King Masco

Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, vibrates to the rhythm of African dances long before Western sounds arrived. Emmanuel Olu Palmer, nicknamed King Masco, was born in this city in the 1950s¹ and dedicated more than fifty years to getting European audiences dancing. Based in London since the 1980s, this musician, singer, and producer transports West African rhythms across the Atlantic, blending Krio, the creole language of Sierra Leone, and English. His career crossed paths with that of Bunny Mack, the superstar from the Sierra Leonean diaspora.

In Brief

Key Dates

Origins and Early Musical Steps

Emmanuel Olu Palmer was born in Freetown, far from the artistic scene². He discovered music at a very young age and began his professional career in the 1960s, releasing his first single “Africa Love” in 1964 under the name King Masco. In the 1970s and 1980s, he performed in Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau, a neighboring country, where he refined his style. He then developed a musical formula that fused traditional West African rhythms with the disco and funk influences of the 1970s, creating an infectious and universal dance sound.

In 1980, King Masco made a notable appearance as a guest artist on Bunny Mack’s track “I Really Love You”, a recording made at the CBS studio in Freetown³. This collaboration placed him on the international stage and opened doors to the British market. He then settled in London, where he assembled a group of musicians and dancers from the West African coast, thereby creating a complete show: music, singing, and choreography combined.

Recognition in the UK and International Tours

In London, King Masco quickly conquered concert halls and African music festivals. His stage performances are described as electric and captivating, with crowds leaving “with memories of the King, King Masco, the King of African Dance Music”⁴.

He was crowned “Musician of the Year” in 1998 and 1999 by United Artist of Sierra Leone (UK Branch), a tribute that recognizes his impact on the Sierra Leonean community in the United Kingdom⁵. On stage, he sings mostly in Krio — this variety of English creole spoken in Sierra Leone — while alternating with tracks in English to reach a wider audience.

King Masco has toured West Africa and the United Kingdom, sharing his music between the diaspora and local audiences.

Major Works

Legacy

King Masco is a major figure in African diaspora music in Europe. For more than five decades, he carried the sounds of Sierra Leone and the West Coast across continents, dancing before packed halls⁶. Beyond the stage, he dedicates part of his time to raising funds for education in Sierra Leone, supporting educational projects from his homeland.

Sources and References

Encyclopedias