AWE Media Sierra Leone

By: Chikamed Atlantic Beach Hotel, Freetown, Tuesday 29 November 2022 - Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa, has engaged stakeholders in the clearing and forwarding sector to explore more robust ways of reviving the clearing processes at Queen Elizabeth II Quay and ensuring efficiency in government.  A build-up to the stakeholder engagement started with a consultation among key players in the sector on 9 November 2022, which was spearheaded by the Office of the Chief Minister and the Ministries of Finance, Trade, Transport and Aviation and private sector players. During those meetings, a term of reference was developed that led to the stakeholder meeting. The Chief Minister noted: "We are here to look at one of the perennial problems in Sierra Leone, the clearing and forwarding sector. It is no news that there have been challenges and there will continue to be challenges. We are also here to discuss the clearing and forwarding process with a view to streamlining and simplifying the p...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  All-around singer, songwriter, sound engineer and Bombali District Artist of the Decade “Alieu Melody” is set to offer something extraordinary this Sunday at the Wusum Stars Football Club “Black & Yellow Fundraising Musical Concert”  scheduled for the Makeni City Plaza. The back to back hit maker's anticipated performance comes after the concert organizers (the National Wusum Stars Football Club Fan Base) confirmed his booking for the weekend music fiesta. According to “Melody” he wants the people of Bombali and nationwide to show up for  the Sunday concert in a bid to help raise funds to support the Wusum Stars Football Club which is one of top-tier sides that is financially constrained the most. His plea has been backed by a number of officials, supporters and players of Wusum Stars Football Club who’ve also requested well wishers to grace the event which entrance price has been announced to be 15 Leones that will offer attendees to meet an...

​ By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  With the earliest kick off date for this season’s Sierra Leone Men’s Premier League annulled, the football family in the soccer nuts nation remains in the dark after all parties in charge of running the much awaited National men’s top-tier has chosen to remain tight-lipped on the expected kick-off date. Supports, Players, Managers and Sports Journalist nationwide were eager for the 2022-2023 Sierra Leone Men’s Premier League to have kicked off on Friday, 18th November, 2022 but their hopes were shattered having noticed there was no league fixtures unveiled nor did the League Board, the local football governing body-(SLFA) and partners made any public attempt to notify that general citizenry that the long awaited championship will not commence as planned. It’s gone pass a week  now since the national Men’s Top-tier to be contested by 18 teams across all regions in the country has not kicked off as earlier trumpeted to commence by the Premier League B...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Mena Queens Football Club of Makeni, the current 3rd place occupants of the ongoing 1st ever National Women’s Top-Tier will later today welcome Mogbwemo Queens Football Club from Bonthe District, the current league leaders as both side clashes at the Wusum Stadium in a top of the table clash. Seated third on the log, the host who had won the last four games say they’re upbeat to secure all three points to mark their third home win out of seven games played so far in the competition’s first round. “We’re upbeat not to suffer any other defeat in the League, especially to bow at home again having suffered a late 0-1 defeat in our opening game. We respect Mogbewemo Queens, they’re a good opponent but we’re ready to give them a good run for their money,” Mena Queens Skipper Mariatu Haja Conteh told AWE-Media.SL in a pre-match interview. On the other hand, the high flying visitors from Bonthe District, Mogbewmo Queens who are leading the League with 16 points ea...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  One of Sierra Leone’s most successful models Abubakarr Tarawalie, the owner of Kish Leone and President of the Makeni Models Union who doubles as a baker at the United Bank of Africa Makeni branch is set to host this Friday, 25th November, 2022 at the Garden State complex “the Faces of High School” inter-secondary academic and modeling contest for boys and girls attending nine secondary schools in Makeni city, Northeastern Sierra Leone. The event has been segmented into two, an inter-secondary brain challenge and modeling contest amongst 40 school going pupils representing the Birch Memorial, United Methodist, Makeni Comprehensive Academy, Saint Francis, Saint Joseph Convent, Benevolent Islamic, Every Nation Academy, Finoh International High School, Modern High School, International College of Makeni and the Sierra Leone Muslim Brotherhood Secondary School. According to the Model turned banker and former Mr. Supernatural Poland Sierra Leone representative,...

​ By:  Amadu   Wurie   Timbo Hosted at its office located at  Nicol  Street in Makeni, the Sierra Leone National Commission on Small Arms on Thursday 17 th  November 2021 officially launched the Northern Region office.  The daylong event attracted many dignitaries including  Honorable  David Panda Noah, Minister at the Ministry of Internal Affairs,  Honorable   Sahr  E. Juana, Member of Parliament representing the people of Constituency 002 in  Kailahun  District who doubles as the Chairman of the  Defense  Committee at the Parliament of Sierra Leone united   with the Resident Paramount Chief, PC  Bai   Shebora   Kasangha  II, Forces Representatives and other prominent stakeholders  grace the event that gears towards to the security and well-being of Citizens living in the country. In his statement,  Rtd .  Colonel  Binneh  K.  Konteh , the National Comm...

​ By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Algerian Team-B on Saturday evening hammered a humiliating 0-3 defeat on the Sierra Leone senior National Men’s team “Leone Stars” at the Fujairah Club Stadium in Dubai. The team from Sierra Leone which had traveled way over to Dubai to host the said encounter lose grip of the match in the 57th minutes and Algeria’s Shoaib Kdad took advantage to net the day’s opener. His goal opened the flood gate as his teammates Ahmed Qandousi and Abdul Rahman Mezian increased the visitors lead to 3-0 after netting respectively in the 71st and 77th minute. Host Sierra Leone could not replied the visitors and things became worse for them when their skipper Steven Roy Caulker was red-carded. The result has been described by sports pundits and followers of the Sierra Leone senior team as “humiliating” advancing that “the local football federation-(SLFA) and their partners who’ve initiated the said match have just thrown the Nation’s pride on Algeria’s senior national team...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  The Sierra Leone National Men’s Football Team “Leone Stars” together with other officials of the Sierra Leone Football Association-(SLFA) plus representatives of the Ministry of Sports and other government officials are in Dubai for doubtful friendly matches, the National Sports Authority has announced on Tuesday. According to the NSA announcement, the Leone Stars team plus other members of the delegation has since touched base “in Fujairah, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates for a week long training camp as part of their endless preparations for the Ivory Coast 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers.” NSA further announced that “the team is being lodged at the Concorde Five Stars Hotel and Resort in the city of Fujairah and will engage in friendly matches but that the Leone Stars proposed match for Wednesday, 16th November, 2022 has been annulled due to administrative and technical challenges beyond the control of agent. "The Sierra Leone - Algeria Team-B ...

​Poem by:  Abubakarr Kamara - (Dephoenix) Insay di poda-poda Grɔmbul nɔ de dɔn, Ɔlman gɛt tɔk fɔ tɔk Sɔman go tɔk  Bɔt in neba we nɔ Put pɔt na faya  Te di wik de dɔn so. Oda wan go se i taya Wit aw ɔltin dɔn tinap Lɛk bɔypikin na uman grɔn. Wetin swit pas ɔl na we Aprɛntis dɛn fil se Dɛn mas-mas na pasenja ed Dɛn fɔ gɛt am...hmm Dɛn yon kes siryɔs! Insay di poda-poda Gladi-gladi nɔ de na pɔsin fes Fes dɛm tɛns lɛk na met is, Jok sɛf kin kam wit sɔnkɔ-sɔnkɔ. Na de yu go si Sori De lelemu bɔt Sule, Sale go lɔk in yon na bɔx Ɛn de jɛpɛ pan Abi in yon. Insay di poda-poda Plaba nɔ de dɔn, Ɔltɛm dɛn gɛt nyu wan. Som tɛm fɔ chenj nɔmɔ Go mek da man chɛr mami kɔs Lɛk se nɔto mama bɔn am. Smɔl tɔk go mek Da mared uman tɛl Da yɔnbɔy aw i want Mek man andul am na bed Lɛk udat de fɛn lɔya fɔ os kes Ɔltin kin jus ful mi mɔt! Insay di poda-poda Na de bɔku kin blo maynd Bɔt di kɔntri in tranganɛs. Da ivin tɛm yon kin swit.... Na di tɛm dɛn kin koto  Fɔ di big wet fɔl dɛm we De mek...

By: Ibrahim Benjamin Brima Kanu With Supports from Bread for the World and the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, Mankind Activities for Development and Accreditation Movement (MADAM) in collaboration with National Council for Technical, Vocational and other Academic Awards (NCTVA) on Monday, 14th November, 2022 commenced a five-day Training of Trainers workshop at its conference hall situated along the Makeni -Magburaka highway. The training drew 50 participants including principals and instructors from 14 Technical and Vocational and Training-(TVET) institutions nationwide for intensive training on the newly developed Entrepreneurship Curriculum designed to help the middle level man power to take the centerstage in the Development of the country. Speaking to this medium, Mr. Mohamed Alie Tarawalie, the Entrepreneurship Coordinator for NCTVA gave a brief background of this program during the opening of the training and highlighted some o...

By: Paul Kamara in Bo Defending champions of the Sierra Leone Premiere League Bo Rangers Football Club yesterday at their secretariat  in the southern region city of Bo opened a book of condolence in honor of their late Technical Director Eric Lansana who died in a gruesome road accident a week a ago.  The late T.D was said to be traveling from Freetown to Bo City to watch the finals between two community teams (Hangha Town and Njagboima Community) in the maiden edition of the President Bio Inter-Community Trophy when he met his sudden death. The brief ceremony which took place at the Clubhouse brought together Family members, Executive members from the club, Technical Team, Players, Supporters, Representatives from others football clubs, football stakeholders, journalists, sympathizers etc. Executive Chairman Babadi Kamara led the signing of the Book of Condolence. He had earlier described the demise of Eric as “a massive loss to the club.” Several tributes were paid by diffe...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Folk Sierra Leone songwriter, activist, poet, entrepreneur and performer “Fantacee Wiz” is adding another spice to her booming fame for keeping the true cultural melody of her country as rightly shown in her latest debut album title: “A Walk Home.” The album which was unveiled this midyear is the singer’s first ever and she did unveil the album on all popular social media streaming platforms with an unprecedented number of 20 tracks four other popular sensational Sierra Leonean singers including Drizilik, Markmuday, Joel and ringing singer King Kalie. For the production of the melodies in the “A Walk Home,” she had hired the services of legendary producers such as Treasure, DJ Rampage, Sound Boy, Lord Mo, Lanzo Matic, Jay Terror and Solo’s Beat.  Without waiting for the best to further emerge from her widely hailed maiden album which has been making the top charts on Audiofrica, YouTube, Boomplay, Audiomack and more, the singer will be unveiling anoth...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  On Sunday, Apex Multimedia, a growing Makeni based Multimedia company in collaboration with Kivas Pub on the Azzolini high-way unveiled a free film screening partnership with record attendance at the premises of Pivas. The deal according to Apex Multimedia’s Film Expert and Trainer Nick Sanderson was inspired by the desire of their management to reactivate the culture of movie screening on cinemas by way of increasing accessibility of film knowledge to the residents of Makeni and beyond which will help them become key players in the movie industry in the country eventually. He said: “Our company-(Apex Multimedia) believes education is a basic necessity and a right for everyone hence must be made accessible, which is why we’re offering free movie education to the people of Makeni and its surrounding for a start as part of fulfilling our cooperate social responsibility and we’re super proud of the management of Kivas Pub for partnering with us to revive the ...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Mena Queens Football Club secured their first home win in the ongoing first-ever National Women’s League, as they dislodged visitors Koya Queens from Mile 38 at the Wusum Stadium in Makeni 2-1 over the weekend. It was gifted forward Sarah Turay who opened the scoring for the host in the first half and 10 minutes on her teammate Marian doubles the lead but Koya Queens forward Gbassay Kamara stamped a perfect finish before the quarter hour mark to end the match played on Saturday on high. The win is Mena Queens second in the ongoing maiden National Women’s in a row since they collected all three points away from Albitaya Queens FC of Kabala on October 29.

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Members of the Old Makeni Franciscan Association-(OMFA) across the country on Friday converged at the University of Makeni-(UNIMAK) Mass Communications building for the inauguration of the university’s first ever OMFA President in the person of Margai John Sebeh Conteh. Mr. Conteh who’s a final year student at the said University studying a  Mass Communication Honors Degree, inauguration came after he was officially elected unopposed as the UNIMAK Chapter of the Alumni Association of the Saint Francis Secondary School in Makeni in September this year. The historic event was also graced by UNIMAK Lecturers, Staff and Pupils of Saint Francis Secondary School, journalists among other guests invited from all walks of life. On the day, President Conteh expressed gratitude to the OMFA membership at home and abroad for trusting him to lead, he said his immediate ambition is to increase the membership of the newly established UNIMAK chapter and to make visibl...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  The Sierra Leone Police in the North East Region on Thursday were applauded by spectators for keeping their 2022 Inter-Divisional Sport Meeting 100% apolitical. Of all the four houses in the Police sport meet, the traditional Green and Red colors that are commonly been attributed to the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party-(SLPP) and the main oppositions All People’s Congress-(APC) parties were missing. Some of the spectators that witnessed the sports meetings said the decision by the Sierra Leone Police in the region was exemplary and urged heads of academic and other institutions to copy the Police model in a bid to end the  unhealthy contests that is normally mounted over the politicization of the green and red colors at most sport meetings. Meanwhile, the Athletics challenge organized to celebrate the 2022 Police week was competed by eight Police units in the Northeast region placed into four house colors consisting of two units each, was won by the...

By: alusinerehme.wilson@awokonewspaper.sl Nearly 24 hours to the long awaited grand finals of the maiden President Bio Trophy underway in the southern regional district of Bo, this Saturday, the tournament’s organizers “Sons & Daughters of Bo” in collaboration with the local football federation-(BDFA) are set to gift the two finalists with a whooping sum of 120,000 Leones. According to Radio Newsong Sport Journalist David Lebbie, the winner of the competition’s final encounter to be played at the Bo Coronation field between Hanga Town Community and Njagboma Community Football Clubs is tipped to take home the sum of 70,000 Leones while the Runner-up will bag 50,000 Leones. Lebbie added that the sum of  10,000 Leones also awaits the team that will win the 3rd place encounter between Coronation Field and Kandeh Town Community Football Teams. With plans already sealed by the organizers for the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone His Excellency Retired Brigadier Julius Maada B...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Freetown based elite football club Ports Authority nicknamed as “The Waterfront Boys” has announced the signing of seven players including Joseph “Techno” Cleveland who has sealed a three year contract with the club where he had played for two consecutive seasons on loan. The other recruits are: forwarding Midfielder Abdulai B. Kamara from FC Johansen, midfielder Ibrahim Tiago Kamara from Kamboi Eagles, goalkeeper Yusuf Mbayoh from Anti Drugs, forward Melvin Davis from FC Johansen, midfielder Kassimu Kallon from Central Parade, forward Musa Kamara from Diamond Stars. All seven players according to Ports Authority officials have each sealed a three years agreement “The Waterfront Boys” for undisclosed fees, and will be duly unveiled before donning the club’s colors until 2025.

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson A group of descendants from the Southern Regional District of Bo named Sons & Daughters of Bo have teamed up to positively engage various communities in what is now the first ever inter-community football tournament of its kind organized in collaboration with the local Football Federation-(BDFA). Their membership comprised of both government and non-governmental parastaters including the Chief Minister Jacob Jusu Saffa, and the Lead Way, Bo Rangers Executive Chairman Babadi Kamara that have team-up to honor and celebrate the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone His Excellency Retired Brigadier Julius Madda Bio by naming the district’s most expensive football tournament after him. With the maiden edition already wrapping up this weekend in Bo, after various communities had mobilized to form 16 community teams that were placed in 4 groups (A-D) consisting of four teams each namely: Messima, New Barracks, Sammie town, Shellmingo, Samamie, Kissy Town, New ...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Paramount of Gbanti Chiefdom, Massayeli Ntham-III on Tuesday afternoon joined the Northeastern regional Commander of the Sierra Leone Police Mr. Sahr Yomba Senesi, Inspector Carew of the Makeni Fire Station among others stakeholders for the region’s Inter-Division football competition opening ceremony at the Police Field in Makeni. The PC together with Major AB Bangura of the 4th Infantry Brigade Battalion of Teko Barracks, Mr. Momoh Fofanah, the Assitant District Officer (S.AO) and other stakeholders in the region’s security sector as well as the NaCOVERC Coordinator in Bombali District, accompanied the Regional Police Boss for the opening day kickoff. Before the kickoff. AIG Senesi said in a statement that the tournament which will end this Saturday will see male football teams of four of the eight police units while both male and females of the same units will compete in a day’s athletic inter-divisional sport meeting on Thursday at the same venture, as...

​ By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Following her triumph as one of the 25 finalists for this year’s Media Foundation for West Africa-(MFWA) Awards of Excellence which attracted a pool of congratulatory messages from Sierra Leonean Journalists at home and abroad, as well as organizations including SLAJ, Journalist Zainab Iyamide Joaque has urged Female journalists to be generous listeners and eager learners. She made the call in an interview with Awoko Newspaper after being recognized by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) at this year’s West Africa Media Excellence Awards 2022 held in Ghana on Saturday, 22nd October 2022. She further expressed great delight over her latest achievement saying: “I’m grateful for being honored with this Certificate of Merit, and for being the first finalist from Sierra Leone. "We are all aware that despite achievements and progress made, African women face major challenges and obstacles but amidst that, they persevere to create a story for themselve...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Forbes, one of the leading trackers of wealth among the world’s financial elites, has declared a latest drastic decline in the wealth status of Famous American Rapper Ye who’s otherwise known as Kanye West. The Forbes alert on Ye comes after they noted a fall out with some of his partners including Adidas and Balenciaga. A Cable News Network midweek report on the same states that: a falling out between the rapper and his corporate partners has cost him his status as a billionaire, according to Forbes. Although, Ye was spotted in the last few weeks has seen luxury fashion house, Adidas, Balenciaga and Gap are said to have  recently parted ways  with him for some antisemitic comments made and wearing a shirt with a slogan linked to the Ku Klux Klan. According to Forbes, Ye dropped from its list of billionaires after it estimated losses on the Adidas deal accounted for $1.5 billion of his net worth, but Forbes now estimates it at a mere $400 million...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  On her debut appearance, gifted female rising forward Sarah Turay made history last Saturday for her new club Mena Queens Football Club of Bombali District as she scored late to restore parity for her side at home against Victory Football Club from Freetown in the National Women’s League. She was making her debut appearance since she joined the Makeni based club on loan from Konsho Football club after missing out from her team’s opening game against Kahulan Queens of Kenema due to delay in the processing of her life card by the league organizers. Introduced into the match as a second half substitute, Turay wasted no time to slot the ball in the back of their opponent’s net after receiving a cross from her teammate Fatmata Kamara to set their home crowd bazaar in celebration as they equalized in the late minutes of the weekend cracker. In an interview with Awoko Newspaper, the thrilled Sarah Turay thanked her fans and supporters of Mena Queens for cheering ...