By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a ceremony filled with rhythm, colour and patriotic fervour, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs officially unveiled the One Nation Reggae Festival on Friday, October 17, 2025, at the Ministry’s forecourt on Kingharman Road in Freetown. The event, which brought together musicians, cultural icons, Government officials, diplomats and members of the media, signaled the dawn of a new era for Sierra Leone’s creative and tourism industries.
Presiding over the unveiling, the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Farida Tunis, described the One Nation Reggae Festival as a historic initiative aimed at reconnecting Africa and the Caribbean through music, culture and heritage.
“We gather here today not merely to unveil a logo but to ignite a symbol; a symbol of identity, freedom and unity,” the Minister declared to thunderous applause. She engaged the crowd in a lively chant, “When I say One Nation, you say One Love!”, setting the tone for a celebration of shared cultural identity and collective pride.
According to the Minister, the festival represents more than just entertainment. It is a movement, a cultural bridge that seeks to restore historic connections severed during the transatlantic slave trade. “The One Nation Reggae Festival is more than a concert; it is a celebration of shared heritage between Africa and the Caribbean,” she explained.
She further stated that the festival will provide a platform for artists, dancers, designers, chefs and storytellers to express Sierra Leone’s creative potential while strengthening its image as a hub of peace, hospitality and cultural resilience. “The logo we reveal today embodies our vibrant identity, strong, proudly African and united. One Nation, One Love, One Vibe,” she emphasized.
Nabeela Farida Tunis announced that the festival will become an annual event held during the last week of November, strategically positioning it as a major attraction in Sierra Leone’s tourism calendar. The 2025 edition, scheduled for November 25–30, promises to be a landmark occasion featuring internationally acclaimed reggae artists such as Sizzla Kalonji, Christopher Martin, Jah Thunder, Didier Awadi and Arkane, performing alongside some of Sierra Leone’s finest talents.
Outlining the detailed itinerary, the Minister explained that the six-day event will blend music, heritage and education in a way that celebrates both Sierra Leone’s history and its creative future.
- November 25: Official launch and recognition ceremony honoring legendary figures in reggae and Sierra Leonean music, including Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Lucky Dube, Bunny Wailer and Amara Kabba.
- November 26: Freedom Heritage Tour retracing Sierra Leone’s connection to the transatlantic slave trade, with visits to St. John’s Maroon Church, a libation ceremony at the historic Cotton Tree and cultural storytelling sessions.
- November 27: Music Clinic and Industry Exchange — a day for collaboration between international producers and Sierra Leonean artists, designed to strengthen local talent and expand creative opportunities.
- November 28: Main Reggae Concert at Sugar Land Beach, showcasing live performances from both local and international acts.
- November 29: Community Reggae Day at Ferry Junction and a Beach Brunch at Mozza Beach with guest artists.
- November 30: All-White Heritage Celebration at Bunce Island, symbolizing a “spiritual and cultural climax” to the festival and honouring the memory of enslaved Africans who departed from that site centuries ago.
Nabeela Farida Tunis noted that the Bunce Island event will serve as the festival’s emotional anchor a moment of reflection and reconnection. “The One Nation Reggae Festival is not just about music,” she stressed. “It is about rekindling our roots, reaffirming Sierra Leone’s place in global history and building bridges of unity, peace and pride.”
To ensure sustainability and local ownership, she revealed that the Ministry has been organizing weekly reggae stage performances in the lead-up to the festival, offering a platform for emerging Sierra Leonean artists. Performers like Dallas Bantan and others have already taken part, showcasing the country’s evolving reggae scene.
“We are challenging our artists to develop a distinct Sierra Leonean reggae sound; one that captures our rhythm, our language and our story,” she said. “This is more than a concert; it’s about us, our culture, our heritage and our pride as Sierra Leoneans. Let’s come together as One Nation, One Love and One Vibe to make history.”
The One Nation Reggae Festival, she added, aims to boost tourism arrivals, stimulate cultural industries and foster national cohesion by celebrating what unites Sierra Leone with the broader African diaspora.
Delivering a goodwill message, Mohamed Jalloh, Director of Tourism, praised the initiative as “a bold and visionary project that bridges Africa and the Caribbean through music and creativity.”
“I’ll tell you how our forefathers would be proud of us,” he began, his voice filled with emotion. “For years, I wondered why African countries had not extended an olive branch to the Caribbean. Today, through the leadership of a dynamic and courageous Minister, we are beginning that reconnection through music, through art, through spirit.”
Recounting his recent visit to Jamaica, Mohamed Jalloh shared how familiar the island felt to him. “When I visited Kingston, I felt at home. Their downtown looks just like PZ. The people are warm and welcoming. Someone even gave me a Jamaican flag and said, ‘Take this to Sierra Leone and tell them we are your brothers.’ That moment confirmed that our connection is deep and enduring.”
He underscored that the One Nation Reggae Festival would not only enhance Sierra Leone’s cultural diplomacy but also attract more tourists and investment. “This is the beginning of a long-overdue reunion. Through this festival, we can strengthen the bond between Africa and the Caribbean, revive our shared history and open a new chapter in cultural tourism.”
The Director commended the Minister and her team for their tireless efforts, describing the festival as a groundbreaking model for regional integration through the arts. “No other African country has done this,” he said. “Sierra Leone is leading by example, showing how music can unify nations and tell our collective story.”
Earlier in the program, Judith Jones, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, welcomed guests and highlighted the unveiling as “a moment of pride and renewal” for Sierra Leone’s tourism and cultural sector.
“This initiative is the brainchild of a dynamic Minister, Madam Nabeela Tunis,” she said. “We piloted the concept on August 1st, 2025 and it was a resounding success. The One Nation Reggae Festival is more than a celebration of music it is a symbol of unity, cultural identity and national pride.”
Judith Jones Jones further explained that the festival is designed to elevate Sierra Leone’s image as a peaceful and culturally rich destination, adding that it would also shed light on Bunce Island, one of West Africa’s most significant historical landmarks.
“The existence of the Reggae Union in Sierra Leone is evidence that Jamaican music has deeply taken root here. The festival will spotlight Bunce Island as a bridge linking both regions through shared culture and history,” she noted.
She concluded with a passionate appeal for national participation: “Let the spirit of shared reasoning, one love and one vibe continue to resonate in our hearts long after the event. The countdown begins. Children of Jah, let us celebrate unity, peace and love!”
With anticipation building and preparations in full swing, the One Nation Reggae Festival promises to be a defining moment in Sierra Leone’s cultural evolution, a powerful fusion of music, history and identity that seeks to remind the world that from Africa to the Caribbean, the rhythm of unity still beats strong.
