Just words for Liberians from a teenage sensation

Liberia’s image to many outside that country and indeed in our country Sierra Leone might still be the memory of a post war country ravaged by war and probably one that still brings a reminder by the lingering war crimes trial of former rebel leader, Charles Taylor. But as the country slowly moves towards rebuilding a battered infrastructure and image, some kind of music rebirth is taking place inside Liberia. One inspired by a teenager, who was born a year after the country went into chaos. (Photo: A scene from the upcoming video single of Words)

Born in 1990 in the forefront of the war, Nicolas Buigar had the bleakest of future awaiting him as calamity dangled over a once prosperous and peaceful nation of Liberia. But today, Nicolas’ tough path and recovery is an epitome of the improvement his country has gone through since he was born. Nicolas whose upbringing started in an internally displaced camp in Liberia and later as a refugee in a camp in Ivory Coast is said to have music sang to his ears when he was a baby by his mother who used songs to coax him to bed in the midst of gun fighting or escaping from danger zones.

Like other musicians, Nicholas started his music career with a church choir at the age of five, apart from his outstanding voice quality which is his main musical asset, he plays piano, drums and base guitar conveniently and this was no doubt the fact that greatly influenced the decision of the Elders in his church to make a young Nicholas Music Director. Notwithstanding this, he wasn’t satisfied. An ambitious Nicholas auditioned at age 18 for A Star is Born Under 20 National Talent Hunt, Liberia’s version of the Zain Sierra Leone Star Search. How coincidental that like Sierra Leone’s last Zain Star Search winner, Danny Strasser Williams, Nicholas emerged as winner after he did a rendition of Luther Vandros’s song, Dance With My Father and emerged winner.

Upon discovering his melodious brilliance after emerging winner in  ‘A Star is Born,’ Nicholas successfully crossed the threshold  for last year’s Project Fame competition, he was one of only two Liberians from the country to qualify to take part in a competition that over 16, 000 persons auditioned for in most parts of Western  Africa  – the MTN Project Fame competition by the way is considered as the most prestigious star search contest with the largest audience in the sub region. Although Nicholas was voted 2nd best in the competition, his musical talents was evident for all to see.

In Sierra Leone, his style of singing can be best compared to CJ Mark or Alonso, but there is no doubt that on first hearing Nicholas’s song Words, I thought I was listening to a new song from Chris Brown. His exquisite voice quality is enhanced by his very cool and natural approach in his songs.  

Despite returning back to reality in Liberia after his performance in the Project Fame competition, Nicholas has continued to work on his musical skills and is now working with one of Liberia’s top music producer to produce a nine track album which is now nearing completion. He is still attending school in Monrovia where he is trying to complete High School.

Despite his schooling, Nicholas has been able to got underway his music career outside Liberia, in March he toured Ghana where top stars in the entertainment world billed him to be the next big thing to come out of Africa, musically, apart from several radio interviews that Nicolas did on very popular radio stations like Joy, Vibe and City FM in Accra, he also sat down for exclusive interviews with Graphic ShowBiz newspaper and Filla Magazine respectively in which he highlighted what he has been doing since he returned from Nigeria, the reason for visiting Ghana and when he plans to release his debut album.

Intimate sources indicate that Nicholas may likely be in Sierra Leone to perform alongside Senegalese American superstar,  Akon who is set to perform live in Sierra Leone on April 27, then Sierra Leoneans will have the chance to see Liberia’s new music sensation with their own eyes. And then I have no doubt that just as many in Liberia and Ghana who thought  they were listening to Chris Brown, many here in Sierra Leone will no doubt feel the same way too.

By Muctaru Wurie

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