By Ibrahim Sorious Samura

Online streaming remains literally nonexistent, sadly low and poorly utilised in Sierra Leone. And this has affected the popularity of our arts. Sierra Leone entertainers are virtually unpopular online, likewise their works. It’s extremely difficult to see a Sierra Leonean music video hit over 500k views on YouTube and other social media channels, least to mention 1 million views.

Records show that only one music video have enjoyed such glory. Arkman’s ‘Vanity’ video hit 1 million views on YouTube in November 2018 after 3 years stream. There are however unconfirmed reports of a music video of Jay Arr amassing 2 million views on YouTube.

Fast approaching and probably the 2nd video to join the BIG VIDEOS from Sierra Leone is ‘Green Gold’, a joint from Denis Amara Turay aka Kao Denero and Runtown. The ‘Green Gold’ concept is on the use of marijuana as an alternative cure of certain sicknesses.  ‘Green Gold’ is on a fast and furious race to 1 million views in just 2 months. If this video strikes 1 million views in 3 months, it will definitely break the record of ‘Vanity’ as the fastest Sierra Leonean music video to hit 1 million views.

The video was shot in Freetown in November 2018 by Nigeria’s topnotch video maker Patrick Ellis, featuring Sierra Leone’s top model Naomi Kay and others. Kao uploaded the video on YouTube on the 10th December 2018 on his KaoDenero1 channel. Green Gold was a supplement to ‘Da LastKing’ album – his 10th album.

“Hard work and a good strategy yields result,” Kao told Vertex Media.

He also tag this success on the recent publication made on the www.lindaikejisblog.com (Nigeria’s biggest blog), as he exains:

“Exposure of new video on top Naija sites with heavy traffic and MTV Base and HipTV plays helps the elevation of Green Gold,” ~ Kao Denero

The controversial rapper is getting a sigh of relief from recent upheavals in Freetown as his crooner is closely sitting on a million views on YouTube with an electric pace. The trend might not be commensurate to other West African music videos. A Nigerian music video for instance can hit 1 million views a day, and over 50 million views in 2 months. We are still trailing behind. With the success of ‘Green Gold’, many are optimistic that other videos will starting trending online.

Kao Denero has just launched his label’s clothing line – ‘Leo Wear’, which has already sold out in Sierra Leone and beyond. ‘Green Gold’ has just add a feather to his cap. This is his biggest video ever produced, next to this is ‘Hakuna Matata’, a video he published 2 years ago, now trailing with 288k. Even his joint with Busy Signal ‘Ghetto Struggle’ cannot come closer.