Author Archives: Dailyn Rodriguez

Revolutionary Figures of Sierra Leone

 

It has been a long road for Sierra Leone after the slave trade era. There have been quite a few ambitious people looking to change the dynamics of this small country. Unfortunately, little has been done throughout the years. Shortly after Sierra Leone gained their independence in 1961, chief minister Siaki Stevens is appointed the first president.  While there were some negatives to his term, Stevens did make some contributions to Sierra Leone’s economy. One of his contributions included working on the construction of the Sierra Leone Development Company railway which links the Port of Pepel with the iron ore mines at Marampa. Additionally, he was co-founder of the United Mine Workers Union to represent the interests of workers. This is groundbreaking because Sierra Leone’s history of unpaid workers has affected the country progression in so many ways. Siaki’s initiative paved the way for future leaders to take action in regarding to its people and opening job opportunities. As mentioned before not of all President’s Siaki’s actions in power have been noble. When political tensions became high he met violence with violence leading to the death of many innocent people. Siaki Stevens passed away 10 years after his term in 1988.

We live in a male dominated world and this power is blatant in the small country Sierra Leone. Throughout the years, many male figures have been the backbone (or destruction) of Sierra Leone. Many years before the time of General Siaki Stevens, was another leader of Sierra Leone. His name was Chief Tamba Songu M’Briwa. He came from a good family and was able to obtain an education. Afterwards he went into politics. In his position of power during the beginning of his term he wanted to spread the knowledge of the importance of an education. So he opened a few schools for his people of Sierra Leone.  Unlike many recent political movements, during his term promoted unity and positivity among his Sierra Leonean people. To many, Chief M’Briwa was even considered a hero.

In a country where politics is just complicated, swaying its people many times may be less complicated. Sierra Leoneans are have always been looking for a fresh start, one away from the violence and corruption. Unfortunately, words are just words and many leaders of this impoverished country let wealth and power get to their heads. It is true that a democracy isn’t for everyone, but if Sierra Leone could find a system of balance in government that could potentially change the entire country. With some guidance from past good leaders and taking the good qualities like the ambition of Chief Tamba Songu M’Briwa a lot can be done for this country and its people.

http://www.sierra-leone.org/Heroes/heroes9.html

http://news.sl/drwebsite/exec/view.cgi?archive=1&num=12703&printer=1

http://sierraleonecivilwar.com/

Beauty of Africa and its People

When many people think about the beauty of Africa many people will think, Madagascar. And because I am a nature lover, Africa is definitely a continent for exploration. With so many different species and wildlife dominant from coast to coast, Africa’s wildlife is the sight to see. Africa is home to the African Bush elephant which is the largest living land mammal and the second tallest after the giraffe. Now that’s definitely something I won’t see at the Philadelphia Zoo! Africa is home to vast deserts, tropical rain forests, rugged mountains, and fertile grasslands. It’s abundance in these is unsurpassed in any other continent. Another beautiful sight in this immense continent are Mount Kilimanjaro and Lake Victoria. Mount Kilimanjaro is the largest mountain in Africa while Lake Victoria is the largest lake.

While we could spend the entire time talking about the natural beauty of Africa, there is nothing more beautiful about a place than its people. Unlike popular belief not all people in Africa share the same language or culture.  Africa is home to thousands of tongues and many different cultures. Focusing on my country Sierra Leone, although things lie corruption have hindered the country’s development this does not prevent its people for having a sense of pride for who they are. Sierra Leoneans enjoy sports like many societies. Specifically, they enjoy the sport of soccer. As a matter of fact, Sierra Leone is home to a champion national soccer team.

In terms of geography, Sierra Leone is very small compared to other countries in Africa. It can be compared to the size of North Carolina, but smaller. Unlike our four seasons, weather in this western country is determined by two seasons. From months May to November, it is rainy, the rest of the year are their dry months. As mentioned before Africa is home to many different languages and cultures and Sierra Leone is no exception. It has been reported that fifteen to twenty different ethnicities reside in Sierra Leone. Impressive right! On top of that, unlike popular belief, not everything is rural in Africa. About thirty six percent of Sierra Leoneans live in urban areas. Regardless of their differences, like English is to America, Franca krio is the national language that unites the people of Sierra Leone.

Prior to taking this class, I was very oblivious to the society that lived east of us. Like many, I was brainwashed by images and news reports that barely did any justice to the actual situation of a continent like Africa. Due to its horrific past and major contributor to the slave trade, Africa has been deprived of many opportunities of progression and development, especially focusing on the west of the continent. These countries, like Sierra Leone, prime location between the eastern and western worlds made it a victim to the capitalism inspired minds of colonists. Regardless, the people of Sierra Leone many which live on less than two dollars a day have realized the importance of other things in contrast to the rest of the world’s materialistic preference. They show the importance of family and being humble and live every day still with a sense of pride. This is extremely telling and if more people appreciated the important things in life could possibly help end the suffering in other humans’ lives.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/African_Bush_Elephant

http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Sierra-Leone.html

http://www.victoriafalls-guide.net/facts-about-africa.html

Ebola Crisis vs. Hurricane Katrina

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwZwBClAuZk

Sierra Leone’s Roots

Many consider Africa to be the motherland, the place where all human beings evolved. Scientists have concluded that at one point the earth was one land mass with water surrounding it. Eventually, because of earth shifts and Mother Nature this huge land mass parted into smaller sectors (or continents) and from Africa came the first form of humanity.  Undoubtedly, Africa has history that is rooted and connected to the rest of the world in some way. Centuries later, Africa geographically became the second largest continent comprised of many smaller countries and different peoples. One of these countries is known as Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone’s location directly facing the Western world, made it a prime departure point for many enslaved Africans during the transatlantic slave trade. European settlers managed to manipulate many of the African people to believe that their mission was to help. However, “help” turned into one of the worst inhumane practices of the century. Eventually, thoughts of attaining material things and favors convinced some African people to turn on their own people. They were convinced into the capturing of many African people and trading or selling them to their European counterparts. The transatlantic slave trade became a huge business, trading people for inanimate things and a bulk of it happened right on the borders of Sierra Leone.

The first inhabitants of Sierra Leone were known as the Bulom people. Soon the Portuguese ambitious for new discoveries reached the coasts of this unknown territory and named it “lion mountains” or its present name of Sierra Leone. Ancient history also tells a biography of Kings that emerged from this widely misinterpreted continent.  Democracy was not common or even a thought many years ago in all parts of the earth.  Kingdoms and its rulers or kings were looked upon as the one to make all the decisions. Often Kings were even perceived as Gods. Certainly, there were virtuous rulers and then there were malicious ones. Sierra Leone on its west coast of Africa was home to kings during some period.  According to the Sierra Leone Web, in 1540 Great Mane Conqueror, Farma Tami, ruled Sierra Leone. Under Farma Tami’s rule, came his innovative ideas such as the concept of government “and improved methods of weaving and manufacture (Sierra Leone Web).” Interestingly, Tami was also known for teaching his people “the art of war.” These teachings and praising of war can imply that violence in Sierra Leone present day could have trickled down from the great minds of its conquistadors.

From many of the sources used it seemed as though there was a jump in Sierra Leone’s history that was not accounted for. This could be due to wars and resources being destroyed that provides some insight on the country’s history.  Above it all, Sierra Leone finally gained their independence in 1961. Since then the country has struggled finding a balance in politics that can benefit a greater portion of its people. Today, diamonds are one of the greatest revenue sources of the country. What is truly telling about the diamond industry and organization of politics in Sierra Leone, is that diamonds keep the outside buyers beautifully accessorized while they keep Sierra Leone living- barely.

 

 

 

 

http://www.sierra-leone.org/Heroes/heroes1.html

http://www.sahistory.org.za/places/sierra-leone

Like a Diamond In the Sky!

flagsierraEverOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA wonder where those pretty little diamonds on television commercials and celebrity ring fingers come from? I know I have! The fact is that it is extremely likely this beautiful rock comes from mines in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone is a small beautiful country with a lot of history located right on the cost of West Africa. With warm untouched beaches on Bonthe Island or Sherborough Island right off its coast, there is no place else you’d want to be! Do you love animals? Come to Sierra Leone and visit the Gola Forest National Park and see the wide selection of species! The Gola Forest National Park is home to animals such as the endangered West African elephant, the western chimpanzee and many bird species. And for those looking to enhance your Middle Eastern experience, how about hiking the highest peak in West Africa? Mount Bintumani and the Loma Mountains is home to the Lowland Western chimpanzee and is filled with ancient history! Many of you are probably interested in the culture of Sierra Leone. Not a problem! The best way to experience the culture of Sierra Leone is by visiting one of its villages. Tourists love the small village of Rogbonko and so will you. Come get immersed in the Sierra Leonean culture and enjoy an experience of a lifetime! I can’t stress what an important figure in the world’s history this small country holds. Sierra Leone was home to many slave trade transactions between the western and eastern worlds. Just a boat trip from Sierra Leone to Bunce Island, be a witness to one the world’s first stations of this nonsensical practice that occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries. Do you just want to relax and enjoy the sun? Why not visit Sulima a beach town located right of the Liberian coast near Sierra Leone! Enjoy the popular Liberian ‘Club Beer’ while taking a swim in the ocean. Recently speaking of diamonds, Sulima is home to one of the world’s oldest mining companies! Another park tourists can enjoy is located in the northern part of the country. Outamba-Kilimi National Park is home to animals such as elephants, chimpanzees and even pigmy hippos! HIPPOWant an entirely breathtaking beach all to yourself? Then a visit to Sierra Leone’s very own Freetown Peninsula is a must! On a sunny day on this peninsula you’ll uncover the reasoning behind the colors on the Sierra Leonean flag. Once you have enjoyed a relaxing day at the beach, learn a little more about the peninsula at the Freetown museum and take a peak its most famous attraction a 500-year old cotton tree! Enjoy another of the numerous beaches of Sierra Leone, a big one called Lakka Beach. If you love fishing one of the largest fishing grounds is located in Sierra Leone! Come enjoy a nice day at sea and forget your worries! If you’re looking for an adventure, look no further! Sierra Leone’s variety in attractions, museums, beaches, mountains and wild life will  take you on the adventure of a lifetime! Hope to see you soon on this side of the ocean!

Location, Location, Location

This article briefly discusses a discovery in a small part of Africa. Contrary to popular knowledge that the Middle East is the prime area to satisfy our petroleum needs, oil companies have made a discovery a little west of the continent– in Sierra Leone. This is not the first occasion in which oil has been discovered off the coast of Sierra Leone, the first time being a monumental find of 18,500 feet. This time international oil companies uncovered 135 feet. Sierra Leone’s location right on the west coast of Africa makes this a “high potential zone” for oil drilling, oil companies Repsol and its minor partners Anadarko and Tullow Oil announced.

One thing I enjoy about college courses is that somehow everything interconnects, everything is related to each other somehow. After reading this article, I was immediately reminded of a previous lesson in my Environment Protection and Energy Conservation class on sources of energy. “Energy is stored and available in different forms and sources (Pisupati).” These sources include renewable and non-renewable resources. Oil or petroleum would be classified as a non-renewable resource because it cannot be produced in a short period of time. This reminds me vaguely of a lesson in a high school class. However, one thing I did not recall and ironically, of course, is that we get most of our energy from these non-renewable resources.

How is this related to the 18,635 feet of oil found in Sierra Leone and parts of Liberia? Just a thought and for recap purposes for my upcoming EGEE102 exam: the middle is richest in petroleum while the U.S., Australia and China are richest in coal. This information is current, so if most of our oil comes from the Middle East, why were we drilling west of Africa two years ago? Are we running out of our natural resources faster than scientific experiments speculated or was this just a finding based on economic opportunity? The afrol News tone is stereotypical because it sounds like another party is benefiting from its resources instead of the country itself. I think that many news sources like to sugarcoat or at the other end exaggerate versions of the truth. This article gives the impression that drilling holes into the earth for the petroleum needs of others is beneficial for Sierra Leone. However, who is really benefiting from these harmful habits? The Sierra Leone people or the oil companies extracting the oil? Most likely the money making oil companies.  On a positive note, I believe if the government and these companies could create a system where this can benefit both parties including the citizens a bright future is ahead of the people of Sierra Leone. This can possibly create jobs and if handled accordingly all can benefit from this economic discovery.

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http://www.afrol.com/articles/36905