When Talent Meets the Street: Why Some of Sierra Leone’s Artists Turn to Risky Hustles
By Zainab Tunkara Clarkson ( AKA Zee)
In Sierra Leone, the creative dream often begins with a beat — and ends with a struggle. For many young musicians, actors, and performers, the path from the studio to stardom winds through economic hardship, social pressure, and, in some cases, the dangerous allure of street hustles and drug-related activities.
It is not moral failure driving these choices — it is systemic neglect.
A Creative Industry Left Behind
Across West Africa, culture and music are emerging as powerful exports. Nigeria’s Afrobeats and Ghana’s highlife fill global playlists, while Guinea continues to nurture state-supported artists who blend traditional rhythms with modern identity.
Sierra Leone, by contrast, remains largely silent in this continental chorus. The country’s creative sector suffers from chronic underinvestment and weak institutional support. There are no functional royalty systems, limited copyright enforcement, and few management structures. Corporate sponsorships are rare, and government cultural budgets are mostly symbolic.
As a result, many artists operate in a grey zone — hustling to record, promote, and distribute their music in an economy that offers little reward.
The Economics of Desperation
With youth unemployment among the highest in the region, art in Sierra Leone is not just expression — it’s survival. But when creativity doesn’t pay, the pull of “fast money” becomes inevitable.
The informal drug economy around Freetown and border towns has quietly absorbed a fraction of disillusioned artists, blurring the line between creativity and criminality. For some, this is not rebellion but resignation — a symptom of a system that rewards visibility over viability.
The Street as Studio
Urban culture in Sierra Leone, like much of the region, thrives on resilience — but it also glorifies the “hustle.” The same resourcefulness that fuels artistic creativity can just as easily fuel risky shortcuts when formal structures fail.
In the absence of mentors, industry networks, or sustainable income, young artists often mirror the very street culture they hope to escape. Fame becomes a fragile currency — traded for the illusion of success through designer clothes, cars, and fleeting popularity.
The Guinea Contrast
Just across the border, Guinea tells a different story. The Guinean government has invested consistently in cultural institutions such as national orchestras, arts academies, and festivals that elevate homegrown talent.
Artists like Azaya, Instinct Killers, and Grand P benefit from structured management, regional collaborations, and state recognition. Their work circulates across Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal, giving them financial stability and creative longevity.
Guinea’s success isn’t accidental — it’s institutional.
Building a Framework for Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone’s artists do not lack talent; they lack systems that turn creativity into careers. To change course, both the government and private sector must act with intent:
Cultural Investment: Build creative hubs, grants, and professional training programs.
Fair Compensation: Establish royalty systems and enforce copyright laws.
Regional Integration: Encourage cross-border partnerships with West African music industries.
Social Support: Launch mentorship and rehabilitation programs for at-risk youth and artists.
Invest in creative infrastructure — studios, grants, and training programs.
Establish music unions and royalty systems so artists earn from their work.
Foster regional collaborations with Guinea, Ghana, Senegal , Ivory Coast and Nigeria.
Create mentorship and rehabilitation programs for artists trapped in drug or street cycles.
Enforce drug laws fairly while offering alternatives for recovery and reintegration.
Sierra Leone’s youth are not lazy. They are gifted, hungry, and full of rhythm. But a system that doesn’t feed their dreams will eventually starve their morals.
The music industry could be one of the strongest engines of youth empowerment and national pride. But until we treat art as work — not just entertainment — many artists will keep chasing fast money instead of lasting legacy.
Narrative Shift: Celebrate artistry and authenticity over material display.
A Choice Between Legacy and Loss
Sierra Leone’s music could be one of its strongest exports — a living symbol of post-war resilience and cultural rebirth. But if artists continue to find validation only through struggle or illegality, the country risks losing not just talent, but identity.
The story of Sierra Leone’s creative class is not a tragedy yet. It is a warning — and a call to action.
( NB: Photo of Kush Addicts – Credit Nyamacoro S)
Leave a Reply