By: Saidu Jalloh
The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs has officially launched the One Nation Reggae Festival, a six-day cultural and musical celebration designed to promote unity, national heritage, and creative expression across Sierra Leone. The announcement was made during a press briefing addressed by the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Madam Nabeela Farida Tunis, alongside the Director of Culture and Creativity, Mr. Foday Jalloh.
Minister Tunis explained that the festival forms part of the government’s broader strategy to harness tourism and culture as drivers of national cohesion, economic growth, and international visibility.
“This year, we are rolling out a series of activities that highlight culture, conservation, and community,” she stated. “The One Nation Reggae Festival is a major platform that showcases our creativity and positions Sierra Leone as a hub for cultural tourism.”
She further noted that reggae was chosen as the festival’s central theme due to its global association with unity, resilience, love, and spirituality. The genre, she emphasized has been recognized by UNESCO as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.
“Reggae has the power to bring people together. It cuts across age groups, backgrounds, and nationalities. There is a universal appetite for reggae music,” she added.
According to the Ministry, the festival will support the growth of the country’s creative industries, strengthen cross-cultural ties, and highlight Sierra Leone’s historical and heritage tourism assets.
Scheduled for November 23 to 30, the One Nation Reggae Festival will feature concerts, cultural tours, creative workshops, and heritage-immersion activities.
The event will officially open with participation from senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, the business community, and international guest artists. The opening ceremony will showcase Sierra Leone’s shared cultural heritage through gastronomy, traditional music, and artistic performances.
The heritage tours, the Ministry added, are intended to reinforce Sierra Leone’s role in the transatlantic history of resilience and cultural exchange.
A “Creative Clinic” will also be held, bringing together musicians, producers, and cultural innovators to explore the development of a distinctly Sierra Leonean sound inspired by indigenous instruments and rhythms.
The festival will continue with a red-carpet event, a bonfire night, and community cultural activities in eastern Freetown. More than 70 local artists are expected to perform, promoting inclusivity and talent development.
The celebration will conclude with the White Heritage Party, featuring food, drinks, boat tours, and a guided visit to Bunce Island Sierra Leone’s most significant slave-era fort.
Director Jalloh described Bunce Island as “a monument of global historical importance,” highlighting its deep connection to the Gullah people of South Carolina and Georgia in the United States.
“Bunce Island is a powerful site of memory. Many enslaved Africans who passed through its gates were taken to the Americas. As part of this festival, we symbolically return them to Sierra Leone through the ‘Gate of Return,’” he stated.
The Ministry described the One Nation Reggae Festival as a landmark moment for Sierra Leone’s tourism sector, aimed at positioning the country as a leading destination for cultural and entertainment events.
“We invite Sierra Leoneans, visitors, the private sector, and partners to join us in celebrating our shared heritage and the power of culture to connect communities,” Minister Tunis concluded.