Born as Jimmy Yeanie Bangura, Jimmy B has been a towering figure in the music and movie industries in Sierra Leone. Due to his indelible imprints in Sierra Leone music, many refer to him as the “Godfather” of Sierra Leone music, but he prefers to be dubbed as the ‘Big Brother’ of the Sierra Leone music. This is so because Jimmy has guided a successful life journey that is selfless but inclusive and impactful. He abandoned comfort in the United States to ensure growth in his country’s creative or entertainment sector with modern trend and facilities.

It all started in the 90’s when he moved to South Africa to pursue his career in music and acting. He had a successfully music career in South Africa, where he became a huge star and a friend to many known music names in South Africa at the time, like Shaka Bundu and more.

While he was in the United States in 1988, Jimmy B was featured as an extra in the romantic comedy movie “Coming to America” alongside top acts like Eddie Murphy.

In the late 90s, he set up a music studio ‘Paradise Records’ and helped in the release of different albums and compilations from the studio. A good number of prominent Sierra Leonean music icons were products of Jimmy’s Paradise Records, who groomed them and gave them the opportunity to record in a modern music studio for the first in Sierra Leone’s history. Key among them include but not limited to stars like Daddy Saj, K Man, YOK 7, and a host of others. They recorded several albums like Paradise Compilation Vol. 1, etc.

That period was regarded as the rebirth of modern Sierra Leone music in contemporary global sounds, of which Jimmy played a leading role. The coming of Paradise Studio opened doors for more music breeds in the country.

Jimmy B himself was a successful musician, renowned for mix of beats and genres like grooves, reggae, rap, R&B, traditional elements and more, all merging to create an effortless sound that provides the foundation for mellow and mature feel-good songs that celebrate life. He is well known for popular songs like ‘Jika Jika’,’Khadija’, ‘Make Em Bounce’, ‘Come Back Home’, ‘Beautiful December’, and more.

When people were running away from Sierra Leone during the civil war, Jimmy B would leave is comfort zone in South Africa where he was one of the major acts in the music industry and come home and be instrumental in uplifting the spirits of his people by staging peace concerts throughout the country and giving hope to the hopeless and war weary. He made contributions of food stuff, clothing, and other items to victims of the war in Sierra Leone and neighbouring Guinea, earning him respect throughout the region. In 2000, Jimmy B and his Paradise family staged a concert in Makeni, the then stronghold of the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF), bringing together on one stage members of the Government, United Nations, and rebel leadership. This historic event went a long way to help change the mindsets of the Government, the rebels, and the citizens. He staged peace concerts all over the country to build support towards the end of the war.

After the war, he continued his music career, and began blazing the trail for the film industry. He has dubbed the industry “Sollywood”, with aims to have it play a leading role in the future of African movies. Through Paradise Films, he has acted, produced and directed over 35 feature films, including ‘Paradise Island’, ‘Guardian of the Throne’, ‘A Stitch in Time’, ‘The British Expert’, ‘Genesis’, ‘Aminata’, ‘For the Love of Money’, and dozens of other blockbuster films.