Sam Maitland, aka PapaSam Alafia, moved to the UK in the late 1980s from Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa.  

Sam has recorded and performed with many African and international artists. He has played music extensively throughout the UK and has performed live at a number of festivals, renowned venues like the African Centre at Covent Garden, Smolensky’s at the Strand, the ‘Sounds of Africa’ concert on Clapham Common London and the Bristol Carnival, where he was filmed with his band Alafia for MTV’s African Music Show.

He has toured the United States and Japan with the African band Rokoto and has worked with the Post Modern African Peoples Dance Group Sakoba.