September 8, 2021
By Ilyasa Baa
Freetown will be hosting the first ever Faces Festival emulated from Finland and introduced in the country by Sierra Leonean artist, Sorie Obai Kamara aka Obi-phrase known as a Music Ambassador to Europe.
The Faces Festival, slated for 23rd and 24th November, on the theme: Make Sierra Leone Green will help promote the strong bilateral ties between Finland and Sierra Leone.
The initiator, Obi-phrase has referred to the forthcoming event as a blessing in disguise for the country noting that it will help boost tourism. He said having witnessed several Faces Festivals in Europe; he decided to replicate it in his country of birth to see how best it will impact the Sierra Leonean society. “We can use what we have to promote our country like people are doing in the western world,” Obi-phrase told A-Z Newspaper. He said the theme captures the green economic approach of the government of President Julius Maada Bio who is using green revolution to transform the country.
He said Etnokult in Finland and the Sierra Leone Reggae Movement are partnering with Ripsta Culture at home and abroad to organise the history making festival to be held at the Kallon Car Park, Aberdeen Branch. He disclosed that more partners like the National Youth Commission (NYC) is on the verge of joining the wagon to finding solution to the issues of climate change, afforestation and food security for the youths of Sierra Leone. He said the festival will attract Sierra Leonean artists in the diaspora like Mos B in Europe and Amza Linx in the United States of America whom he said have consented to appear in the festival with thrillers to spice up the nation hugely.
Chairman of the Sierra Leone Reggae Movement, Issato Madi aka Jahman of the Sierra Wailers has said plans are ongoing here in Freetown for a successful programme. He said the Ministry of Tourism as well as that of Foreign Affairs has been duly informed about the latest development. He said the programme will bring together different faces all gearinh towards the promotion and show casing what Sierra Leone can offer. He said such festival has the propensity to boost the country in terms of tourism as some people in Nordic Europe have expressed interest in poor Sierra Leone where they may like to pay visit when the time comes.
The teams of planners are in constant engagements here and in Finland as arrangements are on course for a smooth festival.
The Board Chairman of Ripsta Culture, who works at the House of Parliament in Sierra Leone, Cyril King was himself part of the previous meeting held in Freetown
Over the week end. He called for continued coordination towards the programme commending the founder of Ripsta Culture, Obi-phrase for such a laudable initiative.
Faces Festival is a musical event celebrating multiculturalism, world music and multiplicity held annually in Raseborg southern Finland ever since 1998 organized by the Etnokult Association which was established by Borje Mattsson and Holger Wickstrom in 1997.