DOWNBELOW, Episode V part 1

Author: Amadu Daramy

This episode is a satire depicting departed colleague journalists and the role they played in Sierra Leone society. The colleagues were discussing the past and present political plight of the country and the way forward. Our departed colleagues are the brain drain ‘downbelow’

Chairing the press conference was Sam J. E. Metzger, former Managing Editor, We Yone Newspaper. He was the first President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists. In his opening remarks, Mr Metzger extolled all journalists with special reference to Gbondima  Gbondo and Osman Ben Kargbo to announce the good news about the arrival of the BBC stinger, Lansana Fofana, Ahmed Bob Kanneh and Mohamed Bobson Kamara.

He went on, “colleagues of the fourth estate, “Sierra Leoneans have gone through a lot of hardship during war and peace times. Most of us can attest to the fact that when we were ‘upabove’ we experienced unbearable gunfire, we became sick due to fear, screaming and begging not to be killed by small boys brandishing AK47 guns.”

He continued, “gone are the days of road blocks, looking for rebels and collaborators to revenge or settle scores. What I admire about Sierra Leoneans is their religious tolerance; they endure poverty, struggle daily for water, electricity, good roads, education, health care and corruption. Welcome to our colleagues who have joined us from ‘upabove.’”

Mr Metzger went on to state, “our University, Fourah Bay College, the first in Sub-Sahara Africa, once referred to as the Athens of Africa is no more as it used to be. Two of our prolific writers, Olu Gordon and Jon Z. Foray, will join us soon. Without much ado, our new arrivals from ‘upabove,’ are all welcome here and I wish you guys have come with good news from President Ernest Bai Koroma and the two main political parties, All People’s Congress (APC) and Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). Thank God our former first and second Prime Ministers, first and second Presidents and all their Vice Presidents are among us, including the former coup makers during their time in power and all those who contributed to the dismal state of our beloved country.”

The Chairman continued by saying that, “to start the press conference, I now call on Joseph S. Momoh to introduce the architects of independence like Sir Milton Margai and K. Roy Stevens. The Secretary, S. I. Koroma, will introduce the older generation of politicians while Serry-Kamal will introduce the younger generation, which is politicians of President Ahmed Tejan Kabba. Maurice Dorman will speak on behalf of the British colonialists, Henry Lightfoot-Boston and Banja Tejan-Sie on behalf of Governor Generals. This is a meeting where everybody will accept his/her fault in the nation's woes.”

All were now assembled as Salia Koroma played his accordion while S. E. Rogers sang ‘My Lovely Elizabeth’ and Dr Olor his ‘goombay’ beats. According to the Chairman, Sheik Mustabah and Reverend Dr William Fitzjohn will lead Muslim and Christian prayers respectively.

Kendeka and Highway were joking to show that they were SLPP and APC thugs respectively but that was not the right occasion. Jamil Sahid Mohammad and Highway discussed how both of them used to support Sir Albert Margai but later abandoned and supported Dr Siaka Stevens. So they decided to stay cool.

Before the press conference started, the National Anthem was sang after which all took their seats followed by the introduction according to the agenda.

Author: Amadu Daramy, Maryland, USA.

The author is a seasoned Journalist and at the moment a student at Strayer University, Takoma Campus, Washington DC, pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with concentration on Health Services.