Sierra Leone Independence Celebrations in DC

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Shaw, Sierra Leone, Station 1, Sumah's

Walking by Sumah’s (a very tasty restaurant Sierra Leonean restaurant in Shaw) this evening I noticed this poster for an event celebrating Sierra Leone’s independence at Station 1 in Silver Spring – which I am yet to visit.

I apologize for the declining frequency of posts – I have been very busy preparing for my move to Liberia.  I’ve even been to a few events (such as this one with Usman Bugaje at SAIS) that I haven’t written up.  Next week will likely be my last of blogging.

I leave DC at the end of the month.  I will plan to resume blogging in Monrovia, with a different angle.

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Writing for the Ones Who Suffer History, Not Those Who Make It: An Aggressively Afrocentric Ishmael Beah at Politics and Prose

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child soldier Africa, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ishmael Beah, Kony 2012, Long Way Gone, Mende, Oberlin, Paul Theroux, Radiance of Tomorrow, Sierra Leone, Taiye Selasi, UNICEF

I’ve heard prominent authors such as Paul Theroux, Taiye Selasi, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie speak at Politics and Prose since launching this blog.  The independent bookseller continues to impress me with the number of African or Afrocentric writers it hosts.  This Friday, Ishmael Beah, a former Sierra Leonean child soldier, who shot to prominence with his autobiography Long Way Gone, spoke at P&P to promote his just released novel, Radiance of Tomorrow.

Upcoming African Music Shows in the DMV Pt. 1* – Artisphere

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African music in DC, Artisphere, Janka Nabay and the Bubu Gang, Mali, Niger, Sidi Toure, Sierra Leone, Tal National

Artisphere, a venue in Arlington with which I am not familiar has two upcoming shows with African performers.  Both are $15 with advance purchase.

1.  On September 28, the Malian Sidi Toure will be performing.

2.  On October 19, a Nigerien band, Tal National (with which I am amazingly not familiar despite spending significant time in the country) will perform alongside Janka Nabay and the Bubu Gang.  Janka is originally from Sierra Leone, the rest of the gang hails from Brooklyn I believe.

* My part 2 post will cover a venue in DC that has shows with west African performers (from two of the same countries I mention here ironically) at the end of this month and early October.  I plan to attend both of these.  Can any readers guess what venue I’m talking about?

Sierra Leone’s President Koroma Twists Ankle: Will Not Travel to DC

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Ernest Bai Koroma, Koroma cancel US trip, Koroma injury, Sierra Leone

Apparently President Koroma of Sierra Leone, who had a range of public events set for DC this week, will not be traveling to the US after hurting his ankle while playing squash.  He will have ministers and other officials representing him at the events he was scheduled to participate in.

Amongst other events in DC, President Koroma was scheduled to give an address at SAIS and hold a town hall meeting in Silver Spring.  Just a few days ago, I had commended Koroma for his large array of public events.

Read a bit more about the situation here.