My First Journey to China: A Story of Firsts and Wonder

Around this time last year, I had one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life — my very first trip outside Africa, to China. It was not just another journey; it was a story of firsts, excitement, and discovery. Before that, the only country I had ever visited outside Sierra Leone was our neighbour, Guinea. So when the opportunity came to travel to Hefei, Anhui Province, China, it felt like a dream. 

The news came suddenly. My boss at the China-Africa Institute informed me that I had been selected to travel — but the notice came very close to the deadline. I was overjoyed yet panicked. There was no time to waste. I rushed to prepare my documents, took my passport to the embassy, and make quick arrangements at home before leaving. Every step felt like a race against time, but my excitement gave me energy. I couldn’t stop imagining what China would look like — its people, the streets, the food, the culture. 

Lungi International Airport

When it was finally time to travel to the airport, I had mixed feelings — joy, curiosity, nervousness. I couldn’t eat much, though my darling had prepared me a delicious meal. I was too excited to have an appetite. Since the airport is across the sea from Freetown, I took the ferry from Freetown to Lungi, a one-hour ride. The sea was calm, and my mind was full of thoughts. At Lungi, I hired a motorbike (or okada, as we call them here) to take me to the new airport. A part of me felt a little sad that I wouldn’t get to travel through the old Lungi International Airport — the one I had so often visited to see friends and relatives off. I had always dreamed that one day it would be my turn to walk through its gates. But now, the new airport was the gateway to my dream. 

Where Have We Gone Wrong?

Where Have We Gone Wrong?
When over 200 Years of Slavery Stripped Us of Our Human Dignity,
And over 150 Years of Colonization Came Tantalizing Us with a Semblance of Relief.

Where Have We Gone Wrong?
When Thirty Years of Self Rule Starved Us of Our Daily Bread,
An Eleven Years of Senseless War Added Salt into Injury,
And Fear, Horror and Uncertainty Illuminated the Entire Land.

Changes to Our National Anthem

The British, our Colonial Masters pray to GOD for their Monarchs in their national anthem and I agree with them. Is the Queen not a symbol of national unity? The Americans, the greatest nation of our times say: "In GOD We Trust", and SELDOM shall their leaders end a speech without saying: "God bless you, God bless America", although they have so many atheists. Aren't they great? And so many nations call on God in their national anthems.

National Economies

Photo snatched from the facebook group: "Leh We Talk". 

Sometimes, when I hear from my one and only news outlet, (the radio) people in other parts of the world grumbling that their economy is tough, things are hard, and bla bla bla, then like a flash of a lightening, I would get out of my house, stand akimbo, and looked at the sky and marveled at it beautiful stars: some so bright and shining, others not too bright and others very, very dim and some even invisible to the naked eyes and then I would begin to imagine some of the long queues we had overcome during the day:

The early morning queues leading to the latrines, the most disgusting of all the queues.

What a mysterious and seemingly imperfect world?!

What a mysterious and seemingly imperfect world?!
Sometimes, I just look at the world and perplex at it mysteries and its seeming imperfections.
A very mysterious and seemingly imperfect world that throws both pebbles and manna at its inhabitants.
And I oft said to myself: 'since this is it nature, as occupants, to be in harmony we must learn to escape when it chooses to throw pebbles at us, and we must learn to catch, when it throws manna at us'.

Eid-ul-mubarak

Like he who continues to deny the existence of HIV and engages in unprotected and reckless sexual conducts, regret will be his, if he is later tested HIV positive. But if he believes in God, repents and continues to obey His Commandments, his regret will be a trillions times smaller than he who denies the existence of God only to one day wake up to hear a voice announcing:
"Today, today is the day of regrets for both believers and non-believers alike".

Birthday Celebrations in a Unique Style

Birthday celebrations are everywhere and we hear about them every day. Millions of dollars are spent each
 year by individuals, families and friends in celebrating birthdays.  Indeed, a person’s birth day is a very unique day in her/his life, a day she/he was born on planet earth. It is thus the most unique day in her/his calendar and it therefore calls for unique celebrations and thanks giving.

The Demise of a Cultural Heritage - The Lapper is Yielding

Earlier, putting on a trousers is a sign of immodesty, society looked at such ladies with different eyes. But with all this, the trousers was resilient. And today it has conquered, it’s the most preferable clothe for majority of the ladies. There is now a silence acceptance of the trousers, even by the most conservative religious folks. But why has the lapper (wrapper) been treated so unfairly by the younger generation?