By: Ibrahim Jalloh (Jallomy)✍️
The previous government of former President Koroma suspended the activities and displays of masquerades and Secret Societies across the country on the heels of the March, 2018 elections.
The thinking and reasoning for that "Executive Order" were obvious: characteristic mayhem, organized chaos, social disruptions; and in some cases the actual loss of lives associated with masquerades and secret society displays.
Heading to the 57th Independence Anniversary, a call for review and lifting of the suspension was made to the police by the Odalay Union, a loose and obviously disoriented and disorganized group.
The police, acting on their usual "Intelligence " refused to lift the suspension and as a result all Masquerades and Secret Society groups could not display as was the case in past Independence anniversary celebrations. This outcome was greeted with mixed reactions.
Few years ago, I challenged the growing culture of surrendering our national independence celebrations to Masquerades and Secret Society affair. I queried what I then called "the of the Masquerades".
The feedback then was not only antagonistic but brutally indicting. I laid it to rest with the hope that there will come a time when Sierra Leoneans will see reason to terminate a practice that only qualifies our country as being far behind times and practically predatory!
Independence Anniversaries are poignantly meaningful. They embody the ethos and collective aspirations of the people on the drive to upholding the identity and character of self determination. It is a moment where children especially will learn the value and relevance of independence and self rule. It is moment of stock taking of national milestones hit.
This should be the moment when nationals will understand and appreciate the roles played by compatriots in the struggle for independence. This should be a moment for the ignition and stimulation of the spirit and tenacity of nationalism.
We lost the meaning and relevance of our independence anniversaries when we ignorantly surrendered the entire business to the Masquerades and Secret Societies. What can our children learn from the gory and grotesque display of Masquerades: a display characterized and defined by social misconduct, environmental pollution, street littering and the copious use of obscene and indecent languages.
I find it extremely difficult to connect any traditional value and relevance to Masquerades and secret society display during our independence anniversary celebrations! If this is the only way to commemorate our sovereign achievement, we may need to bury our heads in the sand.
Few years ago, the ONS through the Prosec in the North ordered the relocation of all secret society shrines to locations ten miles off the main cities/towns.
The reason was simply, the cosmopolitan areas are harbouring people of different nationalities that will certainly not understand and appreciate the seeming cultural madness and social disruptions.
To date, the ONS order has not been effected for the same reason of the cultural lack of will to enforce needed security related orders in Sierra Leone.
Ending the reign of the Masquerades is a step in the right direction.
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