Ghanaian Content Creator Wode Maya Concludes Tour in Sierra Leone

Wode Maya’s second visit to Sierra Leone concluded. As one of the continent’s most influential vloggers and a passionate advocate for African culture and heritage, Wode Maya’s visit comes at a time when Sierra Leoneans were celebrating their independence and embracing the beauty of their land and people.

He visited two pivotal locations in the history of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade: Bunce Island, an important slave transit point, and St. John Maroon Church, a historic church erected by freed slaves.

He was accompanied by the Director of Culture, Creativity and Innovation, Mohamed Foday Jalloh, staff from the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, and a team from Visit Sierra Leone (VSL).

From the notorious ‘path of no return’ to the slave pens for child slaves, Bunce Island ignited a moment of contemplation for Wode Maya and all who were present. Additionally, Wode Maya noted, the visit served to clarify any doubts as to the validity of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. To paraphrase him, the slave trade is not fiction; it happened, and Bunce Island is living evidence of this fact.

While Bunce Island portrays a sad story, the visit to St. John Maroon Church tells the story of former slaves who, having been newly emancipated, found home in Freetown. The church is a tribute to the fortitude of our ancestors.

In his closing remarks, Wode Maya urged African Americans to reconnect with their ancestors, their root, and their lost identity. After all, as he puts it, the concept of ‘Pan-Africanism was conceived in the belly of the slave ship’. It is a call that must be heeded.

Wode Maya embarks on a journey through Freetown’s rich historical and cultural landscape, visiting iconic landmarks such as the Cotton Tree, national museums, Bunce Island, Leicester Peak, Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, and the breathtaking beaches of the Freetown Peninsula.

The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs extends a heartfelt thanks to Wode Maya and looks forward to a meaningful collaboration that will shine a global spotlight on Sierra Leone’s stories, people, and places.