{{Short description|Sierra Leonean musician and producer (1966–2024)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | name = Steady Bongo | image = | caption = | image_size = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels --> | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Lansana Sheriff | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date|1966|8|28|df=y}} | birth_place = Daru, Kailahun District, Sierra Leone | death_date = {{death date and age|2024|12|7|1966|8|28|df=y}} | death_place = Pujehun District, Sierra Leone | Band = | instrument = | genre = Afropop | occupation = | years_active = 1991–2024 | label = | website = }}
'''Lansana Sheriff''' (28 August 1966 – 7 December 2024), popularly known by his stage name '''Steady Bongo''', was a Sierra Leonean musician and record producer, who was considered to be one of the country's most famous musicians.
==Life and career==
Lansana Sheriff, better known as Steady Bongo, was born in Daru, a rural town in Kailahun District in Eastern Sierra Leone, to an ethnic Mandingo father and a Mende mother. Steady Bongo grew up in a largely Mende-speaking household in Daru. From an early age, he performed on stage, imitating musicians such as the legendary Big Fayia, Samile, Eric Donaldson, and Prince Nico. He hosted a programme called "Variety Time" at the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service (SLBS). His first album, ''Ready Before You Married'', was released in 1990 and became an instant success not only in Sierra Leone, but in neighbouring countries as well. His second album, ''Kormot Bi En Me'', released in 1996, received the Best Album Award and had record-breaking sales. The album was the first of Steady Bongo's records to be released on CD in the United States. In 1998, he released ''Welcome to Democracy Na Salone,'' followed by ''Born For Suffer'' in 1999.
Sheriff was credited for being one of the first musicians to popularise Sierra Leonean music to the outside world. He died in a traffic collision in Pujehun District, Sierra Leone, on 7 December 2024, at the age of 58.<ref>{{cite news |title=Musician Steady Bongo Dies After Ghastly Accident |url=https://sierraloaded.sl/entertainment/steady-bongo-dies-accident/ |access-date=8 December 2024 |publisher=Sierra Loaded |date=7 December 2024}}</ref>
==Discography== *''Ready Before You Married'' (1992) *''Kormot Bi En Me'' (1996) *''Welcome to Democracy Na Salone'' (1998) *''Born For Suffer'' (1999)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links==
* http://steadybongo.com/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061129233746/http://www.steadybongo.com/ |date=29 November 2006 }} * https://www.facebook.com/steady.bongo * {{discogs artist|Steady Bongo}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Steady Bongo}} Category:1966 births Category:2024 deaths Category:Sierra Leonean male singers Category:Sierra Leonean Mandingo people Category:Mende people Category:People from Kailahun District Category:20th-century male singers Category:21st-century male singers Category:Road incident deaths in Sierra Leone