What will become of a nation…

… that doesn’t treasure its past?

Is it that we don’t have much to be proud of in our history? Or is it that we have ‘other priorities’? Is the saying “know your future you must know your past” just another tired cliché?

I know I didn’t pick up much about Sierra Leone history in school either, probably because it was taught with such boring manner that ‘kekking’ to go play stopper football seemed a much more attractive proposition. The thing is, history should not only be taught in schools in the first place.

This topic has been on my mind for quite a while. I have previously gone on about a need to have a recognisable memorial to pay due respect to those of our fallen during the conflict which would also serve as a reminder of a place we never wish to revisit.

What brought it even more forefront to my mind was after visiting some of our heritage sites as I decided to do a few weeks ago. These are some of the sites we take tourists to, and hope to continue doing so in the future. The sites I looked at where the ones in Freetown, and the neglect in some of these National Monuments is shocking. I can’t imagine any in the provinces is much better.

Take the Old Fourah Bay College at Cline Town, an institution which made great contribution to education not only in this country but also in the sub-region and beyond. Apparently, it’s now owned by the Ports Authority and they seem intent to let it waste away… of best I say, turn into a local market/drugs den/barber shop and Lord knows what else goes on there.

Haircut anyone?

This roofless abandoned no man’s land is what used to be the prestigious Fourah Bay College so called Athens of West Africa in it’s day.

A stones throw from what used to be a wonderful piece of architecture (apparently, the original roof was made from the timber of captured slave ships) – is the National Railway Museum.

This was a pleasant surprise actually. Maybe it’s the boy in me that came out as I took a ride on the pumping trolley..I felt like something out of the Benny Hill Show, looked it too. That was fun.

This is basically alive because of the efforts of a Colonel Davies who used to be took a Colonel stationed here with IMATT. This project was to restore trains that used to be in use in Sierra Leone. This includes the coach built for Queen Elizabeth II before her visit to Sierra Leone in 1961 as well as various other steam and diesel engines (one of which is in really good condition). There are some great photos from over 50 years ago – this gives you a sense of what it used to be like and the inevitable question of where/when/how did it all go wrong.

The usual story then unfolds, they are badly in need of funding to continue their work, so please pay a visit to this place and make a contribution. The guide was great!

This was also my first visit to the Martello Tower at Parliament in Tower Hill. Martello Towers where the sort of defence mechanism of the day (a small fort) and its counterparts can be found in Britain and other countries of the former British Empire.

Ours was erected apparently because of frequent attacks from the Temne, under King Tom. It was never used in battle and was effectively a white elephant (some things never change eh?! LOL). It was later converted to a water tank to supply early Freetown. It’s now falling apart.

As is the Wharf steps and Old Guard House constructed in 1818.

and finally, Bunce Island… a piece of Sierra Leone history which connects us quite strongly to a piece of global history - a point in time that the acts of men will never be forgotten and we are allowing it to slowly become rubble with no real attempt to save what is left.

Meanwhile other castles and forts in the region which arguably are not as significant as Bunce Island have been preserved and commercialised without disrespecting those who suffered in agony within their walls. It is as if all these monuments slowly disappear we can deny this was ever part of Sierra Leone’s history. A history which we should be proud of telling our kids and their kids. We cannot change it but we can use it as proof of how far we’ve come and as a reminder of the sacrifices of those who have got us here.

So what to do? Besides overhauling the school curriculum which I think is a must at some point.. the body in charge of protecting these heritage sites is the Monuments and Relics Commission. Woefully inadequate. Whether it be because of no funding or because they are volunteers, the bottom line is the current structure is not working. Money is required no doubt, which is why I think the Commission should be put under their various City Councils. The Councils have the mandate to collect tax and the various commissions whether in Freetown, Bonthe or Kono should benefit (and be accountable) for a portion of this. Now judging from the ‘Toilet Tiles’ scenario as with the Clock Tower, the actual task of preservation and restoration probably best remains the responsibility of the Commission. They need the funding and where else is it going to come from? They could go cap in hand to Western agencies I guess, but Sierra Leone is a part of all Sierra Leoneans and we have a responsibility of preserving our history. If we do not value this then I guess we deserve what we get, and for every bit of our history that dies, the same happens to our future.