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My bags are packed, well almost at least I’ve decided the Barak 08 birthday gift t-shirt is an essential travel item for Sierra Leone, not yet sure if I need to pack food: is Sierra Leone also faced by the world food shortage, fuelled in some way by our common agricultural policy: better known as throw food away and subsidise European farmers.
AND Im leaving on a BMI jet plane: BMI jet planes now fly to Freetown Sierra leone three times a week. Its hoped the beaches of Freetown will soon by swamped with one of Britains finest exports: the tourist.
I know very little about Sierra Leone and have sought to improve my knowledge base. Here are some of the facts garnered to date.
Sierra Leone is a small country on the west coast of Africa. Population, before its eleven year western diamond industry fuelled war, 5 million, circa 4 million now.
It is ranked lowest on the Human Development Index and seventh lowest on the Human Poverty Index.
Its capital Freetown gets its name from the freed krio speaking slaves who fought for King George in the American war of independence against the British.
It got its independence from the British in 1961 on the 27/4/08. It used to have trains.
It is the setting of one of Leonardo di Caprios finest works, ‘Blood Diamond’. An accurate but, I’m told not brutal enough, portrayal of the eleven year conflict fuelled by the quest for diamonds.
I’m off to meet Emmanuels family. They live in Moyamba town. Things I do know about Moyamba Town;
His mum only speaks mende, I will be learning some key mende phrases, ’pleased to meet’ and’ your son is wonderful’.
There’s no train there
That’s about it…..
