Sierra Leoneans at DFW Celebrate 54th Independence Anniversary

Dallas, Texas, USA – The 54^th anniversary of Sierra Leone’s independence that fell on April 27 this year took place in the midst of political confusion and epidemic crisis, but the Sierra Leone community in the metropolitan area of Dallas Fort-Worth,Texas still jubilated their country’s freedom from the British imperialism. The umbrella organization, the Association of Sierra Leonean Organization in Texas (ASLOT), staged a large public picnic on Saturday, April 25 to mark the Jubilee.

Despite a public discussion about what many people believe the country’s constitution has been violated, consequently brought to a rapid protest against the president for sacking his Vice President, the national holiday was lavishly celebrated at the Valley View Park in Dallas.

The community in Texas believe that Independence Day is an important family event with emphasis on private celebrations, including organizational feasts and reunions. It was an appropriate time of meeting despite the overwhelming advent of the social media, FaceBook and WhatsApp forums providing people with communication networking. The community still needs time to come together. However, the Independence Day celebrations have provided the community with an opportunity to come together at least once a year, and the 54^th anniversary has enhanced the participants’ emotional attachment to their personal and local face-to-face milieu.

In their private sphere, the community leaders discussed how the national holiday has been appropriated and reinterpreted by our leaders as a family and community holiday. Many Sierra Leoneans and friends of Sierra Leone in the city took time off from their work schedule to attend well diverse activities, including the parading of Paddle devil and a picnic.

The Texas Paddle devil show, which is an integral part of our national identity and culture, displayed its excellent cultural devil camouflage in the day and the night of May 2. The Paddle dance was greatly supervised by the organization leaders to maintain good behavior and cultural norms at the Fair Park in Dallas. The Texas Paddle organization is a non-patrician group that was formed to help keep peace and harmony in its community while sharing their traditions and customs to the American people.

As part of the 54^th Indolence celebration, the soccer match between Sierra Leone and Iran was countermanded due to the previous day’s bad weather that flooded the field. The city authorities discouraged the game to be played to avoid the risk of injuries and damaging the pitch. However, the Sierra Stars Soccer Association, which was the organizer for the game in its traditional upholding, continued their celebration activities at the Sierra Outreach Center at night to offer prayers for their country and dance. All awards were cancelled, but plans are underway to hold the awarding ceremony and honors community members whose performances need to be recognized.

The Independence anniversary is one of the biggest holidays the country celebrates. It is a national holiday that constitutes a focal point for memory and offers a glimpse into the logic underlying the construction indigenous leadership compared to the former British colonial leaders. Many Sierra Leoneans, especially those living in the diaspora are growing with disillusionment over the slow development and political instabilities.

By Sanpha Sesay

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