By Hassan I. Conteh

Most Sierra Leoneans are concerned about several holds-up on the practice of their different cultural activities in the country.

Since culture means the customs and beliefs, way of life and social organization of a particular country or group (as defined by Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary New 8TH Edition).

Culture also involves art, music, literature, etc, and it plays a pivotal role on the lives of people all over the world.

The various kinds of culture in most parts of the world have helped to shape people’s behaviour and thinking in society.

Cultures in the world are mostly different and unique. For example, Australian Culture, Brazilian Culture, Romanian Culture, Chinese Culture, Cameroonian Culture might be different or have similarities in certain aspects.

And, generally, there can be European Culture, African Culture, American Culture, and Islamic Culture.

These cultures which are based on world’s regions may have deep similarities by countries than by regions.

And most countries don’t only have cultures or beliefs hold by various ethnic groups but they do have major national festivals which are enjoyed by majority of the people there.

These national events are not taken lightly as they truly represent countries’ true identities in most parts of the earth.

For example, Rio Samba Parade, an annual carnival festival, the biggest attraction on earth, with visitors from around the world, is celebrated in Rio, Brazil and it involves a week of dancing, singing and partying by enjoyers.

National Folk Festival and Adelaide Motorsport Festival are the biggest festivals in Australia.  These are cherished by Australians and other people in the Pacific region and other nations around the world.

Culture, on the other hand, is thought of to be the beliefs and attitudes about something that people in a particular group or organization share (the oxford dictionary defines).

However, very sadly, most cultural groupings in Sierra Leone are sad over the demise of their cultural events being influenced by their cherished and long-held beliefs and traditions.

Sierra Leone, in spite of her rich and loved cultures which are practised by different enthic groups, she is a barren as cultural displays have now become almost non-existent these days.

And what is so pitiful about Sierra Leone’s national culture which used to the pride of the country is that the current government is condemning several public activities by people that could be defined by every aspects to mean Sierra Leonean culture.

The government has banned, about five years now since 2018, several of the old-aged lovable cultures of Sierra Leoneans.

Public cultural dances and similar performances of most types of cultures are not allowed to be happening again.

They have been put by President Julius Maada Bio on handcuffs. Yet, other public cultural performances are allowed to happen in most parts in the provinces, according to a view shared by a retired civil servant man in Freetown.

The National Lantern Parade Festival which comes up every year on April 27, Padul Masquerade Parade, Boxing Day Evil Masks Parade, etc, have been stopped by the government especially in the capital Freetown.

And tourism events don’t flow now into the country and Sierra Leoneans don’t now have festivals and cultures to enjoy.

These were used to be admired widely by Nigerians, Ghanaians, Kenyans, Whites British, Dutch people, Americans, Swedish, and many Westerners.

An experienced voice of a former civil servant who is now a newspaper owner in Freetown says such a nation that ignores its culture hasn’t true identity:

“Any nation that lost its language and culture; that nation has lost its destination,” he said.

“Take for example, East Africans would speak their Swahili language anywhere and whenever they meet on a flight transport.’’

He added: “a Cameroonian once told me that culture involves literature, music and a dance itself tells a nation’s culture and that must be learnt well by someone, but [Sierra Leone] is missing on target.”