Africa-Press – Gambia. A city musician was rocked by the news that his 14-year-old son had died while he was in hospital himself recovering from a car accident.
Sefo Kanuteh, 48, who is known by many for performing African music at events around the city, found out his son Samba had died of malaria back home in Gambia just after Christmas.
Mr Kanuteh, who lives in Frettenham, discovered the tragic news while he was in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in King’s Lynn.
He was receiving treatment after his car crashed into a ditch on the A47 near the town, on the day before, at around 6.30am on December 27Sefo Kanuteh pictured with his late son Samba who has died from malaria at the age of 14 – Credit: Sefo Kanuteh
The artist, who released two albums last year, will be flying to Gambia with another son Julla, 19, on January 3.
His friend Jess King, 31, who met Mr Kanuteh at a Black History Month event, has set up a fundraising page to ease the financial pressure on him at a challenging time following the tragedy and car crash.
She said: “Sefo is so generous and his energy with songs is really magical. It must be so hard to know what to do in this situation.”It must be horrendous as a parent to go through that.Having moved to Norwich in 2010, Mr Kanuteh’s passion for the city has been highlighted through his songs.
He recently wrote a track called ‘Norwich (My City)’ with a video available to view on YouTube including shots of the castle and St Andrew’s Hall.
Miss King said: “He did not know anyone when he moved to Norwich and he was welcomed into the city with open arms.
“Norwich is incredible for encouraging musicians to create and perform. Sefo felt the city was very supportive.Mr Kanuteh grew up in Foday Kunda on the banks of the River Gambia, in the west African country, and was raised by a family of highly skilled kora and balafon players. He is now passing on those skills to his son Julla.
The kora is a stringed instrument, similar to a harp, which originates from West Africa.
The city musician was allowed to tour Norfolk, Suffolk, and other parts of the country in 2021 thanks to funding from the Arts Council.
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