Paul Kaliso: Sierra Leonean proprietor of the popular “Samkal” restaurant in South-East London dies
It was in September, 1999 when I first arrived in the United Kingdom. The weather was already too cold for one arriving in a cold country for the very first time from the burning sun of Africa. To make matters worse, there was the coldness I felt due to having left behind thousands of miles in Sierra Leone all the familiar faces and places that brightened my life. “London is not the place for me,” I quietly said to myself again and again in frustration. (Photo: the late Paul Kaliso and his wife)
It was not until a few weeks later that an old school mate of mine came to my rescue when one Saturday evening, he said to me, “Let’s stroll down to Kaliso’s”. My friend informed me this was a restaurant and bar owned by an interesting and controversial member of the Sierra Leonean community that can both please and annoy anyone. My friend added that many people have mixed feelings and opinions about the place and its proprietor, but that it was the most popular rendezvous for Sierra Leoneans in London, if not in the entire UK.
On arriving at Kaliso’s, the many familiar faces, the familiar food, the arguments on Sierra Leone matters: politics, Foday Sankoh, J.S. Momoh, Johnny Paul, Tejan Kabbah, education, health, infrastructure, etc., all made me think I was in a bar along Garrison Street or Kissy Road in Freetown.
What perhaps struck me most was the character of the proprietor, the late Paul Kaliso Sesay to whom I was eventually introduced. I witnessed him taking an active role in the political debates that never ended. In fact, he engineered them and on some occasions, he would engage in a fearful war of words with his customers that would make one feel hell would break loose. It did not take me long to make sense of this man who had the tendency to blow hot and cold within minutes. Just when you thought he would throw a blow at a customer, he would surprisingly be hugging that same customer and make an offer of a beer as an olive branch of peace. You only needed to know him a bit to accept that while he enjoyed heated arguments and being listened to, he was far from being a sinister or hostile person. He was a friend and a man of the community.
I observed Kaliso’s restaurant, now called SAMKAL inside out and to be candid, it never was, and is still not ostentatious or elegant. It is basic, simple and humble, but superbly functional and serving a purpose far beyond that of just making profit. SAMKAL is for many Sierra Leoneans, the place to be if you need to offload stress, meet good friends, reminisce about our country. On a daily basis, Kaliso would search for and display in the restaurant, reading materials on current Sierra Leone issues. It is also very true that many government functionaries who visit London often sneaked into SAMKAL to taste Kaliso’s food and to listen to what is being said about Sierra Leone by diasporans.
For many months, he hosted the meetings of the National Association of Sierra Leoneans in the UK to which he belonged and contributed in a number of significant ways. In recent times, he, in co-operation with other Sierra Leoneans, championed the funeral arrangements of a few of our brothers that passed away here in London.
Born of Limba parents who settled in Njala Komboya in the South of Sierra Leone, he grew up partly in the South and partly attended school in Makeni. This is how Kaliso came to speak Mende, Limba and Temne with enviable flawlessness. He made his dislike for the SLPP Party no secret, but his sympathy, or perhaps membership of the ruling APC never blinded him to APC faults and weaknesses and he took every opportunity he had to openly criticize the leadership as he felt necessary. Kaliso vehemently berated corrupt African governments and what he called the New Imperialism/Neo Colonialism of the West. Yayah Jammeh of the Gambia was his idol president for according to him, Yayah has been able to tell the West before their faces, “go to hell.”
Just over three weeks ago, the late Kaliso left London to sort out matters in Sierra Leone. On the night before he left, I visited SAMKAL during which time he told us he was travelling. He referred to a previous visit to the motherland a few years ago when I was in Sierra Leone with him and he alleged being shot with a “fangay” (Salone witch gun ). He said, “boys, are dae go back oh na Salone. Maybe the “fangay” dae wait for me again.” We never guessed this was going to be his last earthly journey.
On Tuesday, 19th. November, 2013, the shocking news of his death filtered through the disturbed ears of Sierra Leoneans in London. He left behind his wife Melly Parchment who to the Sierra Leonean community he always introduced as SAMA, the name of his own mother. He also left behind in London, an adult daughter, also named SAMA after his mother. The loss of such a man in our community is a heavy and horrible blow to our bodies and minds. It is sad and it hurts to imagine that our dear Kaliso is no more. Will SAMKAL RESTAURANT ever be the same again? Whatever the answer to this question, may Kaliso’s soul RIP.
Edward Tedson Sesay, London.
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