By Mohamed Jawara
Popular Sierra Leonean female artist Mariatu Kamara, widely known as M2, has officially announced the release of her 13th studio album, marking a historic milestone in the country’s music industry. The announcement was made during a well-attended press conference held on Monday, 9th February 2026, at Cubanna Bar (formerly Salone Bar) in the eastern part of Freetown.
The new album, titled “Dunia,” will be launched in two phases on 3rd and 4th April 2026, under the powerful theme: “Women Support Women.” M2 described the project as more than a personal celebration, emphasizing her desire to use the platform to uplift women and promote collaboration across borders.
“I don’t want to celebrate this milestone alone. I want to share it with other women and artists across Africa. This album is about unity, growth, and supporting one another,” M2 said.
The first phase of the launch will take place on 3rd April 2026 at Chapter One, featuring performances by top guest artists, including one artist from Nigeria and Wendy Shay from Ghana.
The second phase will follow on 4th April 2026 at Sugar Loaf Beach, promising a vibrant musical experience for fans and supporters.
Tickets for day two at Sugar Land Beach have been fixed at Le 250,000.
M2’s manager, Ibrahim Kalokoh, popularly known as DJ Kalox, gave a brief background of the artist, describing her as one of Sierra Leone’s most consistent and decorated musicians. He noted that M2 has won numerous awards, including Best Female Artist honors and the prestigious ECOWAS Award, and emphasized that reaching 13 albums is a rare achievement in Sierra Leone’s music industry.
“It is difficult to even find artists with five albums in Sierra Leone. M2 is the first and only female artist with 13 albums in the country. This is history,” DJ Kalox said.
He also mentioned some of her previous albums, noting that “Dunia” represents a new creative chapter.
Speaking on collaboration, M2 revealed her vision to take Sierra Leonean music to a higher international level through partnerships with artists from Nigeria and Ghana. She described the collaboration as a continuous process that will create mutual opportunities for African artists across borders.
“Whenever they have programs, they will call me, and whenever I have mine, I will call them. This is how we grow African music together,” she added.
M2 also shared a personal story behind her journey into music, explaining that she entered the industry after the tragic loss of her elder sister, followed by the death of her father the following year. These painful experiences shaped her path and strengthened her resolve to pursue music professionally.
“As a professional musician, you must follow the trend and understand how the world is changing,” she said.
The President of the Producers’ Union, Lord Mo, also addressed the press, appealing to the public to support the event and make it a colourful and successful celebration. He urged stakeholders and music lovers to rally behind M2, describing her as an artist with great potential to represent Sierra Leone on bigger international platforms.
“Let us support M2 to reach her full potential and take Sierra Leone music to where it truly belongs,” he said.
With “Dunia”, M2 is not only celebrating a personal milestone, but also setting a powerful example of resilience, female empowerment, and African musical unity, making the April 2026 launch one of the most anticipated music events of the year in Sierra Leone.