Bongolistically…
As I planned in Accra, Ghana over a decade ago to build a public library and a bookshop for the Sierra Leonean Writers Series (SLWS) in Warima, a multitude of thoughts and emotions swirled in my mind, driven by my deep connection to my village and my extensive background in education and publishing.
Having risen from the little village of Warima to earn a doctorate degree in Statistics, lead an international organisation of academics and work in universities in Africa, Asia, Europe and America, I saw this Warima project as a personal mission to give back to the community that shaped me. The absence of such facilities within a 100 km radius, if not wider, underscored the urgency of this endeavour, highlighting the educational void I felt compelled to fill.
As the founder and publisher in 2001 of the Sierra Leonean Writers Series (SLWS)—where I publish all writers for free irrespective of their ethnicity and political affiliation—which has grown into the largest publishing house in Sierra Leone, I envisioned the bookshop as the provincial hub to showcase and distribute our works, empowering local authors and preserving our cultural narratives. I imagined young readers discovering SLWS titles right there in Warima, sparking their own creative ambitions, and seeing their stories in print for the first time.
The library, in my mind, would serve as a sanctuary of knowledge, a place where pupils could access resources that were once beyond my reach, fostering a love for learning that could propel them toward their own successes.
As I sat in my air-conditioned office in Accra, I reflected on the sacrifices and determination that fueled my own journey, wondering how much further I could have gone with such resources in my youth. This fueled a desire to break the cycle of limited opportunity, ensuring that children from Warima and surrounding areas see education as a viable path forward.
Some might question why I didn’t invest in other projects—I actually did support a few others, but in my heart, I knew education was the foundation—my village’s symbol and my legacy. I thought of the pride of seeing a child from Warima aspire to a degree or leadership role, probably inspired by the very facilities I built.
The bookshop and library, in my vision, should be visible buildings of hope, reflecting my belief that coming from a small village like Warima still holds the promise of extraordinary achievement.
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Please go to your village and do what you can to give back.
Mallam O.
