9rivermedia

There is very little space, political or otherwise, for women to truly thrive in Sierra Leone. When they are not being locked behind bars and denied bail, as in the case of Zainab Sheriff, they are publicly defamed, bullied online, and body-shamed, as Marcella Macauley has repeatedly experienced. Many of these women are not merely participants in national life, they are contributors to Sierra Leone’s progress. In a country still struggling under the weight of corruption and weak institutions, they have helped push conversations about accountability, transparency, and social development forward. Yet time and again, obstacles appear in the paths of women who attempt to lead, speak, or challenge the status quo. This piece will not even attempt to unpack the full range of challenges facing women in Sierra Leone, like domestic violence, sexual violence, and systemic discrimination, because doing so would require confronting a reality that runs painfully deep. These issues have become so nor...

If you’re diving into shows like "Missing: Dead or Alive," "Amy Bradley is Missing," "Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter," "Gone Girl," or "Still Missing Morgan," we recommend taking time to watch " Fighting Giants ," directed by Oluwaseun Babalola. This compelling film captures the emotional journey of a mother and daughter as they search for a loved one, showcasing the strength of familial bonds amidst heartache. Massah, a Sierra Leonean American, was last seen in August 2018 during her time in Sierra Leone, where she was working for a non-governmental organization (NGO). Drawing on newspaper accounts , 9Rivers has crafted a powerful narrative that has resonated with the Sierra Leonean diaspora for years. The Patriarch Long before AJK gained attention for his controversial stance against dissent in the media, he would share stories with anyone who listened about how the government under Siaka Stevens undermined the law and e...

This weekend, a New York-based writer known as Hamza4SL shared a puzzling video titled " Meteor Shower?? " with his 84,000 followers, claiming that something had just fallen from the sky in Sierra Leone, landing in Lungi. "Was it a bird? Was it a plane?" "No, it was Angel Gabriel!" That’s what some witnesses said about a bizarre phenomenon that occurred in the sky above Freetown. Other eyewitnesses speculated that the streak in the sky might have originated from a spacecraft that had launched from thousands of miles away, outside Sierra Leone's flight zone. According to Hamza4SL's post, the long trail indicates that the object was well beyond the limits of typical aircraft flight (7-8 miles or 39,000-41,000 feet) and was possibly near or above what is known as the Von Kármán line, which is 62 miles above the Earth's surface. Another social media user noted that they observed the distinctive pathway in the sky while sitting by the bay. "It ...

Once soaring to 2,411 feet, Sugar Loaf stood as the third highest mountain in Freetown and the 28th highest in Sierra Leone, a small country rich in natural wonders across 27,000 square miles. For many Freetown residents, climbing Sugar Loaf was not just a hike, but a cherished rite of passage, with an ascent from Regent Village that was relatively accessible and surrounded by lush forests. Freetown, the vibrant capital, thrives at the lower slopes of this  peak, with parts of Sugar Loaf recognized as the Western Area Forest Reserve. However, we must also remember the tragic landslide on August 14, 2017, spurred by heavy rains, which deeply affected the community of Regent and resulted in heartbreaking losses. Let's honor the spirit of this mountain and reflect on its enduring significance in our lives! British missionary George Thompson documented his ascent of Sugar Loaf in his 1859 book, "The Palm Land; Or, West Africa, Illustrated." "Mountain solutions for a sust...

This year, the UN theme for International Women's Day is “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow” which recognizes the contribution of women and girls to build a more sustainable future for all. There is no doubt gender equality sits at the heart of a sustainable future, and that solar energy has a vital role in establishing both. With gender equality being at the core of its operations throughout Africa, Ignite Power is impacting millions of women, customers, and employees alike. This week, the company announced the conclusion of an extensive electrification project in Sierra Leone, providing 60 remote clinics and health facilities with lightning and electricity, with installations and end-user training done by an all-women team. The project was executed for We Care Solar, a global organization working to electrify last-mile health clinics and reduce maternal mortality in developing regions. The project is part of the Light Every Birth initiative by We Care Solar, aiming...

Just a few hours after a community fulfilled its obligation to bury those who died on the Wellington highway, politicians had already coopted the tragedy with promises they had no intention to keep.  Once all the flag-draped caskets were laid out, the victims (some still unknown) were interred at Waterloo, the same cemetery where Ebola victims and the 2017 mudslide victims were also laid rest, according to Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr. Anxious not to be painted as uncaring, politicians launched donation drives for survivors instead of stressing efforts to reduce road casualties, draw attention to the devastation caused by road crashes, and give recognition to the suffering of road crash victims and the work of support and rescue services. Before moving on to their suburbs, where neighbors don't plunder fuel tankers involved in road crashes or scavenge palm oil streaming from overturned trucks, politicians did remember to pose one last time for the mobile phones.  For peop...