Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, in the early hours of Sunday morning visited Kenema City Plaza to grace a live cultural performance by renowned Sierra Leonean musician Salia Bakavodeh, reaffirming the government’s commitment to peace, unity, and inclusive national development through arts and culture.
The well-attended event brought together community members, traditional stakeholders, youth, and entertainers from across the Eastern Region. Beyond music and celebration, the gathering served as a platform to reinforce national unity and the role of creative arts in advancing Sierra Leone’s Big Five Game Changers agenda.
Addressing the crowd, Dr. Sengeh emphasized that development goes beyond infrastructure and policies to include social cohesion and entertainment. He praised the peaceful atmosphere of the event, noting that the absence of violence demonstrated the maturity and discipline of the people of Kenema.
“Development is also entertainment,” the Chief Minister stated. “We are here, and throughout the night we have not seen or heard any violence. This shows that you are decent and responsible citizens. As Salia said in his song, your brother is your brother. This is development, and we must continue to engage in activities like this that bring us together.”
Dr. Sengeh further assured the audience that the government would continue to support cultural initiatives, adding that such engagements contribute directly to national unity, youth empowerment, and social transformation key pillars of the Big Five Game Changers.
In his remarks, Salia Bakavodeh expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Chief Minister, the government, and the people of Kenema for their overwhelming support. He described the event as a celebration of culture, peace, and shared identity, reaffirming his commitment to using music as a tool for unity and positive social change.
The event highlighted how arts and culture can support national development by promoting peace, strengthening community bonds, and creating opportunities for youth participation. As Sierra Leone advances its Big Five Game Changers particularly human capital development and youth empowerment initiatives such as this performance demonstrate the power of culture in delivering meaningful and inclusive development outcomes.
