Wesseh Freeman
Wessay | |
|---|---|
| Born | Wesseh Freeman 1976 |
| Origin | Monrovia, Liberia |
| Died | 27 February 2018 (aged 41–42) |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
Wesseh Freeman (or Weesay, 1976–2018) was a musician from Monrovia, Liberia.
Biography
[edit]He became blind as a child[1] and turned to playing the guitar to support himself and his family.[2] He was self-taught, and built his guitars out of oil cans.[1]
A video of him playing on the street went viral in 2016,[3] and a Facebook page created for him garnered more than 7 million visitors. Freeman also demonstrated how he built his guitars, from an oil can, a neck shaped with a machete, and strings from bicycle cables.[4] He said he made $4 a day playing his instrument.[5] It brought him international attention (from people like Shane Speal) as well as funding to build him a home.
He died on 27 February 2018 in a road accident in Monrovia.[2]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Mallonee, Laura C. (29 January 2015). "A Vibrant Portrait of Liberia in GIFs". Hyperallergic. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- 1 2 Speal, Shane (1 March 2019). "Wesseh Freeman, 1976–2018". Philadelphia Row Home. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ↑ O! Chips, Liberia. The theme song. Artist: Weesay the free-spirited Liberian. Retrieved 12 May 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
- ↑ Beaurain, François (10 April 2017). "Vidéo: il joue des sons incroyables avec un bidon d'huile transformé en guitare". Konbini. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ↑ "The Song Of Wesseh Freeman – The Liberian Street Musician". Steemit. 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
External links
[edit]
- 1976 births
- 2018 deaths
- Liberian guitarists
- Male guitarists
- Liberian male musicians
- 21st-century guitarists
- 21st-century male musicians
- Outsider musicians
- Blind singers
- Blind guitarists
- Blind people
- Liberian people with disabilities
- Road incident deaths in Liberia
- Musicians from Monrovia
- Liberian people stubs
- Guitarist stubs