Lynn musician ready to take the stage

LYNN – It has taken almost six years but Sylvester Yarpah is officially launching his Yarpah Live African Music show tonight at the Franco-American Post 161.”I’ve spent many years trying to do this,” said Yarpah, who founded the band. “This is our first public show.”Yarpah and his family came to from Lynn as refugees in 2003 and he is happy to call the city his home, he said.”We love Lynn,” he said. “We are not leaving. This is our home now.”In 2008 Yarpah began meeting other talented African musicians and wanted to put together a band but everyone was working solo and for some reason they couldn’t seem to get it together. Then he hooked up with the Supreme Satellite Band, an African/Reggae/Calypso/Disco group and everything changed, Yarpah said.Now six years later, with a few small shows under their belt, and in Yarpah’s case, one album, they are ready to take the stage publicly for a big event.There will also be an African fashion show and food for sale. Tickets are $25 at the door.The show is a preview of a bigger concert Yarpah is putting together for Sept. 27. That show will be held on The Commons and is aimed at raising awareness of the Ebola outbreak raging across Africa.”The problem is not in the news a lot because there are other wars,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of resources but we can create awareness. We can contribute our talent and introduce this global challenge.”According to the Center for Disease Control, the 2014 Ebola outbreak is one of the largest in history and the first in West Africa. It is currently affecting four countries, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone but Yarpah is afraid it will continue to spread.The CDC said the outbreak doesn’t pose a significant risk to the U.S. but Yarpah is still calling it a global challenge.”It was in one country and now it’s in four,” he said. “Pretty soon it will be a challenge for everyone.”During the concert on The Commons, speakers will give statistical information regarding the outbreak and present resources on how people can help locally, Yarpah said.Despite the seriousness of the cause, Yarpah said he also wants the day to be about celebration and even though it will be only their second major performance as a band, he is not nervous.”I love to do this,” he said. “We all come from different walks but we are all passionate about what we are doing and we are working well together.”