Charlie Haffner Bags Prestigious Global Award

By Esther Wright

Chairman of the Monuments and Relics Commission (MRC) and Director of Freetong Players International, Charlie Haffner, was presented the World Masters Certificate by Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to South Korea, Mr. Gibo Mathia on Friday 14^th February 2020. The presentation was made during an impressive ceremony at the Sierra Leone National Museum on Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown during which he asserted that Sierra Leoneans must take their own destiny into their hands.

According to Mr. Gibo Mathia, Mr. Charlie Haffner was nominated and selected among thousands of other artists in the world for preserving and promoting Sierra Leone culture as well as promoting one world through culture.

He also assured that this is just the beginning and informed that Mr. Charlie Haffner and his team will travel to South Korea.

He further articulated that he went to South Korea in November 2018 and that after touring and studying the culture of the country, he realized that we must honor the motto of Sierra Leone-Unity, Freedom and Justice as well as love ourselves and promote cultural interdependency intimating that South Korea  is now trying to understand Africa citing the Africa Week during which the 20 African embassies in South Korea showcase their rich culture and tradition and disclosed that last year Sierra Leone displayed everything about its culture and tradition including artifacts.

Mr. Gibo Mathia furthered that the museum is close to the cotton tree, a historical landmark in the country but observed that it has outlived many Sierra Leoneans

Responding, Mr. Charlie Haffner said it is a pleasure to receive the award, that he has received several similar awards in the past but noted that this is special as it is coming from far away South Korea, that Sierra Leoneans do not know much about South Korea and that it is now that the country is opening up to South Korea citing the construction of the Freetown City Hall and fishing in the country by South Korea companies.

He said when completed, the new City Hall would have space for theatre, that he has been in theatre and culture for 50 years and invited the world to join celebrate 25 years of Freetong Players International, dedicated the award to his late wife, Mrs. Fati Haffner, Freetong Players International, all artists in the country as well as his family and friends without which he underscored he would not have achieved such a recognition reiterating that the award is a representation of the expansion of theatre and culture in the country.

The recipient also commended the Government of South Korea and assured that he would do his best to improve on theatre and culture in the country, highlighted the exemplary role of Freetong Players International worldwide and stressed that he deserves the award not only for him but the entire country, acclaimed the Ambassador for the accolade and hoped that he would receive more awards stressing that people should be awarded when alive.

He continued that Sierra Leone has a rich culture that is not marketed worldwide, that the award is an inspiration to other artists and disclosed that the renowned and popular Tangains Festival has been organized for 25 consecutive years by Freetong Players that has also toured different parts of the world.

The Chairperson for the ceremony and Acting Curator of the Sierra Leone Museum, Ms. Josephine Kargbo underscored that they are supporting culture in Sierra Leone as well as the need for the country to be identified for its rich cultural heritage and hoped that the award would go a long way to encourage other institutions and organizations to emulate the sterling example of World Masters.

In her vote of thanks, Ms. Josephine Kargbo enlightened that Sierra Leone tops the world in terms of culture and tradition for which the country has won several awards and that the choice of Mr. Charlie Haffner is not a mistake.Earlier, Dr. Mohamed Koker, introduced the Ambassador.

Presentation of the certificate to Mr. Charlie Haffner by the Ambassador climaxed the event.

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