soon! For the main opposition party, though! Albeit the political squabbling within the party in power is having a fair share of such a song’s backlash! While the victor is making a killing of the song at the targeted vanquished – the APC party is green with envy! And, fuming in silence that the timing is too ill opportuned! Sagely, the All People’s Congress party should not be seething with regret or chagrin. Opportunities like this one – always have a way of rearing their ugly heads!

“U COCO ROS HO” will soon be a spent force. Its shelf life will sooner expire, and singing it a few months from today will be strenuously awkward. Even buried! Fatima Bio need not lose sleep or her appetite. Her baptism of fire is almost complete. For the song that has garnered so much steam and had briefly been her nightmarish sceptre – is now percolating and simmering to a fizzle! The opening of Parliament was the apogee of both her embarrassment and the nadir of such a climax! Heads will roll for certain for perceived and presumed enemies because of the grinding guillotine of guilty by association. Who will don that mantle of public scapegoat sooner when the perfect storms churn and whip up the anger of the seas of partisan politics next? Do not hold your breath! The seats for the next matinée can be booked online now! Promising a box office treat!