Life-affirming in its message, The Refugee All Stars introduces a hardy group of six Sierra Leonean musicians who form a band while living as refugees in the Republic of Guinea.
Forced from their homes by a brutal, decade-long civil war, these musicians find solace through music, despite harbouring great emotional and physical scars that will never fully heal. After a tour of other camps, they return to Sierra Leone once the UN has declared the country a ‘safe area' in 2002 where they record their debut album of original songs written during their time as refugees.
Produced over a three-year timeframe, the filmmakers have blended the refugees' stories with their soulful mix of traditional West African music, reggae and classic R&B. As the filmmakers say, ”Even amidst unimaginable hardships, we knew their story would not only be of celebration of what is beautiful about Africa but what is beautiful about human spirit - the will to overcome adversity, the ability to forgive - and when you've found hope, the desire to share it with others.”