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Sierra Leoneans abroad return home for the holidays
One of the fascinating parts of being in Sierra Leone over the December holidays is seeing the Sierra Leoneans who live abroad flock back to Freetown for vacation. Suddenly, the restaurants and remote beaches that were once populated almost exclusively by white aid workers and Lebanese businessmen are filled with extended Sierra Leonean families—well dressed, well fed and happy to get out of the cold winter of the States or the UK. For a brief month the country actually has a visible middle class.
Freetown becomes especially festive during this time of year. The streets are often clogged with long wedding processions trying to get through the holiday traffic, and engagement parties are common occurrences. Now is the time to hold them since extended family are all in country. This is also the time of year for young single Sierra Leoneans who live and work abroad to meet other eligible Sierra Leoneans who share their lifestyle. One of my good Sierra Leonean friends—raised throughout Africa and educated in the States—commented a few weeks ago that she was going to camp outside the airport at Lungi (across the bay from Freetown) to meet Sierra Leonean guys as they arrived!
It’s also become common internationally to talk about the important role that remittances from nationals living abroad make in fueling the home economy. In Sierra Leone, however, I often hear people complain about how much the country could benefit if its young educated nationals returned from the States or the UK to work in-country. This is probably a simplistic view: economic opportunities are limited and the political system is not, from what I’ve been told, simple to break into. It is not easy for young Sierra Leoneans to make a prosperous life here. At the same time, however, it’s interesting to see how young professional Sierra Leoneans—both those who are based here and those abroad—are trying to give back to the country. In the new year I plan to post a series of profiles of such people so please come back for updates!
New Year in Sierra Leone
I just discovered your blog. I worked in Sierra Leone for five years. When the war got going good I was in Yengema in Kono. If you get to spend another New Year in Sierra Leone, I would suggest trying to get to Kabala. There is a flat top on one of the mountains and everyone goes up there on New Year's Day. It is a great celebration because everyone regardless of faith celebrates it. I am glad you are experiencing the people of Sierra Leone.
New Year in Sierra Leone
I just discovered your blog. I worked in Sierra Leone for five years. When the war got going good I was in Yengema in Kono. If you get to spend another New Year in Sierra Leone, I would suggest trying to get to Kabala. There is a flat top on one of the mountains and everyone goes up there on New Year's Day. It is a great celebration because everyone regardless of faith celebrates it. I am glad you are experiencing the people of Sierra Leone.