On 29 June 2017 HRH Queen Elizabeth II presented 60 young people from across the Commonwealth with the Queens Young Leaders Award for exemplary service to country and community. Kumba Musa and Salton Massally are the two exemplary young people to be recognized from Sierra Leone this year.
Musa and her team of young tech professionals visit primary schools across the country to encourage pupils to learn STEM subjects. They also mentor female students interested in pursuing careers in STEM.
STEM Women Sierra Leone plans to introduce STEM Social Clubs in schools, and recruit and train STEM teachers. Musa is an alumni of the Limount College Secondary School, Freetown, and the Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. She is currently pursuing a Masters Degree at the University of Dundee is Scotland.
Salton Massallay is the founder of careers.sl, a website that aims to reduce unemployment by advertising job opportunities around Sierra Leone. He is also the founder of tech start-up iDT Labs, which uses technology to develop scalable solutions for some of the country’s social and economic issues. They also provide computer literacy training programs for business owners and recent graduates.
In July 2016, iDT Labs won the International Disaster Relief Award (Small Company) at Business in the Community’s 2016 Annual Responsible Business Gala for creating a mobile based hazard payment solution for 30,000 Ebola Response Workers during the Ebola crisis of 2014-2015. Massallay hopes to extend the services of careers.sl workshops to teach computer literacy to young people. Salton Massallay is also an alumni of the Limount College Secondary School and the University at Buffalo.
Sierra Leonean food is the best in West Africa. If you’re in doubt of that, we will like to introduce you to the culinary genius that is Maria Bradford. Ms. Bradford has made it her mission to incite salivation, nostalgia, and hunger on her instagram feed. Whether its ‘gronsoup’ or ‘ground nut’ soup, ‘oontu’ or plantains; Maria Bradford is taking Sierra Leonean food to new and exciting places.
She started Maria Bradford Kitchen just 7 months ago but she has been cooking since the age of 9. When she first migrated to the UK her first jobs were also in the food industry. While she is a finance professional food is her passion and she is hoping to take it to the next level.
Her signature chill sauce is all the rave! DM Maria on Instagram if you want the sauce!
In 1991, Yumkella received a doctorate in Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois, where he would later hold academic positions. In 1994, he was appointed Sierra Leone Minister for Trade.
Between 2003 and 2005, Yumkella served as Senior Advisor to the then UNIDO Director-General, Carlos Alfredo Magariños. In 2005, Yumkella was named the Director General of UNIDO, a post which he held until 2013, largely focusing on issues of climate change, poverty, job and wealth creation.
In 2008, Yumkella was appointed the Chair of UN-Energy by the present UN Secretary-General, making him responsible for the oversight of all UN organizations involved with energy issues. In 2008, Yumkella also became an active member of the UN Development Group, a group devoted to determining and coordinating the United Nations’ top global development priorities. In September 2011, Yumkella was appointed by the UN Secretary-General to co-chair the High-level Group on Sustainable Energy for All.
In 2012, Yumkella continued to lead the High-level Group on Sustainable Energy for All during which the UN General Assembly established as the International Year for Sustainable Energy. In September of 2012, Yumkella was appointed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon as the Special Representative for the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
In June of 2006, Yumkella was awarded the ‘Prix De la Fondation’ for his work in global leadership and development. He was presented with the prize by Prince Albert of Monaco. In 2008, Yumkella was awarded the Champion of Youth Award at the 4th World Youth Congress in Quebec City, Canada. In 2008, the University of Madras awarded Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella with an honorary degree in recognition of his public services.
The Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade has named Yumkella as an Honorary Distinguished Visiting Professor. In March 2011, Yumkella was awarded a Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) from Njala University in Njala, Sierra Leone.
In 2012, Yumkella was awarded the United Nations Association Global Leadership Award as well as the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Visionary Award. In April 2012, Yumkella was awarded an honorary professorship at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology in Ulan Bator, Mongolia.On April 17, 2013, the Green, White and Blue Commission announced Yumkella as the recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award, to mark the 52nd anniversary of Sierra Leone’s independence.
On 22 August 2015, Yumkella returned home to Sierra Leone and made his intention known to join the Sierra Leone People’s Party’s 2018 push to return to governance. His father one of the SLPP’s early members was a prolific member of the party.
On 3rd July 2017, Yumkella publicly announced his decision to suspend his bid to contest for the Presidency of the Republic of Sierra Leone under the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). He said that the SLPP was under a “mis-leadership” and had lost its focus and credibility. Yumkella then announced that he was joining a National Grand Coalition (NGC). The NGC registered with the Political Parties Registration Commission and was granted its formal license on 18 October 2018. Its acting Chairman is Dr. Dennis Bright.
Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella is slated to represent the National Grand Coalition as presidential candidate in the March 2018 general elections. He is married to Philomena Yumkella and has two daughters.
Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara was born on April 30 1951, in Kamalo, Bombali District.
He holds a BSc in Economics from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone (1972). He received a Masters Degree & PHD from the University College of North Wales, Bangor. His doctoral thesis can be found here.
From 1991-1994 he worked in the Economic Affairs Department of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London as Senior Economics Officer. In 1996 he was appointed to serve as Financial Secretary at Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Finance by then Head of State, Julius Maada Bio. When he left that post in 1997 it was as Minister of Finance. In 1998 he returned to the Secretariat in London where he served as Chief Programme Officer until 2001.
In 2007 he was appointed Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone by President Ernest Koroma. He left that post to lead the Ministry of Finance in 2009. Three years later in December 2012, he was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation.
In 2015 Dr. Samura was endorsed by President Koroma to serve as president of the AfDB, a bid that he did not win. He retained his position at the MFAIC.
On the 15th of October 2017, President Koroma announced at the All People’s Congress (APC) National Delegates Conference in Makeni that he had chosen Dr. Mathew Wilson Samura Kamara as the Presidential Flag bearer for the 2018 Elections.
Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray was born in Port Loko, in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone on 25 October (Year Unpublished). He attended the the Magburaka Boys Secondary School in Magburaka and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Secondary School in Freetown.
In 1997 during the civil war Kamarainba moves to united states where he enrolled in Howard University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Psychology from Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Kamarainba was a member of the APC party, then in 2014 he fell out of it, and formed his own party called Alliance Democratic Party (ADP) in 2015. Also in 2015, Kamarainba ran for Parliament as a member of the ADP party in constituency 030 in Bombali District, but lost to APC candidate Ibrahim Ben Kargbo.
In 2016, Mansaray ran for parliament again in constituency 050 in Marampa Chiefdom in Port Loko District, but he lost another close race to the APC candidate Osman Karankay Conteh.
He has three registered businesses in Sierra Leone; the Patriotic Insurance Company, the Patriotic Security and Logistic Company and the Patriotic Shipping Company.
Afize Mohamed commonly known as Afize Stylish will be competing for the King of Africa title in the Mister Africa International 2017, in Lagos Nigeria.The King of Africa pageant will be held over two days on 3 & 4 December this year. This sexy stylish Sierra Leonean King who will be representing the green white and blue needs your support. Traveling from the UK to Naija noh be small thing. Please contribute to his GOFUNDME.
Afize Stylish is now a UK based fitness and fashion model and now owns his own fashion brand, which he launched recently. and help our own King go and collect his official crown. In 2012, he moved to London and obtained a degree in nursing. In 2015, Afize started his modelling career and has represented brands like KRISP, Moss Bros and Whipped Inc and other labels.
Yvonne Aki Sawyerr is running for Mayor of Freetown and this is her three part vision. An impressive video whether you support Yvonne or not one can not argue that she understands the City’s problems and knows where she wants to take it.
Visit Yvonne4Mayor to find out more about Yvonne and her bid for Mayor.
Today we celebrate the life of an outstanding Sierra Leonean Journalist Asmaa Kamara James.
Asmaa was born on the 8th of November. Asmaa is an award-winning Sierra Leonean Broadcast Journalist. She is the Station Manager for Radio Democracy 98:1FM. Her show Good Morning Sierra Leone is the most popular show on radio today across all demographics.
Early this year she was awarded by The Badenya Foundation for Radio Journalism. Asmaa is the Vice-president of the Sierra Leone Reporters Union. She is the former president of Women in the Media Sierra Leone. Asmaa is a board member of Purposeful Productions.
The Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr was aggressed by underlings in front of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party office in Freetown yesterday.
Ms. Aki-Sawyerr was attempting to make her way to her office at the Freetown City Council (which is near the SLPP’s Office) when she was attacked by thugs at the SLPP HQ.
Those who have followed the going ons at the SLPP party office over the years will note that that attacks of this kind have become synonymous with the vicinity of the office. It was not too long ago that Dr. Kandeh Yumkella and his mother were physically assaulted at the same location.
The SLPP leadership has allowed the party Office to be infested with lawless, hot-headed elements that harass and intimidate at will. It is not yet known whether those who acted the Mayor were acting on their own accord or because they received orders from above.
The Police should investigate and give this matter the urgency it requires. The SLPP office is a threat to the very leadership of the City as such it should be shut down until when it is safe and secure.
The SLPP party office is not an independent state with its own rules and laws. The level of lawlessness shown there by this shameful attack on the Mayor is appalling.
Perhaps this is the reason that President Maada Bio has not once visited the SLPP party office since he became President. Maybe even he is afraid of what awaits him should he venture there. This place is clearly a hideout for vandals and hoodlums and something has got to be done.
The assault on the Mayor of Freetown is unacceptable and the citizens of this City should not stand for it.
The Sierra Leone Police will be derelict of its duty if it did not close the Sierra Leone People’s Party Office down as they investigate this issue. They should also provide the Mayor with police personnel for her protection.
If the of Mayor of Freetown is not allowed to pass freely without intimidation then who is?
Below is a statement by the Mayor released via WhatsApp.
”Dear Freetonians,
I would like to once again thank God and thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as the Mayor of Freetown. I am passionate about our city and committed to working with the central government and with all Freetonians to transform Freetown.
Unfortunately I was verbally and physically assaulted yesterday by a few people who perhaps do not understand that I am the Mayor of *all* *Freetonians* and not some Freetonians. I strongly condemn all acts of violence and appeal to Freetonians to keep the peace at all times. Yesterday’s attack is being investigated by the Sierra Leone Police. Let me use this opportunity to thank the leadership of the Sierra Leone Police and the Minister of Internal Affairs for their support and interventions yesterday. I am confident that they will ensure that justice is done and seen to be done. I am also certain that the necessary steps will be taken to ensure my personal safety and that of all Freetonians.
We have so much to do as we forge the path to a transformed Freetown. I remain excited and committed to that vision. Let us continue the work with peace in our hearts and in our actions.
In 2008 when I started producing the Vickie Remoe Show I was trying to copy what I had grown up watching in the US; Ricki Lake, Jenny Jones, and of course Mama Oprah. Talking to people seemed easy enough. How difficult can it really be to do a talkshow in Sierra Leone?
There are two things I took for granted when I got the idea to produce a talk show here. The first which I learned quickly enough was that there is a whole technical TV production machinery behind the US daytime talkshows. The other is that in order for people to watch your TV talk show (well produced or not), they need electricity. In 2008 Freetown was the darkest city in West Africa, things were so bad that people nick named a small generator that majority lived on as ‘Kabbah Tiger’, after President Kabbah who handed over power after the 2007 elections.
When the Vickie Remoe Show started broadcasting on SLBS TV I didn’t have electricity to watch it. I actually had to make plans to be at a friend’s house who I was certain had a generator.
Despite the challenges to production and viewership we kept going. The show picked up, those who would be fortunate enough to have light on Fridays at 10pm watched me first trying to copy the US style talk show and later dumping that after season 1. Instead of bringing people into a studio to talk to them about their life, go out into the streets and meet them where they are.
In doing so I was able to find my own voice, my own style of story telling and build a stronger connection with viewers at home. Whether it was going to find blind thumb pianist Sorie Kondi, or scavenging in the City dumps, the Vickie Remoe Show quickly became a local staple.
Between 2008-2011 I produced over 30 shows for broadcast over 4 seasons. We produced stories in Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Mali that showed viewers back home life in the region.
By 2010 people started to reach out to me to cover issues affecting them and their community. I was at the law courts at Cotton Tree one day when a woman started to talk to me. She said “Vickie Remoe…good, please I want to tell you about what has happened to my family’s land. You’re a journalist you can put it on your show. After I listened to her harrowing story all I could say was I’m so sorry but I’m not a journalist. I suggested local journalists she could reach out to and left.
I felt like an imposter. I knew I wasn’t a journalist and I hadn’t been trying to pass myself off as one but my audience thought I was. That same year I went to visit Columbia Journalism School. I was certain story telling was what I wanted to do but I couldn’t continue producing the Vickie Remoe Show if I hadn’t received the necessary training. If they are going to think I’m a journalist then I need to become one.
A lot of people advised me to stay in Sierra Leone. They felt my show was just picking up and I needed to stay to continue to build it. I was torn. So I decided I would only apply to Columbia’s J-School. If I was accepted then it meant God wanted me to go and if I was rejected then it was a sign that I should stay. I applied. On the night I submitted my application I was in Nigeria covering the MTV Music Awards with sponsorship from Airtel Sierra Leone. By day, I interviewed Nneka and Mo-Cheddah recording artists up for best new artists awards at the 2010 MAMAs. By night, I was in my friend’s boyfriend’s house in Lekki trying to finish my grad school admission essay while they snuggled in the corner.
In March 2011 I was accepted to the J-School. I called my grandma in Accra to let her know. She wasn’t as excited as I hoped she would be. When I told her I was accepted I was surprised that after congratulating me she asked about the show.
“You don begin di show en pipul den lek am, wetin dem go do way yu go?” You’ve started your show and people like it what will they do when you go?
I told her I was just going for one year and I would be back. That was the last time we spoke. A week later she passed away in Ghana. We buried her in Freetown and two months later I left Sierra Leone to relocate back to my apartment in Harlem. The same one I had left in 2007 when I moved to Sierra Leone.
I graduated from J-School in 2012. I decided to move to Ghana for a year and return to producing the show in 2013. One thing led to another and seven years passed. In that time I built a marketing company and became somewhat successful handling top brands in Ghana but each year I wondered when I would come back to do the show. It was this latent but constant longing in the back of my mind.
In July 2017 I decided I was going to do whatever I had to, to if nothing else produce one season go the show. In November I was in Sierra Leone signing an MOU with a TV broadcaster for content production.
In March 2018 I put together a small team, pretending like I didnt know I couldnt really afford to produce the Vickie Remoe Show and went to work.
So far we have shot 8/10 shows and have started post production.
I’m finally back to producing the show. If we only get to broadcast this one new season of 10 shows I would feel I finally kept my promise to my grandma.
I came back to do it again, like I said I would.
The show will broadcast on TV in Sierra Leone starting July. It will air weekly for 10 weeks. I’ve tried to capture where Sierra Leoneans are post ebola and many of the places and people that keep me inspired. There are a couple episodes filmed in Liberia for the same reason, to show people that we are here post ebola and we are building.
This weekend Sierra Leoneans tuned in to watch ‘Big Sister’, the nation’s first live 24-hour reality TV Show. Big Sister is produced by Zainab Sheriff (Zed Zee), who in 2012 was one of two Sierra Leoneans on the Big Brother Africa TV Show. Since leaving BBA, Ms. Sheriff has been quite busy. She released a hit song, “Mamie Na Powa” under Emmerson Bockarie’s Suga Entertainment. She signed on as brand ambassador for Airtel (now Orange).
Ms. Sheriff also got married, and had a baby. She has released a couple films in which she co-stars with African film royalty like John Dumelo (Ghetto Queen, 2014), and Ramsey Noah (Elephant in the Room, 2016). She even dabbled in politics during the 2018 campaign period, and publicly endorsed the APC presidenital candidate. Most recently, Ms Sheriff signed on as a brand ambassador for local telecom Africell.
If this weekend’s hype over the ‘Big Sister’ TV Show is anything to go by, Ms. Sheriff’s foray into TV production may be her most successful project yet.
She has cast 12 Sierra Leonean women to live in a house a Big Brother-like environment, each vying for the public’s vote to get an opportunity to stay in the house each week. Ten Sierra Leonean women under one roof? What’s not to watch!
The Former President Joins Twitter Just Days Before Her 80th Birthday
Africa’s first elected female head of state, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, joins Twitter. The move coincides with the former president’s 80th birthday, and highlights the relevance of a digital presence no matter one’s age.
“I’m looking forward to connecting with my friends and followers on a more personal level” said Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, affectionately known as “Ma Ellen”.“There’s so much to share and learn on Twitter, and I’m excited to contribute to the ongoing conversation.” Tweeters can follow Ma Ellen at @MaEllenSirleaf.
Twitter is a global platform that supports roughly 330 million diverse users. This decision will allow Ma Ellen’s audience the chance to engage more directly with her moving forward. She will join the less than six percent of users over the age of 65 globally, but on the African continent she just might be the first octogenarian on Twitter.
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About Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, née Ellen Johnson, (born October 29, 1938, Monrovia, Liberia), is a Liberian politician and economist who was president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018. The Harvard alumnae was the first woman to be elected head of state of an African country. Johnson Sirleaf was one of three recipients of the 2011 Nobel Prize for Peace for contributions to women’s rights.
First Lady of Sierra Leone, Madam Fatima Maada Bio at 15th Biennial General Meeting, 24th Scientific Session and the 39th Council Meeting of the West African College of Nursing held at the Freetown Bintumani Conference hall, was made a Honorary Fellow of the West African College of Nursing. The honorary fellowship was in recognition of The First Lady’s commitment to the empowerment of women and girls in Sierra Leone.
In accepting the honor bestowed upon her, Madam Fatima Maada Bio recognized the sacrifices and dedication of nurses in Sierra Leone, while stating that the work they do cannot go unnoticed, but one worth emulating, as they are the backbone of health care delivery in a nation.
She said she admired for the nursing profession, highlighting nurses’ tenacity and dedication to human service, citing the bravery and passion of local nurses when Sierra Leone was faced with the Ebola epidemic and mudslide disaster respectively.
The First Lady says her office is open to working with institutions involved in improving the state of nursing and midwifery not only in Sierra Leone, and West Africa at large. She believes that “Nurses do it best”.
Over the past three months hip hop artist Shadow Boxxer has been going out with social workers on weekends to feed the needy. We caught up with him to tell us why the man known best known for his smoldering lyrics is handing out food in the streets.
“I was at the national stadium to do a performance when I witnessed a very disturbing situation which would have made me not to perform. Then my friend ‘Aisha Koroma‘, reminded me to do my job. I had come to the stadium for my fans. Later, she told me about this feeding the homeless and the mentally ill on Sundays. I thought within myself and considered that the many Sierra Leoneans out there suffering that need better living conditions. I decided the next Sunday, I was going to showup for the needy.
No matter how busy I am, I go. When I cant go, I donate and I encourage others to do as well. It’s not just about giving but it’s about engaging with those in need, talking to them about their needs, and building a rapport.
Right now social workers in Sierra Leone they are making sure that every Sunday the homeless and the mentally ill individuals get at least one meal through Life A Village (lift a village). That one meal, whether lunch or breakfast is important. With this initiative they don’t just depend on going through garbage or eating waste on the street. Ofcourse there is more need than we can meet so all donations matter, everyday. The more hands on deck, the more we can do. Instead of one meal we could be doing two meals, we could also grow that to providing shelter, and psychosocial support and
We are not trying to force anything on them rather we take it day by day. rehabilitation. Before we give we ask for example: if we give you clean clothes will you change, if we give you place to wash will you wash and if we provide someone to cut your hair is that something you would want. It is a process. You start with food and you build from there.
We give them local food. Everything that is already here, that they would be eating if they had a home. Sometimes is rice and cassava or potato leaves, other times our local fried rice or jollof and stew.
Serving makes me feel good, feel humbled and it has changed the conversations I have with my thirteen-year-old son. I let him know not to take for granted the comfort of him home because there are lots of people in our country suffering beyond what he can even imagine.
What has been most impressionable on me is I’ve met people in deplorable situations who do not even have the mental capacity to know that they are in a bad way. A man was sleeping in a gutter, he was snoring, that is his normal to him, but this should not be normal for anyone in Sierra Leone, so I give back.”
Lox P wins AYV Media Empire’s Cypher Uncensored rap freestyle battle after months of competing with the nation’s best talent. Samuel ‘Lox P’ Bangura received a prize of 10 million leones as well as a one-year recording contract with Kabaka Multimedia Entertainment.
“Cypher Uncensored is the best platform for young people to express their talents through rap and make a mark in the country,” said Lox P. “My main focus is to grab the deal to KME even though the money is huge but the platform will bring me more success. ”
Samuel Bangura (born 14 November 1991), better known by his stage name LOX P.
He attained his primary education at the St. Anthony Boys School and his secondary at the WAM Collegiate School. He lost his father when he was 6 years old. LOX P is a Sierra Leonean rapper and an electrician. He is the winner of the AYV Cypher Uncensored.
Lox P was one of the most consistent rappers in the competition, he never repeated his lyrics.
I am sharing it here because I have been a victim of it and I want this culture among the young generation in Sierra Leone to stop. An abusive word or whatever we call it when people tell you bad or insulting word while you are laughing or in a laughing mood is no joke. We need to stop abusing one another.
It bothers me that people use moments of ‘fun’ to use abusive language. Why is it that it is always in jest that people will say the most damning things to you?
They will laugh and share your secret. They will laugh and provoke you about a physical deformity.
Eg. Na dat make you mot de smell so!
“that’s why your mother doesn’t know how to dress!”
How can you call someone a friend but insult them publicly, pull them down and say it is fun? Which kind of satanic fun is that?
When I was a teenager living in the Congo Market. It was common for people to trade insults for jokes. And after the person who made the abusive joke to which everyone would have laughed then they will say, “You geh sweh! ” or “You alaki!” “You are cursed!” and “you are worthless!” How can these words be fun?
I understand sarcasm and I understand friendship as well. But I will never understand but I don’t understand why and how abuse is fun. This a bad culture and we need to change it.
Few weeks ago we had a youth election in my local church. Before the end of the election, I was called many abusive words. Something I shared in private was shared in public. I asked my friend I had confided in why she would say those things about me and she said it’s just fun. How can you curse someone, bring them down and say it is fun? This is one of the reasons why I’m planning never to attend youth meetings again.
If you want to make fun with people please use good words. Our words are powerful, the Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” Proverbs 18:21 . If you insult me while laughing it’s still an insult. I’m a good Christian with a good memory. make we change bo.
Sierra Leone is a land full of natural resources, rich historical backgrounds, panoramic tourist sites, amazing foods, and many cultural diversities, making it one of West Africa’s most seductive destinations.
Vickie Remoe is a writer and TV producer on a mission to tell stories about Sierra Leone that are the real story, beyond war, ebola, and poverty.
Remoe is the host of the Vickie Remoe Show, a travel and business series that airs on a local TV. About a decade ago, she moved back to Sierra Leone after a decade in the US with the aim of telling Sierra Leonean and African stories with a new lens.
Africanews: How would you characterize the current narrative on Sierra Leone?
Vickie: Sierra Leone’s current narrative as in the one that is told often in the international community or even sometimes the ones we tell ourselves, they are full of negativity. They are stories that are either about ebola, the civil war, blood diamonds, stories about the mudslide, stories about poverty, etc.
Sometimes you’ll read a story about Sierra Leone or watch a story about Sierra Leone that may be about technology, but within the story, they’ll make sure they talk about the war; but when you read or watch the story and you’re thinking “Ah…what does this have to do with the civil war?” this story is about technology why do you have to mention civil war? It is as though, people feel like the only way to tell a story about Sierra Leone, the only lens through which they can tell a story about a place like Sierra Leone is to focus on poverty and the war. However, there’s no country in the world whose narrative is one dimensional.
Africanews: What are the impacts of this storytelling on Sierra Leone and West Africa?
Vickie : If you keep telling negative stories about West Africa that paint a place of poverty in which things don’t grow, people don’t grow, there’s no peace or security an absence of innovation, an absence of intelligence; it’s just like these people grow aid-dependence and just waiting for other people to come and save them, stricken by poverty, stricken by Ebola, stricken by civil war, blood diamonds and child soldiers, you start to believe if you are here locally and you are a Sierra Leonean, that this is not a place of possibility, this is not a land of milk and honey, this not a place where you can actualize your dreams; that is why you find a lot of young people in Sierra Leone, they want to leave Sierra Leone, they don’t think that there’s anything here for them.
Nobody wants to start a business or invest in a country that when you Google it, foreign governments are telling their nationals “Oh…! be careful, don’t go here, this must happen etc..” But the funny thing is that Sierra Leone is actually one of the safest places to live in the world- our crime rates are really low, it is full of history, it’s full of culture; our food is amazing and we have a very welcoming environment.
Africanews: You are a the host of a TV show called the Vickie Remoe show, tell us why you thought of this initiative.
Vickie: Before I moved to Sierra Leone when I was in the diaspora growing up in the US, I will see the same news about Sierra Leone and I always felt like well, “yeah it’s bad, but it’s not that bad” or “yeah it’s bad but that’s not the entire picture.”
So when I moved back to Sierra Leone, I started the ‘Vickie Remoe Show’ as a way to tell stories about Sierra Leoneans to Sierra Leoneans. So my show focuses on travel and business but especially local content, and what do we say about local content? we mean things that are being made here by local people and in this season, we also covered Liberia as well. You know, Sierra Leone and Libera tend to have this shared history and these shared negative stories out there that also need to be dispelled.
Ultimately with the show, my goal is to tell stories that are more nuanced, that are whole and that restore the dignity and the vibrance of living in Sierra Leone, living in Liberia and living in West Africa.
We are not about all about civil war and Ebola, that’s just one small part of our history; there’s so much more here by way of Art and culture, by way of business landscape, music, entertainment and those are the stories I’m seeking to tell.
Africa News: Why would you pick an area not so popular with youths?
Vickie: I started this program ten years ago. When I first started I didn’t have any experience, I’ ve never done it before, I didn’t have all the resources; but I felt like it was something that needed to be done, so even though there weren’t other people doing it ; like I’m the first woman to independently produce a TV show in Sierra Leone in the post war era, at least as far as I know; that means I didn’t go and get equipment from a TV station, no TV station gae me money, nobody produced it for me.
So in a way, I am a pioneer and I am a trailblazer; and now when I look back, it’s funny because I know people who went into journalism because they were looking up to me when I started ten years ago, who are now anchors at local TV stations and local radio stations and I’m like Oh…I actually paved the way for young people to see story telling as an avenue through which they could live their wildest dreams and explore themselves and explore their communities.
So, yes it’s not the kind of thing that everybody can do locally and even anywhere.
Producing content for broadcast requires a lot of time and a lot of resources; but somebody has to do it and sometimes you don’t have everything you need as I didn’t have everything I needed as in the skills, the equipment and everything, but you have to start somewhere.
On Women’s Day, the Asmaa James Foundation, with the support of the National Youth Commission, Medical Research Centre and other partners, donated sanitary items to three female correctional centers across Sierra Leone.
Speaking to inmates, the founder of AJ Foundation, Asmaa James, encouraged the inmates to be strong,. “It is always good to control your temper, don’t ever act when you are angry,” she said.
James told the inmates that her foundation was just a messenger, adding that there were people who donated the different items.
Emerson Kamara, Deputy Youth Commissioner at the National Youth Commission, said the support was part of their “Women in conflict with the law” project.
He stated that they would continue to support women in correctional facilities as it is a part of their young women empowerment advanced programme.
Madam Elenor Kanu, speaking on behalf of Prisons Watch, advised the women to always stay out of trouble after they have served their time in the centers.
This donation was made as part of AJ Foundation’s community service. It was also a way to celebrate The International Women’s day.
The board and management of the foundation expressed thanks to their partners, especially Prison Watch Sierra Leone, Milla Group, NAYCOM, Medical Research Centre and all those who continue to support the cause.
The Asmaa James Foundation will continue to advocate for the well-being of all girls and women in Sierra Leone.
H. E. Fatima Bio and her delegation are attending the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit Dubai, UAE. The summit which began on 29th March with end on 1st April 2019.
The summit is split into the First Ladies’ Summit, and a specialised Technical Advisors Committee Meeting. The Technical Committee delegation from Sierra Leone is lead by Hon. Baindu Dassama
Merck Foundation’s initiatives includes “Merck More Than a Mother” campaign that seeks to reduce the stigmatization of infertile women, and empower them to live independent lives. Also, Merck Capacity Advancement Program, is involved in educating and training medical students and healthcare providers from the start, they strengthen the local capacities and enhance clinical management processes. Sierra Leone truly believes in and fully supports the great work of the foundation. The foundation recently funded the training of medical practitioners from Sierra Leone.
First Lady Bio is passionate about the well being of women and children, and the vision of Merck Foundation. The vision includes improving access to innovative healthcare solutions in under-served communities, building healthcare and scientific research capacity and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) with a special focus on Women and Youth.
First Lady Bio’s commitment to improved access to health care saw her roll out the blueprint for an ultra modern international medical centre in Sierra Leone. Working in partnership with a visionary like Dr Rasha Kelej is a step in the right direction. The First Ladies Initiative Summit is a powerful forum.
First Ladies from various African countries are coming in with their team of experts . The different interventions of Merck Foundation, detailed strategy and execution plans will be examined methodically to ensure the continued success of these programmes, as they proffer workable African solutions to issues we face .
50 women in Sierra Leone were celebrated and awarded for the mind-blowing work, they’ve been doing so far. Amongst the 50 was seasoned female journalist Asmaa Kamara James who was awarded as the most outstanding female journalist in Sierra Leone.
The 50 most influential Sierra Leone women is an award hosted to celebrate and award 50 women who were quite exceptional and relentless in promoting national development in Sierra Leone.
There were over 500 nominations from the general public but the winners were selected based on their determination and zest in contributing to the development of Sierra Leone and inspiring other women.
List of the 50 Most influential Sierra Leonean Women
(1) Her Excellency, Mrs. Fatima Bio (2) Miss Hawa Sally Samai (3) Mrs. Lara Taylor Pearce (4) Mrs. Asmaa Kamara James (5) Hon. P C Matilda Yagu Lansana Minah (6) Miss. Zainab sheriff (7) Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay (8) Hon. Baindu Dassama (9) Hon. Nabeela F Tunis (10) Hon. Emma Kowa Jalloh (11) Her Worship, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE (12) Mrs. Sinkarie Robbin-Coker (13) Her Worship, Mrs. Sunkarie Kabba Kamara (14) Hon, Dr. Princilla Schwartz (15) Basita Michael Esq (16) Hon. Dr. Bernadette Lahai (17) Pst. Mrs. Hawa Mambu (18) Chief Superintendent Mira Koroma (19) Hon. Rebecca Yei Kamara (20) Hon. Wuyatta Bernadette Songa (21) Mrs. Mercella Samba Sesay (22) Miss Hawawa-Hawa Kamara (23) Rosemarie Baryoh (Rozzey) (24) Dr. Fatou Taqi (25) Madam Naasu Fofanah (26) Mrs. Fatmata Clara Carlton Hancils (27) Magistrate Hannah Bonnie (28) Mrs. Kona Koroma (29) Hon. Isata Kabia (30) Hon. Memunatu Pratt (31) Miss Massah KaiKai (32) Miss Alimatu Bangura (33) Peagie Foday (34) Miss Eunice Naffie Mustapha (35) Mrs.Fatu Yumkella (36) Hon. Hariyatu Ariana Bangura (37) Miss Fiona C Kaikai (38) Hon. Emily K Gogra (39) Miss Josephine Kamara (40) PC Sallamatu Setta Gendemeh (41) Mrs. Zainab Bangura (42) Miss Stella Bangura (43) Madam Kadi Fakondo (44) Miss. Fantacee Wiz Kamara (45) Nicky Spencer-Coker Esq (Mrs) (46) Haja Marie Bob Kandeh (47) Precious Amabel Lebby (48)Counsellor Natasha Beckley (49) Fatmata Sorie Esq (50) Hon. Francess Piagie Alghali
From 2001-2006 he served as Financial Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and International Development on appointment from President Tejan Kabba. 
In 2015 Dr. Samura was endorsed by President Koroma to serve as president of the AfDB, a bid that he did not win. He retained his position at the MFAIC.
