The literary flame that was lit in Sierra Leone centuries ago for which the country was nicknamed: “The Athens of West Africa” is still alive. After a long wait and anticipation by readers and his many fans, the book “Once Upon A Time In Freetown”, authored by Sierra Leone native Mink Jawandor, is finally available on AMAZON in hardcopy.
The end of the civil war in Sierra Leone in 2002 marked a new beginning for the people and country once famous for their literary prowess and progress in Africa and the world. However, instead of making a serious impact on how the government and people behave to address the issues that precipitated the 11 year senseless and bloody war, the issues and causes of the war were swept under the carpet. Today, there are few literary works on the issues save for a few movies and documentaries.
Breaking from this mode, Mink Jawandor is brutally honest about the events leading to the war and the many atrocities that set the Sierra Leone civil war apart for its brutality and wanton destruction of many innocent lives and property.
“Once Upon A Time In Freetown”, subtitled “We Want Peace” explores elections, military coups and the tangled web of military factions of the disbanded Sierra Leone military (AFRC) and that of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), local militia groups formed by local tribesmen and disgruntled youths, the Kamajor, Tamahboraw, CDU, etc.
As an historical work “Once Upon A Time In Freetown” will allow Sierra Leoneans from all walks of life to have a clear reflection of our recent past because Mink did not shy away from explicitly explaining the detailed horrors of the bloody civil war in Freetown and Sierra Leone as a whole.
According to AMAZON.COM the book openly depicts bad actors and disgruntled politicians, military personnel and desperate youths across the nation.
Apart from detailing the gruesome events in the country between 1996 and 1999 that resulted to Sierra Leone becoming became a shell of itself, the book also delved into the political power struggles of the disparate factions that also made Sierra Leone the most dangerous place for independent journalism.
It was evidently clear that of our own volition the nation and our leaders were grossly incapable of stopping the war without outside intervention, which was slow and coming. It was as if the world had washed its hands off Sierra Leone leaving the fate of the people in the political and military factions desperate to lead the nation. While the country and its hard-pressed and brutalised citizenry and other residents were looking for a saviour, only the European Union, World Bank and the US came to our rescue. According to the author, not even ECOWAS was financially capable of aiding Sierra Leone to rebuild.
Meanwhile the war wasn’t just about brutality. The people managed to eke a living and existence despite the gruesome events that were taking place around them. In expressive language Mink Jawandor also explored some of the few fun nostalgic times the youths of Freetown had during the standstill of the AFRC Junta regime. Those who witnessed first-hand the horrors of the war would reminisce about the pause between 1996 and 1999 including but not limited to the football or soccer tournament that was organised in the Fourah Bay community and other communities across Freetown, the rap contest, the DJ and weightlifting competitions and more.
Sierra Leoneans fondly recall how Joseph Hill and the root reggae band visited Freetown in the height of the crisis in December 1998, a few days before the January 6 massacre in 1999. No one will ever forget the mob justice that occured in Freetown.
For those interested in reading this amazing piece of literature and journalism, “Once Upon A Time In Freetown” is now available to buy on AMAZON. The author has promised a book launch next month where he will officially sign the book for readers and consumers across the world.
As an afterthought the issues leading to the brutal Civil War are being repeated across West Africa with the seven current military coups among other things.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mink Jawandor is a native of Freetown. Currently living and educated in the US, he said his viewpoint came as a civil witness who lived inside the war and was lucky to have survived and now have the opportunity to tell the story as an educated adult twenty-eight years later through research and personal reflection.
Jawandor holds an associate in art, a bachelor’s in political science and a master’s degree in public administration with a minor in public policy. He worked as a high school teacher and for the US Department of Commerce.
The author said he was compelled to write on this historic event the Sierra Leoneans in Freetown endured due to poor leadership discretions, relative deprivation, greed and desperation, corruption, etc., adding that his authoring is also influenced by Martin Meredith, who wrote The Faith of Africa in 2005 and discussed the reason that leads to political instability in most African nations.
The author is presently involved in writing the stories of the Raray Boys (young street boys), who’s lingering hopelessly in Freetown is waiting to self-destruct.