Introducing Vickie Remoe’s Krio Fusion Playlist, a celebration of Sierra Leone music and culture for discerning listeners, novices, skeptics, and fans.

What is Krio Fusion?

Krio fusion is a Sierra Leonean pop music genre that combines traditional rhythms such as bubu and gumbay with contemporary influences like Afrobeats, rap, dancehall, and R&B, primarily using the Krio language.

HOW TO LISTEN TO SIERRA LEONEAN MUSIC ON THE KRIO FUSION PLAYLIST?

The playlist is available on Spotify and Audiomack, with plans to expand to Apple Music. While the goal is to have the same tracklist on all platforms, some artists do not have their full discography published on all streaming services.

• Click here to listen to the Krio Fusion Playlist on Audiomack.

• Click here to listen to the Krio Fusion Playlist on Spotify.

How to Support the Krio Fusion Playlist?

To support the playlist and get updates on new Sierra Leonean music releases, subscribe to the playlist. Play the tracks in your car, at home, and at work. Share it with your non-Sierra Leonean friends who need to discover our music, share it with younger relatives, mention the playlist on your social media, and use the hashtag #kriofusion to send your reviews and feedback or to discuss the music.

How to Submit Your New Music for Consideration for the Krio Fusion Playlist?

Email links to your new Krio fusion release to info@vickieremoe.com with the subject: Krio Fusion Playlist.

About the Artists on the Krio Fusion Playlist

The artists on this list do not identify as Krio fusion artists (they may never even have heard of the genre). Some identify as hip-hop, Afrobeats, gumbay, Afro-soul, etc. In curating this list, I recognize that some artists may not want to identify as “Krio” because they may feel it does not represent them. This playlist is a curation by Vickie Remoe to make it easier for Sierra Leone music export by providing context and increased discoverability.

About the Songs on the Krio Fusion Playlist

To be included on this list, the music must be identifiably Sierra Leonean, either in the Krio language or by the use of traditional instruments. You’ll hear gumbay music with its percussive drums and harmonica on tracks like “Blessing Borbor,” “Wok Dae Ya,” “Call on Me,” “Wave,” and “Win Am.” You’ll also hear hip-hop on “Problem,” “Distinction,” “Na Net,” “Proud,” and “Blame.” There’s Afrobeats and Afro-Amapiano on “Lemonade,” “Pini,” and “Compound,” while “Bad Bush,” “Away,” “Number 1,” and “Decide” bring in R&B and Afro-soul melodies. There is no one Sierra Leonean sound; the music has always been a fusion of the local, regional, and global.

The history of Krio Fusion in Sierra Leone music

Things can exist before they have a name, but in naming, we give meaning and make sense of our world. I would argue that Krio Fusion music is as old as Freetown. Since 1792, when the early settlers came from Britain, the Americas, and the Caribbean, is when Krio Fusion music was born. It has passed from Ebenezer Calendar to Dr. Oloh to S.E. Rogie to Blind Musical Flames to Dry Yai Crew to Emmerson and K-Man to Drizilik to Incredible JJ and many others.

Krio fusion music is not new; what is new is this name that came to me sometime in the summer of 2024 as a reflection.

The artists below may be the hottest right now, but they are not the only ones nor are they the originators; they stand on the shoulders of those who came before.

The Krio Fusion Playlist

Krio Fusion Song Title Artist

1. Blessing Borbor Camouflage Borderline

2. Problem BakiTenno, Samza

3. O’way ApriilL

4. One Life Famous SL

5. Number 1 Mus B

6. Lemonade Drizilik, The Therapist

7. Wok Dae Ya Speedo’o, Mawings

8. CALL ON ME BIGFOH, NIGA DON

9. Wave Zua

10. DEN DON SACK AM ALIEU MELODY

11. BAD BUSH INCREDIBLE JJ

12. PINI (Hmmm) Mello Seven

13. Distinction Samza, Kao Denero

14. NA NET Kracktwist_Lamina, Bazzmoney

15. WIN AM (NA WE GET THE POWER) (2024 Remastered Version) Lxg, Arkman

16. Raray Life 2 PS Hitsquad, Big Zuu, Drizilik

17. Blame Drizilik

18. Chief Kiap Keni Lavs, DJ Rampage

19. Proud Kracktwist_Lamina, Drizilik

20. Give Up Kaley Bag feat. Adfega

21. COMPOUND Adfega

22. Jealousy Aminish

23. Decide INCREDIBLE JJ

24. AWAY I-Tribe