Breaking the record

Although she won two awards at the Miss World event, Kargbo was still not satisfied. She found that her home country of Sierra Leone was in the Guinness World Records Book for the highest number of mortalities. She wondered how she could help change her country's image. 

"I can dance and sing. So I am thinking maybe I can make the largest dance for my country," she said. She immediately wrote a letter to the Guinness World Records headquarters.

After the office accepted her application, she prepared for the event. In addition to providing meals and drinks for over 1,000 people for 15 days, she was also in charge of making the costumes, choreographing, organizing and teaching people to dance.

Her effort paid off. In April 2012, Kargbo lead 1,002 dancers to dance at the national stadium in Freetown, and they created the country's first ever Guinness World Records title for the Largest Sampa Dance, which is their traditional folk dance. This event was also part of a celebration for the country's national Independence Day.

"It has been so much work, so much effort and now we have the first Guinness World Record that our country can be proud of," said Kargbo.

"Image and tourism are very important for a country. [When] you have tourism, you have investors and then you have jobs for the people," she said.

Her efforts to help her country and people have not gone unnoticed. She was appointed Sierra Leone's Cultural Ambassador-at-Large by President Ernest Koroma in May 2012.

Mariatu Kargbo is practising Chinese kung fu under the guidance of kung fu master Liu Suibin (COURTESY PHOTO)

Mariatu Kargbo with Huang Meihua, a 15-years-old Chinese girl who lost both legs during the earthquake (COURTESY PHOTO)

My Chinese dreams

Speaking about her future plans, she said she planned to bring her African beats and her growing understanding of Chinese music together to create a new style in her next album.

"I have two dreams. One is to join the Chinese nation, and the other is to become the world 'Ambassador of Love'," Kargbo noted at her new album release press conference.

Eight years ago, Kargbo came to China alone; eight years later, she has many Chinese moms, dads, sisters and brothers.

"Although my parents passed away, the Chinese people who take care of me give me the same love and warmth of a family," she told ChinAfrica.