October 1, 2021
By Ilyasa Baa
Ripsta Culture which is taking the lead in organizing the first ever Make Sierra Leone Green Faces Reggae Festival, has been notified by the Tourist Board in consultation with the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs to use the Aberdeen Beach free to promote tourism and prevent climate change in Sierra Leone.
According to the Planning and Product Development Manager of the Sierra Leone Tourist Board, Umaru Woody, the National Tourism Board, will support the programme by allowing Ripsta Culture to use the Kallon Car Park at Aberdeen Beach on a gratis basis.
“We hope and pray that the said activity will be a success”, Mr. Woody concluded.
This all important tourist attraction festival is slated for 13th and 14th November, 2021 and the initiator, Sorie Obai Kamara aka Obi Phrase, who happens to be the Head of Sierra Leone Consulate Planning Team in Finland and founder of Ripsta Culture has commended the government of Sierra Leone especially the Minister of Tourism, Dr. Memunatu Pratt, Managing Director of the Tourist Board, Mrs Fatmata Carew for their timely intervention. He assured that the festival will bring some glory to the country as the Finnish originated Faces Festival is about to be replicated in his country of birth.
Speaking on the theme: Make Sierra Leone Green (climate change solution), Mr. Kamara maintained that it complements the strides made by the government in the areas of tourism and protection of the ecosystem.
He noted that climate change campaign is key to the development of Africa particularly Sierra Leone which is ranked among disaster prone countries.
“We need to change the narrative and rally behind the government to raise awareness on deforestation so our people understand our situation”, Mr. Kamara further noted.
The intervention of the Tourist Board, he stressed, has demonstrated that government is serious about making Sierra Leone Green. He said the festival will promote tree planting and spread love amongst Sierra Leoneans.
“The Faces Reggae Festival is kinds of pay back having run things in Nordic Europe and seen how these festivals promote the European society”, said Obi-phrase adding that one of the founders of Faces Festival, Borje Mattson has been working tirelessly to see that the festival becomes successful for Sierra Leoneans.
The Faces Reggae Festival will attract about two hundred local dancers and host of artists from outside and within the country.
Sorie Obai Kamara has been Sierra Leone Music Ambassador to Europe since 2013 and few years back, he played a pivotal role in inviting officials from the above mentioned ministry to visit Finland where gains were made for the good of Sierra Leone.
He had performed on stage at the Presidential Palace for the former President of Finland, Tarja Halonen.
He also performed for former President Koroma during an official visit to Belgium and the Netherlands. He was part of the Sierra Leone @ 50 Social Entertainment Committee which rolled out a two days beach fiesta involving several musical bands. He had served as Chairman of the Sierra Leone Musicians Union and AWOL-Finland.