By- Aruna Rashed Toma Bangura
On Wednesday 24th, May, 2023, one of Sierra Leone’s National Heritage, the iconic Cotton Tree had it calling by a heavy wind that made the mighty tree to lie helplessly on the bare ground.
Much has been said about the falling of the iconic Cotton Tree along Siaka Stevens street and adjacent the main Law Court building.
The fallen tree should be preserved at the Sierra Leone National Museum to tell its history to generation yet unborn.
Downed by a tempestuous wind, the iconic tree has served as a symbol of hope and unity.
The tree represents freedom, because it was the first settlement for freed slaves from England and America and served as a beacon of hope for these freed slaves.
Once an iconic hero, the gigantic tree is now a fallen hero who could no longer resist the mad rush of the wind.
It used to provide shades for street beggars along the main highway between Siaka Stevens street and Pademba road and now, it is no more there.
The Cotton Tree was an attractive touristic site which story has mesmerized thousands of tourists across the globe to a pay visit down to ‘Mama Salone’ to see and hear its story.
Many whites tourist had been astounded at the tree which stood in the center of the capital city, Freetown and which distinguished the West from the East.
The iconic Cotton Tree has answered to nature’s call and left behind its offspring to tell the sad tragedy of a once standing tall hero who stood for more than 60 decades without shaking or staggered by the wind.
Farewell to this gone but will never be forgotten iconic Cotton Tree as our children’s children will pass on its tragic demise to our great- great grandchildren for them to tell the story to their own grandchildren.
ADIEU COTTON TREE!!