Freetown | 12th June 2020 | Vertex Media
As June rolls, the celebration of Sierra Leoneans who have done great works continue.
Today we are gonna throw light on my very own inspirational griot/djali of all time.
Usifu Jalloh!! The Cowfoot Prince.
Before going further; Anne-Marie Dixon – Head of Drama/School Improvement once said that: ”What Usifu offers is entirely unique and exceptional. I have never seen all students so enchanted and enthralled. The depth of his work goes far, far beyond what you and your students will expect. He will tailor make and individualise your project and offers boundless energy, charisma and integrity. ”
Who is this great man?
Usifu started drama training at Table theatre in Sierra Leone in 1984 under greats like Dele Charlie, Charlie Hafner, Denise Nelson Streeter and Raymond DeSouza George. He describes himself as an educator, a motivator and an architect for social change and cultural awakening. His charisma is
inspirational and his performance art of storytelling is transformative. He was born in Kamakwie in the Karene District of northern Sierra Leone.
He is a TEDx speaker who delivered an outstanding talk on the power of using our talent to inspire others, especially the young.
He has a passion for motivating young people to educate themselves within the context of their culture. Establishing an annual cultural and literary festival, Maambena Fest in Kamakwie this goal became a tangible accomplishment. Together with The Patriotic Advocacy Network he has also set up National Storytelling Festival in Sierra Leone. This festival encourages schools across Sierra Leone to engage in dialogue through Storytelling competitions. His production, The Cowfoot Chronicles serves as another vehicle for promoting the esthetics of Sierra Leonean and African cultures as a whole by embodying them within the rich oral heritages of his ancestry.
“I engage on educating school children and teachers around the world to revisit, question and rearrange stereotypical narratives of Africa”, says Usifu. “Am providing a powerful space for reflection on how people see Africa”. One of his platform is the Reel Lives Sierra Leone DVD, a comprehensive educational tool on some traditional practices in Sierra Leone for schools.
His preferred style of music to perform is highlife or Goombay music.
Usifu is an energetic, funny, and deeply inspiring storytelling performer. Sierra Leone’s Excellence Award winner in Creative Arts, United Artists Award winner for Contribution to Promoting Sierra Leone culture 2012 and Bristol’s 2012 Storytelling Grand Slam Award winner, a keynote speaker at various UK universities and often quoted in a variety of genre and publications including authors such as Frank Wynne (2006) and myself Hamza Koroma in my recent book “Alternative Development”.
In the field of drama Usifu has co-written and co-published an epic play, ‘Sweet Peter’, representing the experience of slavery, colonialism and war in Sierra Leone. He played a key role in the award winning play The Secret Live of Baba Segi’s wives directed by the highly acclaimed Nigerian director Femi Elufowoju Jnr.
His work extends beyond stage drama into film. Staring in the award winning Journey Man, and more recently a documentary about his life The Cowfoot Prince directed by Bex Singleton which showing world in America, South Africa United Kingdom, India to name a few.
From a humble background to a successful internationally acclaimed self made performer, Usifu Jalloh is a true and passionate advocate for self development. His famous quote is;
“If you think small is insignificant, try being locked in a room with one mosquito”. Indeed The Cowfoot Prince is buzz in the world’s ear.
His buzz has inspired me in so many ways and I am grateful for that.
Check him out on www.usifujalloh.com, Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to his YouTube channel Usifu Jalloh.
Thank you!!
By Hamza Koroma aka Hamza4Sl
©JuneCelebration
