AWE Media Sierra Leone

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Renowned Sierra Leonean musician, entrepreneur, and cultural leader Augustine Turay , better known by his stage name Augustine JayTee , has officially announced Pray Day as the date for a major entertainment festival marking his 15-year journey in the music industry . JayTee, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Jada Xul Entertainment and President of the Makeni Artists Union (MAU),  confirmed the development during an interview with Awoko Newspaper  ending weeks of speculation surrounding a possible Pray Day event. “I want to celebrate my 15 years in entertainment in a special way,” JayTee said. “When people support this celebration, they are giving back to the journey and motivating me to contribute even more to the industry.” According to the award-winning rapper, the event will go beyond a personal milestone. He revealed plans to premiere 10 brand-new songs live , while also spotlighting artists he has mentored through Jada Xul ...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson The 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hosted in Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026 in Morocco  has rewritten the digital record books, emerging as the most viewed continental football tournament in history. According to accumulated records by the continent's football governing body, the competition generated an unprecedented 6 billion digital views, including 5.2 billion video views across social media platforms, marking a milestone that highlights the surging global appeal of African football and the deep passion of its fans. A key force behind this growth was the African diaspora, with millions of new viewers engaging with AFCON content from every corner of the world. Notably, match highlights, spectacular goals, dramatic turning points, behind-the-scenes footage and fan reactions spread rapidly across borders, languages and cultures, transforming the tournament into a truly global event. Fans were not just watching but ...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson The World Health Organization (WHO) has reacted with regret and concern to the United States’ notification of withdrawal from the global health body, warning that the move undermines not only America’s own safety but the security of the wider world. In a statement issued on Monday, January 26, WHO recalled that the United States is a founding member of the organization and has played a pivotal role in many of its most important successes. From the eradication of smallpox to sustained progress against polio, HIV, Ebola, influenza, tuberculosis, malaria and other major public health threats, US support has long been central to WHO’s work. Against this history, WHO said the decision to withdraw represents a serious loss, and that the withdrawal notification by the US raises legal and procedural questions that will be reviewed by the WHO Executive Board at its meeting starting on 2 February, and later by the World Health Assembly at its annual session in May 2026. ...

By: Alhaji A Barrie The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Board has handed down some of the toughest sanctions in recent memory against the Federation Senegalese Football (FSF) and the Federation of Royale Maroccan Football (FRMF) following the chaotic TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Final.   Senegal’s Head Coach Pape Bouna Thiaw has been suspended for five official CAF matches and fined USD 100,000 for unsporting conduct.  Players Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were each banned for two matches for misconduct towards the referee. The FSF itself faces fines totalling USD 615,000, covering supporter misconduct, unsporting behaviour by players and staff, and multiple player cautions.   Morocco’s star defender Achraf Hakimi has been suspended for two matches, with one match suspended for a year. Midfielder Ismaël Saibari received a three-match ban and a USD 100,000 fine.  The FRMF was fined USD 315,000 for in...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  In the quiet aftermath of Morocco’s narrow 1–0 defeat to Senegal in the final of the 2025 CAF TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Achraf Hakimi chose reflection over regret.  The Atlas Lions’ captain, leading the host nation through a historic tournament, took to Instagram, where he commands a global following of more than 22.7 million, to share a deeply personal message of gratitude, pride, and unwavering belief in Morocco’s future. After what he described as “very difficult days” spent absorbing the weight of the final loss, Hakimi said he felt compelled to speak “from the heart.” His message was not one of disappointment, but of appreciation, an emotional tribute to the people, institutions, and teammates who shaped Morocco’s AFCON journey. Hakimi began by acknowledging His Majesty King Mohammed VI, crediting his vision and support for making the 2025 AFCON “undoubtedly the best in history.” Hosting the tournament, he said, was not just an...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Technical Committee’s on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 released the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco team of the tournament. The all-star lineup is more than a list of standout names, it's a portrait of African football at its finest. It's dominated by the continent’s three most compelling sides, the All-Star XI features four players each from champions Senegal and hosts Morocco, alongside three from bronze medalists Nigeria.  Together, the recognition of the eleven players of the three nations explained why the AFCON remains one of world football’s most gripping spectacles. Set up in a 4-3-3 formation, the team is anchored by Morocco’s Yassine Bounou between the posts. The experienced goalkeeper was a model of composure throughout the tournament, producing reflex saves and commanding his area with authority as Morocco surged to the final on home soil. The defence blends elegance, power...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  The now-infamous “goalkeepers’ towel dramas," at the 2025 CAF TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) should have been just a footnote in football but has now became one of the most talked-about subplots of the continent's most prestigious hosted in Morocco.  Across the tournament’s most decisive nights, the semi-final and the grand final, a simple towel, used by goalkeepers to dry gloves and steady nerves, became a flashpoint for controversy, gamesmanship accusations, and debates about sportsmanship on Africa’s biggest football stage. The drama first erupted during the tense semi-final clash between hosts Morocco and Nigeria.  As the match stretched nerves to breaking point, Nigeria’s goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali repeatedly found his towel placed behind the goalpost as part of his routine, removed or displaced. Television cameras caught moments of confusion as Nwabali turned to retrieve it, only to discover it missing again.  Nigerian pla...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Sierra Leone's Inspector General of Police (IGP), William Faiya Sellu, has described the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) Brass Band as a lasting source of national pride, as the force unveiled its newly acquired regimental brass band instruments in Freetown. Speaking on Monday, January 19, 2026, at the Police Kingdom Mess, while delivering the keynote address at a brief but symbolic unveiling ceremony, IGP Sellu described the moment as "a historic milestone in the development of the Sierra Leone Police." He said it was a personal honour to unveil the new instruments, noting that the Sierra Leone Police Brass Band had for many years operated with outdated and inadequate equipment.  The police boss went on to describe the investment in the brass band as a bold and strategic decision, particularly at a time when the police force faces competing demands and multiple development priorities. “Despite the many pressing needs confronting the institution, the d...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson   President Julius Maada Bio will on Sunday morning, January 18, 2026, deliver a nationwide presidential address to commemorate Sierra Leone’s National Remembrance Day, a solemn occasion dedicated to honoring victims and survivors of the country’s decade-long civil war. The address, scheduled for 7:00 AM in the morning marks the formal observance of the day historically proclaimed recently by President Bio in line with key recommendations of Sierra Leone’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report.  The TRC, established after the war ended in 2002, called for an annual National Remembrance Day as a way to acknowledge the suffering endured by thousands of civilians, promote national healing, and ensure that the horrors of the conflict are never forgotten. According to the TRC report, remembrance is central to reconciliation, the report recommend for state-led commemoration of war victims, public education on the causes and consequences of the con...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala has been appointed to officiate the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between tournament hosts Morocco and Senegal, scheduled for 19:00GMT on Sunday night in Rabat. Referee Ndala, who previously handled the tournament’s opening match between Morocco and Comoros, will be assisted by fellow Congolese officials Guylain Ngila and Mwanya Mbilizi.  Additionally, South Africa’s Abongile Tom will serve as fourth official, while Pierre Ghislain leads charge of Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) to be assisted by Leticia Viana and Stephane Eleazar Yiembe. The highly anticipated final will be played at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah, where Morocco aim to end a five-decade wait for continental glory against a formidable Senegal side seeking to further cement its status among Africa’s football elite. After a month of compelling action that highlighted the depth and quality of African football, the TotalEnergies AFCON 202...

By: Ishmael Bayoh I welcome you again to the second episode of the year. The highlight focuses on the first cabinet meeting held by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio on Wednesday 14th.  The President’s message to his Ministers is unequivocal: this must be a year of decisive action, one in which to not only accelerate the country’s progress but also implement meaningful steps that will significantly impact the lives of Sierra Leoneans. This Week with President Bio’s Development Agenda brings some developmental highlights from Friday 9th to Friday 16th January 2026.  ▪️Following President Bio’s New Year’s Day address, on Tuesday 13th, he held a strategic meeting with his Ministers and stakeholders to prioritize programs and activities for this year of action as his administration is committed to making progress that positively impacts all Sierra Leoneans. ▪️On Tuesday 13th at the Freetown International Conference Center, Sierra Leone signed a landmark Memorandum of Under...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Renowned lawyer, academic and businessman, Emanuel Saffa Abdulai (PhD) has confirmed the start of high-level political discussions with Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Timothy Kabba, over their future leadership ambitions within the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). Lawyer Abdulai, who also serves as Executive Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA), disclosed that he personally visited the Foreign Affairs Minister at his tower hill office in Freetown, where they held talks centered on the eventual succession of President Julius Maada Bio, the strengthening of an Eastern Region political alliance, and the promotion of partnership built on diversity within the party. According to him, the discussions reflected a shared belief that the growing call from the Eastern Region for leadership within the SLPP represents a demand for justice, inclusion and fairness in the party’s future direction. Meanwhile, the emerging dialogue ...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Following a long walk that started last month, the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, is climaxing on high as four of Africa's heavyweights footballing nations namely: Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal and tournament hosts, Morocco are set to clash in the semi-finals later today. In tournament's anticipated semifinal races are the record seven-time champions Egypt, three-time winners Nigeria, reigning champions Senegal and host nation Morocco have emerged as the four last teams standing, setting up two mouth-watering encounters schedule for today's Wednesday, 14 January, 2026. After claiming their spot in the semi-final spot on Saturday night with a dramatic 3–2 victory over defending champions Côte d’Ivoire, ending the Elephants’ title defence in a pulsating contest, the Pharaohs of Egypt will now take on Senegal in Tangier at 17:00 GMT. The Senegalese who were the first to reach the last four, edging Mali 1–0 on Friday with ...