…and we’re back!
Thanks for coming back to the blog, see below the Top 7 Things to do in Freetown in March! …and as usual in no particular order…
But first allow me to complain about how LONG February was...my goodness? For 28 days e go o (it was long!). Not that you all care about my petty complaints, huh? Alright, without much ado, voici les choses pour faire à Freetown ce mois (see the things to do in Freetown this month)!
1. The Rejiv Bendre Annual Lecture Series hosted by the 50/50 Group Sierra Leone
The Rajiv Bendre Lecture Series: As director of the British Council in Sierra leone, Rajiv Bendre was a leading champion of the 50/50 Group of Sierra Leone - a group that in the last 18 years has transformed the lives of many Sierra Leonean women by unleashing their potential in the field of political participation & public life. Eleven years ago, on his last day at the British Council, the 50/50 Group launched the Rajiv Bendre Lecture Series to honor & appreciate his pioneering role in its establishment & his passionate commitment to gender equality. The Italy of “Honorary Woman” was bestowed on him, which as a father of three girls he continues to wear with pride. In its 11th year, this lecture series as become a well-known & established platform for showcasing the achievements of successful & accomplished Sierra Leonean women who have smashed the glass ceiling.
Guest Speaker: Ambassador Mrs. Rasie Binta Kargbo is a trailblazer & trendsetter who throughout her distinguished career has broken ground for women by excelling in many high profile positions within Civil Service & across Government. She became the first female Director-General & Ambassador At Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & the first female State Chief of Protocol. Throughout her illustrious career, she has demonstrated the virtues and values of the 50/50 Group & has been a beacon of hope to many women to follow in the male dominated domain she worked in.
The 50/50 Group of Sierra Leone is a non-partisan campaign for more women in politics, governance & public life. Established as a grassroots movement in 2001, their niche has been training women & girls in leadership skills - a key strategy to increase the number of women in politics, governance & decision-making platforms. They now have a presence in all 16 districts in Sierra Leone & chapters in the UK and USA.
This event will take place:
Date: Friday, March 1 2019
Time: 3:00pm
Venue: The 50/50 Group Sierra Leone Head Office, 50 OAU Drive, Towerhill
2. Miss COMAHS 2019 Beauty Pageant & Awards Night
At the end of the day, everyone is looking for their happily ever after, I hope the pageant contestants find that this Saturday. Good luck to the contestants! You can show your support for them & Sierra Leone's growing tourism & beauty pageantry sector by attending.
Date: Saturday, March 2 2019
Time: 7pm
Venue: Family Kingdom, Beach Road
Regular: Le 50,000
VIP: Le150,000
Patron: By donation
This year's Miss COMAHS will be hosted by Ms. Floriana Thomas of Talk With Ria.
3. Women Mean Business presents #SheMeansBusiness
WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS! #YESWEDO
This year, on International Women's Day, Women Mean Business will be hosting a workshop for girls & young women aged 14-21 who are interested in starting a business or learning
Women Mean Business (WMB) is a boutique strategic communications and events agency that seeks to help African women, individual professionals and business owners in leveraging their brands, and their companies to the best of their ability both in the local and international markets.
WMB cultivates, inspires, and empower African female entrepreneurs who want to start or scale up their businesses and brands. We offer solutions for business growth, leadership and capacity building as well as digital media solutions for women in business.
Date: Friday, March 8 2019
Time: 10am-2pm
Venue: New Brookfields Hotel, Brookfields
To register, fill out the Google Doc link:
or contact WMB at info@wmbhonors.org
Ajara Marie is the Creative Director of Women Mean Business.
4. The Ignition Hour - March Edition
The 50/50 Group Sierra Leone in collaboration with Academic and Career Advisory and Counseling Services (ACACS) and the University of Sierra Leone (USL) present The Ignition Hour.
The Ignition Hour is a monthly talk show event incepted in November 2018 to inspire young people to contribute meaningfully to national development. Madam Aminata Kane Balde; the Curator of Ignition Hour states that the rationale behind the project is to create a network and platform from various expertise culture and background that seek and provide knowledge that can inspire young people. She goes on to say that [they] strongly believe that ]they] can change the world with power of ideas that can inhibit ignorance, intolerance and idleness. She adds that [they] believe that continuous sharing of ideas can unlock the creativity, the passion and self-awareness needed in youth and in the future entrepreneurs.
This month's talk is on Entrepreneuship Skills & Mindset Development Journey. Her guest speakers are Alitta Ansu-Katta, CEO of Eat Smart Sierra Leone & Office & Domestic Support Service Agency (ODSSA) &...YOUR GIRL Yasmine Bilkis Ibrahim, Owner of Ori and Creative Director of Mina Bilkis.
Date: Saturday, March 9 2019
Time: 1:00pm
Venue: Pearl Restaurant, Lumley Beach Road
5. Ori LAUNCH
C'mon... I had to plug myself (:
Ori (formerly known as Karité) is a unisex shea butter based natural cosmetic line infused with carrier & essential oils for hair & body. Ori contains Vitamin E properties that reduce the visibility of stretch marks, scars and blackheads. It also aids in alleviating eczema & dandruff.
With the alarming rate of people especially women turning to Western cosmetics that are "superior" and contain bleaching agents, Ori's aim is to ensure our customers know their skin and hair shouldn't change but remain as it is; beautiful. Handmade with love in Sierra Leone.
Ori is a social entrepreneurship business, 5% of its proceeds support the community based organization Girl Up Vine Club Sierra Leone.
Our official launch will take place:
Date: Friday, March 15 2019
Time: 7pm
Venue: New Brookfields Hotel, Brookfields
Regular admission: Le50,000 (Le30,000 for young Sierra Leoneans with ID*; ages 18-35)
Patron admission: Le150,000
In honor of Women's Month, all admission proceeds will be going to Girl Up Vine Club Sierra Leone to support them with their annual Menstrual Hygiene Management campaign in May 2019.
Una show una support & kam, duya! (Please show your support & attend!)
6. Hands Off Our Girls (Film)
Rainbo Initiative (RI) in partnership with the Henrietta Mbawah Foundation (HMF) have produced a short film title: “Hands off” highlighting the growing problem of sexual gender based violence (SGBV) in Sierra Leone. President Julius Maada Bio announced a National Emergency on rape and sexual violence on 7th February 2019. The performing arts, including film, are fantastic ways to capture the public’s attention about an issue. Films are a powerful advocacy tool and RI and HMF believe the ‘Hands Off’ film will enrich the long-overdue national conversation about SGBV.
Date: Thursday, March 7 2019
Time: 6-9pm
Venue: Lagoonda Cinema, Lumley Beach Road
Fee: Le200,000
All proceeds are going to the Rainbo Initiative
7. Freetown Music Festival
The Freetown Music Festival is back for its third year!
The Freetown Musical Festival returns to Lumley Beach for its 3rd edition & continues the tradition of celebrating music & culture in Sierra Leone. The festival will showcase different genres of music ranging from Gospel, Hiphop, Afrobeat, Pop & traditional music across 2 music stages as well as host a dance competition, art installations, info booths , food, fashion & film screenings by Opin Yu Yi.
Date: Saturday, March 30 - Sunday, March 31 2019
Venue: Lumley Beach
Day pass: Le10,000
Two day pass: Le15,000
That's all folks! Stay tuned for regular updates on what to do in Freetown (& other posts of course) by subscribing.
As you may be aware, I co-post the podcast Y Square Pod with Yasmin Metz-Johnson of Yasmin Tells. She has a post on 10 February Highlights of Freetown. So please check out her blog & listen to our podcast if you haven't already! 😉
To have your event featured on Mina Bilkis, feel free to email us at info@minabilkis.com
ergo sum cogito