Shaya! I dansɛ! 
Thanks for joining the Forum and introducing yourself here! When you were in Sierra Leone, did you work with in Mandinka/Mandingo-speaking people or communities?
Interesting to hear that music is what led to you find AKT; I think it’s one of the major ways that people get interested in the language. @OdhranMullan has also posted about some Manding words coming from songs. Don’t hesitate to the do the same!