The Unsung Heroes of Energy Revolution

By Ben Turay | The Ataya Pot

In every great story of national service, the heroes are many, some known, some unsung. In this part of our story, we honour both Dr. Ibrahim Bangura and the late Henry Macauley, as well as the thousands of young Sierra Leoneans who rose from the shadows of uncertainty to seize a future in renewable energy.

Their rallying ground? Not boardrooms. Not lecture halls. But the Ataya Bases, the vibrant tea-drinking corners where conversations stir, dreams are debated, and communities gather. It was here that hope took root. These informal hubs, once overlooked, became the unlikely nurseries of Sierra Leone’s grassroots solar revolution.

With meticulous planning and community-driven recruitment, the post-Ebola solar skills training programme engaged participants from nearly every region. Below is a comprehensive list of the Ataya Bases that took part in this historic initiative:

Northern Province

Makeni – Mix Point Ataya Base, Yenkeleh Base, Mabanta Square Base

Magburaka – Full Time Base, Yoni Stars Base

Kamalo – Victory Leaf Ataya Base

Kambia – Checkpoint Base, Madina Junction Base

Kamakwie – Green Tea Base

Kabala – Koinadugu Brews Base, Sorie Town Ataya

North-Western Province

Port Loko – Borough Junction Base, Lunsar Base

Koya Chiefdom (Training Hub) – Konta Line Satellite Base

Rokupr – Hope Base, Unity Ataya Group

Western Area Urban

Freetown – Upgun Ataya Base, Bassa Town Base, Wilberforce Junction Base, Lumley Beach Brews, Aberdeen Roadside Base

Brookfields – Independence Base

Kingtom – Mafoday Ataya Base

Western Area Rural

Tokeh – Ocean Breeze Base

Waterloo – Congo Water Base, Tombo Junction Base

Eastern Province

Kenema – Bagdad Ataya Base, Hangha Road Base

Kailahun – Pendembu Junction Base, Gendema Youth Base

Segbwema – Ngegbema Ataya Spot

Southern Province

Bo – New London Ataya Base, Shellmingo Brews

Bonthe – Mattru Jong Base, Tihun Rising Youth Base

Pujehun – Zimmi Makpele Base, Pujehun Town Ataya Circle

These bases were more than just recruitment points; they became micro-centres of transformation. Each participant became a bridge between grassroots engagement and national development. From Bonthe Island to Kabala hills, from Lumley’s coast to Kenema’s outskirts, the programme reached the nooks and crannies of our country, united by solar panels, skill transfer, and hope.

As the story of Sierra Leone’s energy transition unfolds, let it be remembered that its early champions did not wait for perfect conditions or foreign directives. They started at Ataya Bases. They lit the country from below.

Voices from the Ground

From Mabinty in Bassa Town to Desmond in Makeni, the testimonies poured in, stories of resilience, of second chances, and of renewed dignity. Like Alimamy Keita in Magburaka, who supplemented his college studies with solar knowledge, or Mohamed Massaquoi of Kenema, who grasped a new pathway after missing out on university. Each young person became a symbol of possibility.

A Tribute to Partnership

None of this could have happened without trust, collaboration, and sacrifice. The late Henry Macauley brought the power of public office. Dr. Ibrahim Bangura brought the power of personal conviction. Together, they gave power to the people—literally and metaphorically.

Ben Turay continues this series with insights from field notes, training reports, and interviews conducted between 2017–2020. An advocate and strategist, he remains committed to telling the stories that shape Sierra Leone’s quiet revolutionaries.