By Sallu Kamuskay
Former beauty queen, accomplished media personality, and TV presenter, Stella Bangura, is making a much-anticipated comeback with the third season of her acclaimed talk show, “On The Spot With Stella.” After a hiatus spanning over two years, Bangura is all set to return to the television screens, with a renewed commitment to bringing the inspiring stories of African change makers to the forefront.
In an exclusive interview, Bangura revealed that the second season of her talk show concluded back in late 2021, and she has since been hard at work behind the scenes. During her time away from the spotlight, she dedicated her energy to her talk show and engaged in various business development activities after stepping down from her previous role. Simultaneously, she pursued a master’s program and became a prominent guest on the BBC program “Business Matters,” offering a Sierra Leonean perspective on global issues.
Speaking about her two-year break, Bangura stated, “After this much-needed rest, I embarked on pursuing a Master’s program and also resumed production for the new season of my talk show. Additionally, I became a frequent guest on the BBC program ‘Business Matters,’ where I provide a Sierra Leonean perspective on global issues. These past two years have been both incredibly busy and fascinating for me.”
An exciting development for fans and viewers is the expanded reach of her show. In the forthcoming season, “On The Spot With Stella” will be broadcast in Nigeria on two channels: TEN URBAN TV Channel 135 on Startimes and NIGEZIE XTREME on Startimes Channel 427. This expansion means that viewers in Sierra Leone who have the Startimes app can enjoy the show even before its official launch in Sierra Leone. Bangura has promised to release all the details regarding the show’s Sierra Leone launch soon.
Reflecting on her hiatus, Bangura described it as an incredible journey of personal and professional growth. She emphasized the importance of embracing change and leaving behind what no longer serves one’s growth. Her focus during this time was on producing remarkable content that highlights Sierra Leone’s potential to create globally appealing material. The show has gained international recognition, extending its reach from Africa to the Middle East and Europe.
As Bangura plans her return, she expresses her excitement about being in a different space. Her aim is to shed light on the remarkable work happening in Sierra Leone, beyond the realm of politics. Bangura believes that continuously asking critical questions about accountability, governance, the economy, and corruption, as a journalist, can become repetitive. Instead, she aspires to actively contribute to creating the Sierra Leone she envisions and to showcase the positive aspects of her country and the inspiring individuals making a difference.
“Having been a critical voice on TV as a journalist who consistently asked critical questions on accountability, governance, economy, and corruption, I started to feel like a broken record. We all know the problems, and governments promise yet fail to address these fundamental issues, so having to keep asking the same questions on these issues over and over again gets quite redundant. So, I decided that rather than just questioning, I can actively contribute to creating the Sierra Leone I want to see in my own little way. I wanted to be actively part of rebranding Sierra Leone and Africa, highlighting the many amazing people and work being done and inspiring people to do greater things through the content I push out. I think that has a profound impact as I focus on the people and inspire change for a better society. That’s the essence of what I do, and I love every bit of it and the journey so far,” she disclosed.
Fans and viewers can eagerly anticipate the third season of “On The Spot With Stella,” where Bangura will continue to shine a spotlight on African change makers and share their stories of impact and success. Her comeback promises fresh perspectives and captivating content on screens across Africa and beyond. You can follow her on her YouTube channel here.
Ms. Stella Bangura is the founder and CEO of On the Spot Limited, a media entity providing communication, branding, and media production services. She serves as the Executive Producer and host of the ‘On The Spot with Stella’ TV show and is a former co-host of the weekly morning TV show, “Wake Up Sierra Leone,” at the Africa Young Voices Media Empire (AYV) TV, where she also worked as the Director of Operations and Director of Administration and Branding for over three years. With over a decade of experience in the media industry, Stella is a media entrepreneur, multiple award-winning TV Presenter, MC, Breast Cancer Awareness advocate, and an international ex-beauty queen. She is also a frequent guest on the BBC program “Business Matters” and has received numerous awards, including the National Entertainment Awards (NEA) for Best Female TV Personality of the Year, 50 Most Influential Sierra Leonean Women award, Confederation of West African Youths Award for TV Personality of the Year, 100 Most Influential Professional, 100 Most Influential Young Leaders in Africa, 50 Most Influential Business Leaders in Africa, and many more.
