Wesseh Freeman
Wesseh Freeman (or Weesay, 1976–2018) was a musician from Monrovia, Liberia. 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, 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.[3] He said he made $4 a day playing his instrument.[4] 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[]
- ^ a b Mallonee, Laura C. (29 January 2015). "A Vibrant Portrait of Liberia in GIFs". Hyperallergic. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ a b Speal, Shane (1 March 2019). "Wesseh Freeman, 1976-2018". Philadelphia Row Home. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ 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[]
Categories:
- 1976 births
- 2018 deaths
- Liberian guitarists
- Male guitarists
- Liberian male musicians
- 21st-century guitarists
- 21st-century male musicians
- Outsider musicians
- Blind musicians
- Blind people from Liberia
- Road incident deaths in Liberia
- Musicians from Monrovia