Tourism Minister Hails One Nation Reggae Festival …As Milestone For Creative Industry Development

The Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Mrs. Nabeela Tunis, has described the recently concluded One Nation Reggae Festival 2025 as a landmark achievement in Sierra Leone’s cultural and creative industry transformation, citing strong collaboration between government, the private sector, creatives, development partners, and the media as the foundation of its success.
Speaking at a post-event engagement, the Minister praised the festival as a true embodiment of the “one family, one nation” vision, bringing together multiple ministries, private sector institutions, creatives, journalists, local authorities, and community members in a unified national effort. She noted that the journey from conceptualisation to execution was driven by faith, teamwork, and a shared commitment to repositioning Sierra Leone as a culturally confident and globally relevant destination.
According to the Minister, the festival went beyond entertainment to serve as a platform for cultural exchange, heritage appreciation, innovation, and people-to-people connection. She commended both those who worked visibly on stage and those who laboured behind the scenes, stressing that every meaningful national achievement begins with a single idea that grows through collective effort.
Madam Tunis extended special appreciation to media institutions for amplifying the vision and values of the festival, as well as to private sector partners who supported key components such as the Creative Clinic and innovation initiatives. She also highlighted the contribution of Sierra Leonean designers, particularly national fashion designer Franklyn, whose work symbolised the growing confidence and global relevance of the country’s creative sector.
A major outcome of the festival, the Minister announced, is the decision to dedicate 50 percent of the proceeds towards the establishment of a Creative Village, following the allocation of land by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning. The Creative Village is envisioned as a legacy project that will function as a hub for talent development, cultural entrepreneurship, innovation, and creative-based rehabilitation, with a strong focus on youth empowerment.
She further disclosed plans for the development of an ECOWAS Creative Space, where each West African country will be represented, alongside strengthened Caribbean cultural linkages reflecting Sierra Leone’s historical and diasporic connections.
The festival also integrated heritage tours, storytelling, theatrical performances, fashion and culinary showcases, as well as environmental initiatives such as waste management and plastic recycling in collaboration with local councils and innovation hubs. Addressing operational challenges encountered during the event, the Minister assured the public that lessons had been learned and that future editions would reflect improved standards, service delivery, and event management capacity. She emphasized that all contractual obligations would be honoured.
The One Nation Reggae Festival, which coincided with Emancipation reflections in August, was described by the Minister as a powerful reminder of Sierra Leone’s central place in African and global Black history. She noted that cultural experts and historians used the platform to call for deeper engagement with national heritage, monuments, and identity beyond festivals and performances.
Concluding her remarks, Madam Tunis thanked fellow ministries, including Finance and Information and Civic Education, local authorities, creatives, journalists, and citizens who supported the event by purchasing tickets, stressing that every contribution directly strengthens the creative economy. “This is just the beginning,” she said. “What we have started is a movement, and together we will build a creative, culturally confident, and globally relevant Sierra Leone.”
Francis Momoh, Research Officer at the Sierra Leone Monument and Relics Commission, expressed profound gratitude to the media, state institutions, and private sector partners for their collective support in making the One Nation Reggae Festival a success. He described the event as a reflection of national unity, bringing together what he called the “one big family, one nation family” across government, the private sector, creatives, and the general public.
Momoh attributed the success of the festival to collaboration, shared vision, and collective commitment, while acknowledging the role of the Almighty in guiding the process from concept to execution. He paid tribute to individuals and teams who worked tirelessly both at the forefront and behind the scenes, noting that even those not physically present played critical roles in the festival’s achievement.
He emphasized the importance of sustaining teamwork and strengthening private sector participation in tourism and the creative industries, observing that most investments in the sector are driven by private actors. According to him, such partnerships are essential to advancing national campaigns on culture, creativity, sensitization, and heritage.
Describing the One Nation Reggae Festival as a monumental journey, Momoh noted that its full impact is yet to be fully communicated. He assured that in the coming months, efforts would be made to share the festival’s achievements more widely with the public, while building momentum for future editions.
Mr Bidawa Sesay said the one Nation Reggae Festival helped Sierra Leoneans artists to learn new skills and that it will help boost their music career.
He urged Sierra Leonean artists to maintain professional standards in order to promote their music career.
He disclosed that through the ministry they have been able to create a powerful sound system which helps traditional artists to perform their music with the use of bands.
It is a mix blend of reggae sound that can be performed easily by our Sierra Leoneans artists, he said.