Bambai Bling is a movement supporting the youth of war-torn Sierra Leone as they rebuild their lives and their nation.
The hip hop community's emphasis on "bling" led a group of US rappers and filmmakers to travel to Sierra Leone to learn firsthand about the impact of "conflict diamonds" and the decade-long civil war they helped to fund.
This team joined forces with rappers, sports figures, non-governmental organizations and community groups in Sierra Leone—and together we are developing and funding projects for youth in the fields of education, vocational training, community development and micro-enterprise.
Sports, music and popular culture play a key role as we engage the country's youth in this development mission.


Sierra Leone was already one of the world's poorest countries when it suffered a ten year civil war that was one of the most brutal ever fought in Africa. It is estimated that 500,000 people were killed, maimed or raped. The trademark atrocity of the rebels was cutting off the limbs of their victims. Thousands of vulnerable children were manipulated or forced into fighting as child soldiers. More than two million people, or roughly one-third of the population, were either internally displaced or refugees in neighboring countries.

The war ended in 2002 with the help of a large international peacekeeping force. The legacy of the war combined with desperate poverty, tribal rivalry and official corruption have all contributed to the UN's ranking of Sierra Leone as second to last among 177 countries surveyed for quality of life.

While rich in diamonds, little benefit from their mining reaches the citizens of Sierra Leone. The trade in illicit gems, known as "blood diamonds" or "conflict diamonds" for their part in funding the civil war, was highlighted in the Hollywood blockbuster "Blood Diamond."

Historically, Sierra Leone was once the main West African port for the transatlantic slave trade. The capital city, Freetown, was founded as a home for repatriated former slaves in late 1700s.