The name 'Milo Jazz' has roots in the popular Milo chocolate drink, which was so often served at the community dances where this music was played that the style took on its name. The music is loud, joyful and irresistibly rhythmic — the brass section plays catchy, syncopated melodies while the percussion section drives everyone onto the dance floor.
Milo Jazz became popular in Freetown during the mid-twentieth century and has remained a beloved part of Sierra Leonean musical culture. It is often played at outdoors, with large bands marching or standing together in a group. The music draws from older West African musical traditions while incorporating the brass band sounds that arrived in Sierra Leone during the colonial era.
Today, Milo Jazz bands perform at graduations, weddings, festivals and national celebrations. Young musicians learn from older masters in an apprenticeship style, keeping the tradition alive. Hearing a Milo Jazz band strike up in the streets of Freetown is one of those sounds that makes you smile automatically, even if you have never heard it before in your life.