… Shine Da God Son, one of Fisher’s protégés, was one such young person. When Fisher met Shine (real name Abdul Malakhi Kamara), he wanted to be a musician, but also a gangster. He had lost his father during the war, and was hanging out with a bad crowd who settled their problems with violence. “You can’t work with me with that kind of attitude,” Fisher told him. Shine cleaned up his act and has since produced three albums with several hit songs — including one called “No More Beatin’, No More Dissin’” — and is working on his fourth.

Shine talks too quickly, as if he’s the only person in West Africa who is in a hurry. He wants to be famous — but he also wants more. He wants to see Sierra Leone move toward peace and development. Fisher believes the path to reconciliation is for young men like Shine to lay down their weapons and pick up microphones. “Even [during the war] the rebels put down their guns when the music came on,” he says. “The military and the rebels danced together, and when they’re dancing, they don’t have to fight.” Read more…