The two-year anniversary of a Walworth teenager’s unsolved murder has been marked by Sierra Leonean musicians.
Sixteen-year-old Mohamed Dura-Ray’s death on September 14, 2015 was recorded by Southwark Coroner’s Court on Friday last week as an “unlawful killing”.
Later that day, Mo’s grieving mum, Mariama Kamara, was invited to the launch of afrobeat-style song ‘Where is the Love (Salone All Stars)’ – a cover of the hit single by the Black Eyed Peas – with lyrics warning young men against carrying knives.
https://soundcloud.com/sierralonemusic/contributing-artist-anti-knife
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The song’s recording was organised by Abdul Seisay (aka DJ Little of Narrowgate Radio) who invited fifteen singers and rappers to contribute verses and lyrics.
Read: Family of murdered Mohamed Dura-Ray, 16, hear of his final moments
Abdul, of Great Dover Street in SE1, told the News: “I felt after the first anniversary of Mo’s death that I wanted to do something big and involve our community. We have lost a few Sierra Leonean men to knife crime. I’ve got a great relationship with Sierra Leonean artists in London and I thought producing a song together, with the message to young people that knives are not the answer.”
Mariama, 49, who has campaigned against knife crime since her son’s death, spoke through tears as she thanked the artists for producing the song. “I makes me feel very emotional,” she said. “It’s very good, they made it well and I appreciate them very much for what they are doing to put out the message for the kids to stop what they’re doing. And anything they want to do in the name of my son – I thank them very much.”
Last week’s inquest into Mo’s death heard a tribute from Mariama, in which she called Mo her “angel” and her “little star”. “He used to sit with me every night; he really loved me and I loved him,” she said. “He was always polite to our neighbours and his aunties and uncles. He always helped old ladies in our block of flats to carry their shopping.”