By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Alhaji Amadu Bah popularly known as Boss LAJ, a popular rapper and Peace Ambassador, has recently engaged the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China on the National Cohesion Dialogue with the chief aim of working together to help promote peace in Sierra Leone.
On Monday February 12, 2024 LAJ was appointed Peace Ambassador by President Julius Maada Bio, to foster peace, assist in the promotion of peace, reconciliation and unity in Sierra Leone, and peace-related matters abroad, assist in building peace cultures, enhance tolerance and support peaceful resolution of conflict.
In executing this duty as peace ambassador, LAJ thought that working collaboratively with people and institutions would be one way of achieving this, for that would help foster peace in the country for the interest of all.
He met with Mr. Zhang Dian Bin, Minister-Counselor of the Chinese Embassy and Mr. Liu Wei, the Political Director. The dialogue took place at the Chinese Embassy in Freetown.
According to LAJ, the recent engagement with the Chinese was to see how both parties could join hands together so as to help not only in promoting national cohesion, peace and security but to also provide sustainable development in Sierra Leone. The Chinese government has worked tirelessly to nurture peace among its many peoples, and would be a good source of advice for this goal. During the just concluded meeting, the Chinese Embassy expressed gratitude towards LAJ’s efforts to meet with stakeholders, particularly the Chinese Embassy to discuss the way forward to peace-building in Sierra Leone.
The Chinese nationals promised to provide firm support for the ongoing peace-building efforts in Sierra Leone. They also promised to promote cultural exchange between the two nations.
The rapper has over the years released many songs that have made it to the national and international markets, songs like, ‘Freedom’, ‘Say no to Kush’, ‘Lollipop’, among others.
LAJ is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder of the Red Flag Movement (RFM), one of the renowned music record labels in Sierra Leone.