Big Fayia (Mustapha Sahr, 1939-1999) was a Sierra Leonean singer and composer.
While working as a prison officer at Bonthe on Sherbro Island, Fayia learned guitar from a local palm wine musician. An eventual posting to Freetown put Fayia in the thick of the of the capital’s thriving pop music scene. In 1963 he formed a five-piece combo (three guitars, conga, and drums) called the Blue Diamonds and cut his first record “Garri Go Gi Yu Beleh” (a double-entendre in Krio: garri, food made from ground cassava, will give you a belly or make you pregnant). The Blue Diamonds became Iron Ore Jazz the following year when the group played at the Marampa Mines in Lunsar and were invited to stay on for an extended gig. The pay was good enough for Fayia to quit his prison job. In 1965 the entire band joined Sierra Leone’s army and became the nucleus for the new Military Dance Band headed by Fayia under the name Famous Fayiah.
(read more on Sierra Leone Journal)
Links to Peel[]
Peel seemed to have discovered the singer in the early 80's, when he played a track from him on his shows in 1983. It was only until his trip to Sierra Leone in late 1989, that he got a recording of the singer performing a session, recorded by Dave Tait a BBC World Service man, with a single mic and portable cassette. After the 80's, the singer was largely neglected by Peel on his shows.
Sessions[]
BIG FAYIA John Peel 2nd November 1989
1. Recorded in Sierra Leone: 1989-11-02. First Broadcast: 07 December 1989
- Gba Nya Ma (Join Me To Sing) / Nga Mone Biwe (I Work For You, But You Don't Appreciate It) / Kamo Ahmadu (Praise Song) / Nginamudele (about Someone Who's Nodding Off And Falling Down) / How Are You / Lawoseh / Co Co Ros / Tiawama A Kpandei (They Are Bringing A Gun) / U Deh Make Make Panme (You're Bluffing) / Muana Limia (We Are Now Going) (session) / Yawolo Yiama (Who's Child Is This) (session) / Sandi Manya (There Is Medicine In My Head) (session) / Heile Nay Hun (session)
Other Shows Played[]
- 1983
- 19 November 1983 (BFBS): Bad Pickin'
- 23 November 1983: Bad Pickin’