David Vandy
DAVID VANDY (SIERRA LEONE)
From high school, David had started chorographical performances with youths training them in dance and drama. In 1978 David started mainstream theatre with the Sierra Magnamex Theatre and was the lead actor in the stage plays ‘Pikin wae norto me born’ (An adopted child- Joe blo) and “Marry me or I’ll die”. In 1982 David became a founding member of one of Sierra Leone’s top theatre groups known as the Kailondo Theatre and played several major roles in box office plays like “Cry of the Country Virgin”, ‘IF GOD NA BIN MORTAL MAN”, (If God Was Human) “BAD DREAM NA SALONE” “ENDLESS LOVE” and many more. In 1997 David produced his first full-length movie in Sierra Leone called “LOVE AND TRADITION” that was aired on National Television – Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service TV and at the Roxy cinema.
In 1990 David entered Broadcast Journalism at the first FM radio station in Sierra Leone; Atlantic Broadcasting Corporation – ABC FM94 and trained by BBC experts Jackie Chambers and Martin Davies – His program was the Atlantic Night Watch. He became the first Sierra Leonean to work after midnight in Sierra Leone till 2am. In 1993 he was invited to work for the National Radio/Television SLBS Radio/TV and started the program Star Parade, leading to the five days a week program called the Wicky Wacky Show. It became one of the biggest Radio shows in Sierra Leone. He then transitioned into Television and started the popular show “Musical Mix” and Cultural Heritage and created the first Television Comedy Sitcom – Dee Vee Production – WAN POT.
After the 1997 coup, he joined the Radio Democracy FM 98.1 in Lungi – his efforts along with others at this station successfully helped to inform the nation and confuse the rebels about the activities going on at that time, till the war was won by the ruling party. On Jan 6, 1999, he was in the radio station 98.1 when the rebels attacked the country again and were the only voice that was heard in Sierra Leone for several weeks on radio as the rebels ravaged the country, with all other radio stations down. His efforts did not go unnoticed, and the United Nations invited him to join the peace-keeping radio that was set up in Sierra Leone starting out as a newsreader, producer and eventually rose to the rank of Programs coordinator of the station. During this time, he also pursued a higher level of education at the Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, where he paid for himself out of his pocket for his education. At FBC He was the public relations officer of the dynamic Davidson Nicol Hall and later completed with a Diploma in African Studies, in the year 2002. After the war, he got an appointment as the General Manager of SKY RADIO FM 106.6 a private radio station in Freetown. From there on David traveled to the United States, where he continued to put into practice the skills he had learned.
David Buakei Vandy was invited to the Voice of America in the year 2006 to start a brand-new program called the ‘AFRICAN BEAT” The African Beat Show is currently one of the biggest shows on the international airwaves, interviewing international superstars from the continent of Africa. At the Voice of America, due to his hard work and persistence in promoting multiple cultures, David has been presented with the SUPERIOR ACCOMPLISHMENT AWARD.
In 2009 David founded the Sierra Theatre Productions, the first Sierra Leonean theatre group to perform at the prestigious John F Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, DC, and the Smithsonian Museum for African American Arts and Culture acting and Directing Plays like TRUE FRIENDSHIP, THE LONG-AWAITED RETURN, LOVE CRIMES, AND LET ME DIE ALONE. In 2010 He founded the African Gospel Musical contest which is now the African Gospel Network. A competition that has helped multiple gospel artists gain recognition worldwide with winners such as JOSEPHINE ATANGA (Cameroon) MILLICENT RHODES (Sierra Leone), REBECCA A WRIGHT (Sierra Leone), ALEX GREENE (Liberia), and MILKA KAKETE (Tanzania)
David is a Master of Ceremonies of multiple events and has touched the lives of multiple people around him; he is also a professional Stand-up-comedian and is known to have people laughing in their seats. David is a man who is very devoted to God and has served multiple church ministries. He was a part of the Chantilly Wesleyan choir that produced the album “NEVER GIVE UP” in 2008. David Vandy was Ordained as a full Minister of the Gospel and is now the Asst Pastor at The Glory of God Sanctuary in Woodbridge, VA. He is also the Founder/Director of an Online Christian Radio/Television – VANDY CHRISTIAN NETWORK on YouTube and Facebook – www.vandychristiannetwork.com
Accomplishments
- He serves on the board of directors of The Sierra Leone Association of Artists and Musicians.
- A member of the board of Save the Nation Non-Profit Foundation
- A member of the Sierra Leone Progressive Union
- Served as Chairman of the 50th Independence planning committee of the Embassy of Sierra Leone.
- David is the recipient of multiple awards, namely: Save Sierra Leone Foundations Top 100 humanitarian recipient.
- Gems of Sierra Leone recipient award SLMTV humanitarian award for his contribution to the music industry
- Ambassador’s Award – Embassy of Sierra Leone Sierra Leone - - Association of Artists and Musicians Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the Sierra Leone Entertainment Industry.
AFRIFAMUACAA is also proud to celebrate the achievements of this African Community Champion.