His Excellency Dr. Morie Komba Manyeh, Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, addressed an august gathering at the Commonwealth Foundation’s annual High Commissioners’ Festive Poetry Evening held at Marlborough House in central London. This was an occasion to celebrate selected poets and writers whose works continue to inspire people and shape lives in their communities and around the commonwealth.
During the event Dr. Manyeh delivered a stirring recital of “The Song of the Women of My Land,” a powerful 2007 poem penned by acclaimed Sierra Leonean poet Oumar Farouk Sesay.
This poignant poem celebrates the resilience and unsung sacrifices of women, lamenting their historical marginalization while exalting their vital, yet often unacknowledged, contributions to society. Sesay’s commendable work is an appreciated part of a rich but underrated body of Sierra Leonean literature, with “The Song of the Women of My Land” featured in the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination syllabus.
A Poet of notable standing,
Oumar Farouk Sesay has a sharp literary mind and his contributions span the fields of poetry, plays, and novels. His themes often explore issues hovering around social justice, historical narratives, and gender parity. Sesay’s acclaimed poetry collections include Salute to the Remains of a Peasant, The Edge of a Cry, and 400 Years of Servitude. Sesay was a resident playwright for the Bai Bureh Theatre in Freetown, Sierra Leone, an outlet which played a significant role in fostering creative arts in the country particularly in the 1980s. The Bai Bureh Theatre served as an attractive platform for theatrical productions and took pride in nurturing playwrights during that time.
Using this platform, Sesay contributed to works such as The Tragedy of a Nation and The Great Rape, reflecting social and political themes plaguing Sierra Leone at the time.
Oumar Farouk Sesay has also held prestigious positions, including President of PEN (Poets Essayists and Novelists) Sierra Leone, and Board Chairman of the National Youth Commission.
In “The Song of the Women of My Land,” Sesay intertwines history and resilience, highlighting the strength of women whose sacrifices have largely gone unnoticed in traditional narratives. The poem’s themes are particularly relevant in contemporary Sierra Leone, where the empowerment of women has become a national priority under the perceptive leadership of President Julius Maada Bio, with unfaltering support from First Lady Mrs. Fatima Maada Jaabe Bio. Together, these two highly deserving figures are spearheading a fundamental national revolution to empower women, increase confidence and widen their scope of operations. Their work does not only help to bring light to the historical plight of women in a hugely patriarchal Sierra Leonean society, but actively seeks tangible and practical solutions to enduring challenges faced by girls and women way beyond national boundaries.
Before reciting the poem, Dr. Manyeh appropriately paid heartfelt tribute to women, especially those of Sierra Leone.
Dr. Manyeh went on to share a personal story, speaking fondly of his mother’s resilience and how her songs became a metaphor for life’s highs and lows. “Like most Sierra Leonean women, my mother sang when she was happy, she sang when she was sad; there was a song for every mood and for every occasion,” he remarked, illustrating the profound cultural connection between Sierra Leonean women and the art of storytelling through song.
Dr. Manyeh’s recital served not only as a celebration of Sesay’s literary genius but also as a reflection of Sierra Leone’s positive strides toward gender equality. With groundbreaking policies, a record number of women in parliament and in cabinet positions, and the First Lady’s acclaimed advocacy on global platforms, Sierra Leone is turning Sesay’s engaging “song” into a resonant reality of what is possible with a determined leadership.
The evening was a befitting celebration of poetry’s power to unite nations, amplify voices, and inspire change- certainly, another stage which provided an opportunity to articulate the fact that the resilience of Sierra Leonean women continues to shape the narrative of progress on the global stage.