The Lion Mountains: Retracing Sierra Leone’s History & Ancestral Legacy

This was my first return voyage to Africa, it was a significant milestone in my life. I was the first of my Jamaican family to return to the motherland, and for me, it was more than just a trip; it was a pilgrimage. As my team and I traversed the stunning landscapes of Sierra Leone, we met countless warm-hearted locals and delved deep into the stories of various tribes and cultures. We immersed ourselves in the country's rich tapestry, with a particular focus on pre-colonial Sierra Leone and the events that unfolded when the Portuguese and British first set foot on its shores. Our visit to Bunce Island where enslaved Africans had been forcibly taken from this continent and sent the Americas was an unsettling experience. Observing the distortions and manipulations of our history, both in Africa and aboard was challenging.

Yet, it motivated us to voice a story that echoed the truth. I really felt my ancestors calling for me to address the wrong. We travelled by land, sea and air but in memory went back thousands of years, retracing the series of events that had led this prosperous land to be perceived, as one of the poorest countries on earth. Whether in cities, towns, or remote villages, the moments that left me most captivated were the weeks I spent with the Sherbro people on the coast. Their homeland was a slice of paradise: jungle-clad mountains, pristine white-sand beaches, and a warm, crystalline ocean. There, I truly attuned to nature's rhythms—watching the sun rise and set each day, catching, and eating fresh fish and absorbing the essence of community living. This profound experience culminated in my debut documentary titled "The Lion Mountains: A Journey Through Sierra Leone's History."