Google Maps directed me to a paradise on earth.

 

Africa they say is the future, which is true. The essence of time keeps on reminding us that Africa is arguably the peaceful and naturally attractive rich continent when it comes to its culture and people. There are 54 countries in Africa and Sierra Leone among them is one of the smallest in terms of its landscape. 

The name "Sierra Leone" dates back to 1462, when Portuguese explorer Pedro da Cintra, sailing down the West African coast, saw the tall mountains rising up on what is now the Freetown Peninsula and called them the "Lion Mountains," or " Serra Lyoa ." Successive visits by English sailors and later British colonization modified the name to "Sierra Leone. 

Sierra Leone is arguably one of the world's richest countries in terms of its natural resources.  History also unveils that this small country was once the anthem of Africa, with the first University( Fourahbay College)  in the sub-Sahara. Sierra Leone as a country has so many touristic sites to show to the world. The scars of Slavery can still be traced with so many cannons still lying down in places where the business of slave trading was taking place. Banana Island and Bonthe Island are among the places slavery activities were going on. In Banana Island to be specific, they have the pit, this pit was used as safe storage during the slavery era. Slaves were first kept in this pit before the merchant ship would take them to their slave master countries. Sierra Leone on the other hand has transformed in many ways, from the ravages caused by the eleven years of civil war, Ebola, and the coronavirus, yet this country has still been resilient.

Sierra. Leone has arguably the finest beaches in the world. Another element I noticed is that this country has more than seven islands, among them Tiwai and Turtle Islands are the cleanest.  The country has the cheapest labor, you looking for a country to invest in and make a quick profit come to Sierra Leone. Did you know half of the world’s minerals can be found in Sierra Leone? Sierra Leone has one of the youngest populations in the world, with ¾ being youths. 

Sierra Leone has been lucky enough to have a quantum of innovative youths. Many of its youth have excelled in the area of invention. kelvin doe is one man that has invented so many things to measure but few, a radio station which he built using trash from the dustbin. He has also invented fuelless generators and others. Moines the robot is also a young sierra Leonean with a lot of experience in machine innovation. Moines developed a talking robot that helps people to do their job just by simple instructions and communication.

Sierra Leonean specifically like Visiting each other, this is part and parcel of the African culture. A visitor has to eat and drink otherwise he or she will never come again! As a result cooking and welcoming visitors have been one of Sierra Leone's greatest believed practices. My childhood as Sierra Leonean is remarkable. Growing up in Sierra Leone or visiting Sierra Leone will make you believe and make you feel the home away from home experience which warmly welcomes visitors. Our family is a typical African extended family whereby everyone who comes in is a relative in one way or another. We receive a lot of visitors, especially towards and during weekends and public holidays like Easter, Christmas, and New Year. African culture dictates that every visitor is given something to eat or drink whether on appointment or not. Food has to be continuously on fire waiting for visitors. For the drink, we would prepare banana juice and l al wine from the palm tree.

Abdul Karim Mansaray