Bo Peace Carnival 2002 - Using Culture as a Vehicle for Social Reintegration

In March 2002, Talking Drum Studio-Sierra Leone partnered with local groups to explore possibilities for peaceful reintegration in Sierra Leone through a Peace Carnival.

An annual event taking place every Easter in Bo, Sierra Leone, the Bo Peace Carnival draws together a variety of activities aimed at promoting community building and sustainable peace. From March 28-31, crowds gathered to watch performers and discuss issues relevant to culture, social reintegration, youth and civil society in Sierra Leone. TDS-SL worked in collaboration with Steady Bongo and the Cultural Heroes, KISS 104 FM and the Cassette Sellers Association to organize the 2002 carnival.

Steady Bongo, the main performer, and other local artists - numbering nine troupes - worked hard to incorporate the theme "Using Culture as a Vehicle for Social Reintegration" into their acts. Four secondary schools also developed plays that they performed around key issues such as early marriage, sexual and gender violence, education (school drop outs) and the generation gap.

Different cultural groups from around the country were invited by TDS-SL and had the opportunity to perform, including Hassan Jalloh and the Warriors (former militia fighters), Bandajuma Cultural group (former RUF fighters), and Freetong Players and Wan Pot from Freetown, as well as other traditional cultural people from the south and east.

TDS-SL staff gathered the commentary and opinions of chiefs, women's representatives, cultural artists, and civil society members. Youth expressed their concerns, hopes and aspirations for the reintegration phase, and this discussion was interspersed with live interviews from the crowd on what they were learning at the festival. These comments and discussions, along with taped programming related to the theme, were broadcast to various parts of Sierra Leone over the four day period of the carnival.

The Bo Peace Carnival was a great success, bringing together performers, people and ideas in search of a lasting peace for Sierra Leone.

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