62nd Annual Meeting

October 26 - 31, 2015

Media Theatre 8 (open)

The Refugee All Stars

The Refugee All Stars features a band of Sierra Leonean musicians who have been living as refugees in the West African nation of the Republic of Guinea. It follows the band over the course of three years as they make their way through local refugee camps back to their homes in the war-ravaged country of Sierra Leone. The documentary demonstrates how music woven into cultural traditions facilitated the healing of the community of Sierra Leone. Violence directed toward and/or witnessed by families, especially in extreme circumstances such as war, can seriously impact mental wellbeing. Cultural interventions such as traditional music and dance may be useful adjuncts in helping communities regain a positive sense of self and enhance the communities’ resilience leading to improved mental health outcome.