I want to write down my life story from War in my country in 1991 to singing for 1000,a of people in Europe 2001,2004, 2007,. From walking on foot to learn to play the guitar to A Bachelor Degree in pop music. I have a great story that I want the world to know about, but I'm I have never written a book and I want the right English words to describe my story. I have written at least few paragraphs, but I need a co-writer or ghost-writer. This is about me
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My Trip to The Netherlands
INTRODUCTION
My name is Joseph A Bangura. I am a singer/song writer with One solo pop Album and two Gospel album. I'm from Sierra Leone West Africa. This has been the way I introduced myself all these years. I'm a Bachlor in Music, graduated from the Pop Music University of Rotterdam Codart with high grades. Singing and writing songs is all I knew best.
I have never written a book before and at no time have I thought I would one-day take pen and paper to write a book. I decided to write down my life story as my hearts keeps pounding telling me I have something to let out. I should not let it die or stolen by laziness.
They say 'something's are better left unsaid' that's true, but something are better when said so that we can empty our minds and let the world know, for know one will know if you don't let the cat out of the bag
I am not here to talk about the sad past story of my country. I am here to talk about my journey, my story, my passion. 'MY TRIP TO THE THE NETHERLANDS'
Life in Sierra Leone.
I was born in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone by wonderful parents, in a way I can say I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. We had all we wanted as kids, life was normal and good. My father was chanced and blessed to work with American Christian Missionaries their operation to Sierra Leoen was coming to an end; they ask my father to stay in the home they have built in an American style. It was a house in a poor Sierra Loene village, but the house was like any normal home in America. Everything was in there, including western bathrooms and two toilet, a beautiful kitchen with stove that uses electricity that was powered by a generator. Large and spacious rooms, lots of toys and bicycles for a kid to play, a playing ground for kids. "Little boys and girls play with toys and hope to grow up to build bridges, eat and share what we had.
Life was good we had no complains for anything, until when the 1991 War came and took the joy we had. My father decided to take me and my brothers to the city Freetown to continue our education.
In Freetown, I worked very hard, went to Secondary school. I graduated in the 5th form with a 1 in History (That is a 10 in the West) 2 in Bible Knowledge 4 in English Language, 3 in Government as I was political students in school. With that I applied for the Milton Margai Colledge Of Education Freetown. During my studies since primary school, I became interested in Music, as a child, I heard my mother sang a lot and so beautiful. Our home was filled with music, so I picked it up, at the beginning was just for fun a hobby and to make me happy.
"When I'm sad I sing, when I'm happy I sing, when I'm afraid I sing. Music makes me happy; it is like a medicine that goes straight to the heart"
I came to develop music, coming to the city Freetown gave me more opportunities to make music in Church that has lots of instruments, while I was still busy studying to pass my 'GCE OLEVELS' (General Certificate of Education). People came to love my style, my voice and way of playing guitar as my attention and like of music was to make it International. I love the Music of Sierra Leone, but I did not let it influence me a lot I got invited a lot in many churches many times to sing, and even sang for the former President of Sierra Leone Ahmed Tejan Kabba. I later joined a gospel band that was writing peace songs to unite the country after it misfortunate war. I was chosen as one of the main vocalists.
This made me to go for music and choose to apply for the Milton Margia Colledge of Education to study 'PERFORMING ARTS' A long story short, as a hard-working student, I met Dutch NGOs who came to love a peace song I wrote for my country Sierra Leone 'SWEET SALONE' which I later sang for thousands of people. I was chosen to fly to The Netherlands to sing in a peace concert together with some known Dutch artist, I immediately said yes as this was a great opportunity for me, and has been part of my dream to sing for thousands and thousands. In the the Netherlands, I tour most of the country by Helicopter, and a Police escort without handcuffs. I remember the Police welcomed me; they were happy to ask me to drive in their car; they asked me ' Joseph would you love to drive in a police car without handcuffs? I said yes I jumped in, and they were very friendly to me.
Beveridings Festivals
Meaning peace or freedom festivals, which are held every 5th of May in The Netherlands. I was invited to sing and give a speech on behalf of my Country Sierra Leone. I took the plane at the Lungi airport in Freetown; it was my first time and great experience; I was all alone knew nobody, but I was not scared. I was bold and knew I will be fine. In Ghana, we transit and took KLM and arrived at Schipol very early in the Morning around 6:30. As soon as I came out the cold weather was the first to welcome me before ever I was welcomed by those who invited me. I was a very little boy by then I was skinny in a way malnourish I as not looking like my age, at that time, I was 24 years old, but everybody thought I was 18 or 19 years old. Since that time, I was ashamed to tell people I am 24 years old since everyone said you look much younger than your age.
I took a ride with people I never knew people I did not even see a photo of before I met them, came to me, 'you are Joseph the singer' I said yes, trembling heavy as I was just wearing a t-shirt that I wore from freetown. They rushed to give me a warm jacket like they knew I will come half naked. I entered their car as they drove to an unknown destination but in me, I had to lot of faith, I did not even think about it by then, all on my mind I'm in the place every African wants to come to.
On the flight, the picture that was on my mind about the Western world is that, it is located near the skies and there will is no sand or dust there. However, to my surprise, the plane came down, and I saw the land scape just the same like Africa, and the sky is the same very where you go. However, the difference is the well structed houses, light everywhere, the cold weather, and everywhere you turn is a white man :-). We arrived at the place they wanted me to see, and there was music all around, I was later told that I arrived the day they celebrate the Queens Birthday. April 29th. Then they bought me French fries and mayonnaise were the first food. They introduced to me. I was tired but the music I heard made me to ask them to stay in a little longer, as it was again the first time I heard a band that sounds to me as if a radio is playing,