Freetown | 10 March 2022 | Vertex Media
As it was in the beginning, so it is. The crying and wailing for the government and the private sector to support the struggling Sierra Leone entertainment industry, continue to bear no fruits. The music sector is in limbo, while the film sector is ‘a no-go area’ for investment from either the government or the private sector.
Entertainment in other parts of Africa and the world at large, is a whopping business. Musicians, filmmakers, comedians, make huge earnings from their careers. Same cannot be said about Sierra Leone, where entertainers can barely get a living from their crafts.
Following the appointment of a Special Envoy on Entertainment by the Government of Sierra Leone, many sectors in the entertainment industry were expecting a turnaround in terms of development. The Entertainment Ambassador, the Ministry of Tourism are accused of giving undue preferences to the music sector, even though much is not yet done. They are accused of total neglect over the film sector.
A U.S based Sierra Leonean Filmmaker, Actress, Entrepreneur and CEO of Real Time Management – Princess Jnap Sesay, is the latest member of the Sierra Leone Film Industry to express her dissatisfaction over the said neglect. Bloggers and promoters are also among those depriving the film sector on media coverage or promotions over the music sector.
“In Sierra Leone entertainment industry when people say entertainers, most of them immediately think of musicians. They treat the film industry and filmmakers like step children or they are beneath them when in reality most of us are probably better off than them in every way possible. And here you have bloggers and promoters who hype them for doing nothing, just keeping the industry stagnant, no movement forward. But that’s a conversation everyone, especially the entertainment Ambassador, ( Kao) is not ready for…….”
Princess Jnap Sesay posted on Facebook
Other filmmakers also expressed similar sentiments of frustration. One of them is another Filmmaker and Actress – Sia Comfort Ediener Nyukeh.
“Entertainment ambassador you say???😂😂 from his social media talk talk, all what I hear is music industry, music industry. Let forget the ambassador. Memunatu Pratt e fearful. She has no regard for the industry. From wae e cam na so so lie lie d Mami dae pan. Almost 4 years of being in that office She has nothing to point at for the film industry, what a shame to her and her ministry!”
Sia Comfort Ediener Nyukeh commented on Jnap’s post
“Ministry of Information and Communication, Parliament, First Lady Fatima Maada Bio @HE President Maada Bio, please bring our policy to life.”
It is yet unclear whether the government through the Entertainment Ambassador is working on a policy that seek to promote growth in the entertainment industry, covering music, film, comedy, fashion, etc. What is clear is that, entertainers are starving, and the environment they operate in is hostile and under-resourced. Their African counterparts are not only making a living out of their crafts, they are also making a fortune out of it.
When will Sierra Leone entertainment join the elite league of entertainment in the world?
By Ibrahim Sorious Samura
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