To celebrate the occasion, Freetown was in a general festive state for almost a week. On Wednesday the 22nd, a cultural performance was organized outside the stadium. Traditional dancers in colourful costumes, drummers with amazing stamina, jugglers, and various artists entertained a crowd of about 50 dignitaries and guests. The music soon attracted curious onlookers, food vendors, and area people with a few hours to spare.
Young and old, tall and small, everyone had a role to play in this showcase of SL history and culture.
Representatives of the Gullah Kinship Association, a group that is developing ties with descendants of slaves taken to America's east coast (the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia) in the 18th century, were on hand to answer questions and recruit new members.
More than 30 women from the SL Traditional Healers Union made their entrance to he sound of Krio music and songs. In their official t-shirts, African skirts, and urban handbags, they seemed to be having even more fun than the enthusiastic spectators.
On Sunday, the eve of the national holiday, thousands of people filled the streets of Freetown for the lantern parade, a procession of hand-crafted floats. Some represented historical events, others were recreations of popular landmarks or showcased a civil society group's message. Each one either had a sound system on board, or was followed by a car mounted with large speakers.
On Monday afternoon, Lumley beach became a playground for impromptu football matches, family gatherings with lots of kids, and groups of friends eating and dancing by columns of speakers powered by generators. Many Sierra Leoneans can't swim, so they play in the shallow waters, often in their clothes.
The best aspect of the multi-day celebrations is that no political clashes were reported and all events gave diverse people a chance to party peacefully.
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