Jamaica Musicians to Grace Telem Music Festival
By Mohamed Kinawa
The Telem Uncommon Sounds, the Embassy of Sierra Leone in Washington DC, and the Honorary Consul of Sierra Leone in Jamaica will host global musicians exchange in Sierra Leone. This was made known on Friday 10th November 2023 during press briefing organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs.
Address the press on at the Ministry’s conference room, the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Kadijatu Grace Ahene Kamara thanked the visiting musician from Jamaica for coming.
Dr. Kamara said she is also part of the music industry adding that Sierra Leone is ready to move.
‘The things we look forward to, is to showcase our talents especially people with creativity. There is every need to start telling our own stories to the world. The wonderful talents that we have as young people are a big story that the world needs to hear. The young people of this country are ready and we want to see how our upcoming artists could collaborate with other artists across the world,’ she said.
The Deputy Tourism Minister said in the US she used to visit stores but could not found things from Sierra Leone.
‘I started making things made in Sierra Leone. We have all it takes to defines ourselves better and this can be done through music. During this Telem music festival Let us be colourful. Let us tell the world that Sierra Leone and Jamaica are strong and we can do this through music,’ she said.
Dr. Kamara noted that Sierra Leone is the only country that one can enter through land, sea and air and this shows the beauty of the country.
She said Sierra Leone is like Jamaica with so many similarities. If you want young people to listen to you just sing for them. Let us give our support to this festival. Let us inspire our young people. Let us show President Bio that we are able to work with him through our sector,’ the Deputy Minister appeals.
Mohamed Cozie Kosia, Managing Partner in his statement said in February of 2023 Sierra Leone opens its consulate in Jamaica and since then talks have been on-going for this exchange and partnerships.
He said this is something that is new but so much energy has been put into it.
Mr. Kosia talks about musical beats which are making rounds around globe noting that those beats were originated from Sierra Leone.
‘You can have talents, having a beautiful voice but if you are not discipline forget about it. This is what we are now doing to improve the sector, he said.
The Sierra Leone Consul in Jamaica, Professor Rosalea Hamilton speaking during the briefing said Sierra Leoneans and Jamaicans are one people.
She said when the consul was launched both countries started talking about trade and development.
‘Jamaica is ready for Sierra Leone and that during this discussion we came across Talem and our collaboration started. We will do series of workshops and we hope to do series of exchange visits,’ she said.
Another activity Professor Rosalea talked about is the women empowerment program noting that the greatest asset we have is our people and so we have to invest in them.
The Telem Uncommon Sounds will host three Jamaican musicians in Sierra Leone and will participate in the Telem week 2023, a songwriting retreat and performance festival that will be held between 10-19 November 2023.
The Telem week has the goal of providing a platform for uncommon musicians to make and perform original experimental music together.
