From selling sweets, sachet water and fish on the streets of Freetown to performing Chinese opera on international stages, Mariatu Kargbo’s journey is one of determination, resilience and an enduring belief in the power of a dream.
Known popularly as Maria, the “Black Pearl of China,” the Sierra Leonean model, singer, performer and philanthropist has been featured on the BBC World Service’s Outlook, where she shared the extraordinary story of her life, her connection with China and the challenges she overcame along the way.
The programme was presented by Jo Fidgen and produced by Maryam Maruf.
Maria grew up in Freetown during Sierra Leone’s civil war. Coming from a modest family, she helped support her household by selling sweets, sachet water and fish while trying to remain in school.
But even during those difficult years, she held on to ambitions that seemed far removed from her circumstances.
She dreamed of becoming a model, singer and performer.
A dream that began with Chinese television
Maria’s fascination with China began during her childhood in Freetown.
She watched Chinese television programmes and became captivated by Chinese music and opera. Although she did not understand the language, she taught herself songs and dreamed of one day performing them herself.
Years later, that childhood fascination would become a defining part of her life.
Maria travelled to China to participate in a beauty pageant. During her journey, an unexpected act of kindness from a stranger on a train helped change the course of her life and contributed to her decision to build a future in China.
In 2007, following a successful performance at Qinghuangdao Summer City in Hebei Province, Maria publicly expressed her affection for the country, declaring from the stage that she loved China and wanted to become “a Chinese black girl.”
Her relationship with Chinese culture would subsequently develop into a career that brought together her African roots and her love of Chinese traditions.
From beauty pageants to Chinese television
Maria later appeared on Avenue of Stars, a major Chinese television talent programme, where she showcased her singing and performance abilities.
Her association with the programme continued beyond her appearances as a contestant, as she later returned as a guest judge.
She also took her talents to the international stage, including the Miss World competition, where she performed bian lian, the celebrated face-changing art associated with Sichuan Opera.
The traditional performance is known for the seemingly instantaneous changing of masks, requiring considerable skill, timing and precision.
Maria’s performance was particularly notable because she was presenting a centuries-old Chinese art form as a Sierra Leonean performer, further establishing her as a cultural bridge between Africa and China.
Beyond entertainment
Maria’s contribution to China has not been limited to entertainment.
In May 2008, shortly after the devastating Sichuan earthquake, she travelled to the affected area and joined volunteers involved in relief efforts.
She worked alongside soldiers during rescue operations and subsequently participated in health-care and humanitarian activities supporting communities affected by the disaster.
For Maria, the experience became another expression of her connection to the country she had come to regard as a second home.
A complicated family story
Behind the glamour of international performances and television appearances lies a deeply personal story.
Maria has navigated a complicated family history involving the woman who raised her, the biological mother she discovered as a teenager and the woman who later became a mother figure to her in China.
Her experiences have shaped a story that goes beyond entertainment — one involving identity, belonging, family and the search for opportunity.
Her journey from Freetown to China demonstrates how far determination can take someone, even when the circumstances of childhood appear to offer few opportunities.
Giving back to Sierra Leone
Despite establishing her career thousands of kilometres from home, Maria has maintained a strong connection with Sierra Leone.
Through the Mariatu Kargbo Foundation, she continues to support charitable and humanitarian initiatives aimed at helping Sierra Leoneans.
Her philanthropic work has extended across Sierra Leone and China and has become an important part of her public life.
For Maria, success is not simply about personal achievement. It is also about using the opportunities she has received to make a difference in the lives of others.
New music on the way
Maria is now preparing to add another chapter to her artistic career with the release of a new single, “Made in China.”
The song is expected to reflect her unusual and deeply personal connection with China while celebrating the cultural relationship between China and Sierra Leone.
The release date is expected to be announced soon.
Today, Maria is based in Beijing, where she continues to pursue music, modelling, performance and philanthropic work.
Her career has taken her from the streets of Freetown to major stages in China and international events, while her work has allowed her to represent both her Sierra Leonean heritage and her connection to Chinese culture.
Her appearance on BBC World Service’s Outlook offers listeners an opportunity to hear that story in her own words — from a childhood shaped by war and hardship to a life built around music, culture, opportunity and service.
Mariatu Kargbo’s story is ultimately a story of refusing to give up: a girl who once sold water and fish in Freetown, held tightly to her dreams, travelled thousands of miles and found a place for herself on the world stage.
