Sierra Leone Blog

The Returnee Files – Q&A with Sheka Forna

2009-11-03T09:19:00.001Z

I often say some people just have Sierra Leone running through their veins. They are drawn to Sierra Leone whether they like it or not. Here is a man who’s family strikes me as such. His dad, was the popular politician Mohamed Sorie Forna who dared to warn against some of the excesses of the Siaka Stevens regime, and for that he paid the ultimate price in 1975 when along with fourteen others he

Time to bring back Jimmy B?

2009-11-03T00:07:00.002Z

I remember a few years ago, there was hardly a week that went by without one album launch or the other. Now, for one reason or the other Sierra Leone music seems to be fading again. No doubt the musicians face a lot of challenges, piracy being one of them. Producing music of great quality that can compete is required, undoubtedly. Nigerian music has taken over the dance floors here and for good

Only in Salone: British High Commision Visa Section Inffeciency Alert

2009-10-19T15:26:00.002+01:00

I had already planned to complain about the cost of getting a British Visa as a Sierra Leonean national when upon arrival at the British High Commission I was informed that prices had been increased because of the exchange rate. I asked the security officer why the website hadn’t been updated to indicate this change and he said sorry ma they are working on it. As of Oct 13th 2009 when I changed

Sierra Leone Cricket Squad beats Rwanda to advance to the World Cricket League (WCL) Africa Division 2

2009-10-19T15:12:00.000+01:00

(couldnt find any cricket images of the team) (map indicating countries with cricket teams in Africa)As i checked in at the Kenya Airways counter two weeks ago on my way to Ghana. I was flanked by almost a dozen young suited brothers in a maroon and green combo. I couldnt make out the crests on their jackets but when i asked later i was informed that they were the Sierra Leone National

SOS Valentine Esegrabo Melvine Strasser

2009-10-19T14:55:00.004+01:00

SOS signal is a prosign, its respective letters have no inherent meaning per seOn April 29th 1992 I was 7 years old. Valentine Strasser was 25. The APC of my father and Joseph saidu momoh was at the zenith of its decay and decadence and way month don man dem noh day get pay but this is not a commentary on the politics of then or now. This is about Strasser. Every couple years or so someone takes

The Returnee Files – Q and A - with Dr Sylvester Nicol

2009-09-21T21:08:00.002+01:00

I’ve been talking about doing a series on those of us who have decided to return home to chart a new chapter in our lives. What finally got me going is my recent trip to London and talking to folks out there. There are so many of us who want to return home but are either unwilling, unable or just don’t feel like they have enough information or understanding in order to do so. Some are just plain

What will become of a nation…

2009-09-12T00:58:00.002+01:00

… that doesn’t treasure its past?Is it that we don’t have much to be proud of in our history? Or is it that we have ‘other priorities’? Is the saying “know your future you must know your past” just another tired cliché? I know I didn’t pick up much about Sierra Leone history in school either, probably because it was taught with such boring manner that ‘kekking’ to go play stopper football seemed

Vickie Remoe Vs. Philip Neville of Standard Times

2009-09-06T16:31:00.007+01:00

This week in FreetownMondayi called Phillip Neville editor of standard times to report a certain small but recurring issue that had been brought to my attention. A couple weeks ago a friend called "Vickie u know say u picture day na paper tiday" "R u joking" "Nope, u picture day na standard times relationship/advice section" My heart began to pound as i wondered which one of my escapades could

Please send me 5,000 of them trousers without pockets…

2009-06-30T23:20:00.001+01:00

I had to laugh when I heard about this on the news… they should take out the zippers as well. LOL. Surely Lungi is not as bad… surely… ------------------------------------------------------------------ Nepal bans airline staff pockets Officials said there were growing reports of bribe-taking at the airport Staff at Nepal's main international airport are to be issued with

If I had a cane…

2009-06-18T01:48:00.001+01:00

I’d probably have used it. Seriously, this dude is casually emptying his trash over Savage St bridge as if it’s the new ‘bommeh’. We really need to take responsibility for our actions. Next time you’re passing through the Savage St Bridge, have a peek over the bridge. Either side.

Dispatches from Salone: Stories I Like to Tell Part II – My Friendly Airport Security Lady

2009-06-09T00:45:00.001+01:00

This is from one of my favourite blogs on Sierra Leone, read on about Airport Security. Salone Style… ================================== Dispatches from Salone: Stories I Like to Tell Part II – My Friendly Airport Security Lady This is the second installment of Stories I Like to Tell About Sierra Leone. (Also check out the first one, about my friendly corrupt policemen.) If you are a blood

Freetown City Council clears out streets..

2009-06-09T00:23:00.001+01:00

On one hand you think, ‘how sad’. Then again you think why would anyone open up shop along a public pavement then refuse to remove it and disregard all warnings and advice to do so. The streets should be a lot more sane if street traders were removed from their place of business but then again, I guess the Council has to give them an alternative place to trade from and insist on

Journey to the Lakes: My Journey to the Lakes - Tuesday 3rd – Thursday 5th February

2009-06-04T01:12:00.001+01:00

This is a blog from a good friend of mine who was very instrumental in the days before VSL was born. She even loaned me her Lonely Planet, Sri Lanka guide for some inspiration. She is finally satisfying her passion to see more of Sierra Leone! More power to you. By the way, the Sri Lanka guide is in good condition and I promise to return it soon. Honest. Enjoy… Journey to the Lakes: My Journey

One stop shop, 12 steps pain

2009-06-04T00:54:00.001+01:00

This is a sort of update following the article on the pain I went through trying to register a sole-proprietorship business in Salone. Silly me for trying to go through the process again. I had sworn I’d just do it the easy way and pay someone else to go into the dungeon that is the Registrar’s office. Anyhow, I was encouraged by the glossy posters and adverts that the One stop shop was now in

Arik Air finally takes to the skies

2009-06-04T00:23:00.001+01:00

Great anticipation followed the announcement and high profile launch of Arik Air, which was branded as Sierra Leone’s National Airline. Of particular interest is the Freetown-London route which could well benefit from some competition. You would think they would start operation the next day but unfortunately they apparently came across some glitches which meant their launch date was pushed back.

Mr Minister, next time be more positive

2009-04-01T16:02:00.002+01:00

Why is Sierra Leone still failing to attract tourists seven years after the end of the war? This was the question the Minister of Tourism was asked on the BBC World Service about three weeks ago. I was hoping for a composed response which highlighted some of the progress that has been made on that front and some of what they were doing as a Ministry to attract tourists back to Sierra Leone. He

It’s over a year.. dude, you still here?!

2009-03-30T14:30:00.001+01:00

December 15th 2008 marked my first year in being back in Sierra Leone. Friends know I said it was a one year project… but they also know things take longer in Sierra Leone so I’ll be hanging around these for a while longer... a long while longer by the looks of it. Why has it taken my over 3 additional months to write my obligatory ‘1 year on’ post? Combination of factors… busy December,

Valentine's Day Special: Sierra Leone is Lovers' Paradise

2009-02-14T10:37:00.005Z

There is a one stop shop internet café ala snack bar, football cinema with a library to boot at the junction of Boyle Lane called Ambrosia Leisure Center. Residents of Boyle and its surrounding neighbourhoods from murray town, Ohlohshoro and beyond crowd the cinema every week to catch premier and champion league soccer games. GOAL!!!!!! and YAYYYY!!!! Are usually all the sounds u get from

So much more to give

2009-02-10T15:23:00.009Z

So I had my bags packed like two weeks before (sad I know), ready to go! The journey home is always an interesting one, and every year there is some drama or the other. This year it started out with Gatwick and the travel agent that has invisible horns. We paid 870 smackaroonies for a flight where the only perks were tap water and one lousy meal that tasted like dog food. Everything else had to

Papa Blow Mind: The Voice of the People on Radio Democracy 98.1

2009-02-06T00:22:00.004Z

Most times when i drive in my car i listen to what ever assortment of CDs i have availaible in my ten disk changer. But tonight, as i drove home from the beach weary of the same ten cds i listen to, I turn on the radio and it lands on 98.1 Radio Democracy. I was just about to change the station when i heard "yes dis na papa blow mind, call wi en blow u mind" (BlowMind in krio means to vent or to

Sierra Leone in Lonely Planet's '09 best

2008-12-24T15:14:00.002Z

How encouraging to see Sierra Leone starting to pop up on the tourism radar again. We were also in the Wanderlust guide which I can't find online - yet - but you'll be the first to know when I do.=======================================Here are Lonely Planet's list of top 10 countries to visit: AlgeriaBangladeshCanadaGeorgiaGreenlandKyrgyzstanOmanPeruRwandaSierra Leonehttp://travel.asiaone.com/

A year later – By Yeniva Sisay

2008-11-13T16:49:00.001Z

There was a smile planted on my face when I woke up this morning. I woke up with a sense of pride and accomplishment, joy and astonishment. I took in a deep breath of faith, struggle, determination and courage and swallowed wonder, chance, bliss, and uncertainty. Breakfast was served on the veranda of my brand new apartment that overlooks the hills and vast terrain of Freetown. A view that

SwitSalone Presents THE 2008 SwitList (a.k.a Travelers Social Guide for Just Comes (JCs), Been Comin (BCs), One time Visitors, and Returnees)

2008-11-13T09:23:00.003Z

SwitSalone Presents THE 2008 SWITLIST(psssstttt i'm not dead...been hybernatin from the global)I know that there are loads of you who will be coming soon to crowd my town, and my streets, and fill my country with your "innits" and "whatsups". Last year i let you take over and i stayed home...this year fat chance....ITS MY TOWN. I understand you may not know better and therefore need advice from

So what do you think of the beach bars situation?

2008-11-11T16:08:00.001Z

I’m being asked a lot about this recently.. I’ve also been planning to write about it for a while now. Frankly, I feel it was a bit of a cock up. I’m certain the ministry also feels like this now… No one seems to find real justifiable cause to put so many people out of business in a couple of days.. just before the peak season. Apparently, some of the structures were ‘not up to it’ or something

Mboka – An opportunity for a second look at The Gambia

2008-11-03T14:56:00.001Z

Anyone traveling within West Africa can probably tell you how difficult it can turn out to be. Truth is, I was dreading this journey.. and I could have so easily not made it. I forgot my passport at home but luckily enough for me, I realized this with enough time in hand. Passport with me, we set out to get the 11am ferry for a 5pm flight. Meaning I had to leave the house at 9am. The interesting