By Mallam Janneh
As dusk fell on Monday 27th. April, the temperature in Kailahun still set near 85°F(29°C). Nobody moved for shade. Nobody Blinked.
They were waiting for the convoy of Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally as they gathered in clusters along the highway in readiness to motorcade him through.
By nightfall, the Town field, closer to the SLPP District Party office, became a sea of Green, White. Banners marking 75 years of the Sierra Leone People’s Party since1951 hung besides the National Green, White and Blue as the country marked 65 years since Independence. For Kailahun, it was first: a night show of this magnitude with continental stars, held deep in the Eastern Region far-away in Kailahun, and it was free of cost, no gate takings because of that, the far villages came in droves. Daru, Blama, Pendembu, Kangama, Buedu etc joined okadas plying the route for their quick arrival in fear of not missing a glance. By 6 pm, the highway to Luawa was gleefull with stream of headlights.
“If they had charged,” remarked Momoh Bendu clinging a helmet in his hand, “we will not be here”.
“THE EAST HAS ARRIVED “
After 7pm, the convoy arrived from Kenema: Mr. P of P. Square, Yemi Alade, African China, joining Sierra Leone’s Amara Turay Kao D Nero, ABS and other upcoming stars in the Entertainment industry. It was indeed the first time Nigerian A-list artists had performed this Far-East.
The official launch of the Kailahun District Multi-Purpose Cooperative Scheme sponsored by Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally, who is a leading aspirant for the SLPP leadership race, had these to say: “ I would like to speak in mende because I am Musa Tarawally, a Madingo son born of a Mende Sowei mother in the Salina section, Kaiyamba chiefdom, Moyamba district, but for the purpose of others here tonight, I will say it in krio.
“Today in this District of Kailahun where the SLPP is almost 100%, I am putting One Billion leones on the table.” His voice echoed through the microphone, not needing a tele-prompter. ” I am not doing this because of politics. I am doing it for the women of Kailahun District, that woman in Daru town who sells palmoil, I am doing this for that mother in Mobai who sells cassava, for the girl child who attends school in Pendembu, for the dropout child who would want to learn tailoring or dressmaking.”
This announcement drew a roar that carried through the night air. Market women who had been waiting for this news all day, lifted basins, and the elders rose to their feet, the youth groups began the chants “Jina-musa, Jina-musa our Jina-musa is here.”
THE 2029 PRESIDENTIAL PROMISE ON RECORD
Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally, immediately after the One Billion leones Multi Purpose Cooperative grant, said this in addition to climax all what he has said.
“When I am elected President of Sierra Leone, Kailahun, not Kenema, not Bo, not Freetown, nor even Moyamba district, will be first place; we will celebrate our 78th. Independence in 2029, because Kailahun district stood first with me.” The entire field held their breath in disbelief for a second and then they exploded, drums rolled out for five straight minutes and then the clouds opened for ten minutes of what could have been a torrential downpour, but ended up to signal the start of the rainy season.
THE FORGOTTEN SLPP SLOGAN REHEARSED
Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally one again came on the spotlight when he braved the drizzling rain to teach what has been skipped by the SLPP for over two decades, almost across the country.
He began by punching the air above his head
“ONE COUNTRY! The crowd joined in
One People
One People! One Country
One Nation!” He echoed but there were fewer responses.
Alhaji Musa Tarawally started his teaching like he usually does.
“Please listen attentively to me. The full slogan of the SLPP is:
One Country, One People
One People, One Country
One Nation, One Destiny
One Destiny, One Nation
S L P P
The only way out
The only way forward
The only way through and
Power to the people.”
WHEN THE SKY JOINED IN
Shortly after 9 pm, as Yemi Alade took the stage for “ Johnny,” the clouds broke in again. This time it was real shower that nearly threatened to end the show, but for the blessings of Allah, it softened into the familiar drizzle. The children danced under the starlight’s, okada riders pulled tarps over their bikes and watched kao D. Nero freestyled under the drizzling showers.
When it eased, Mr. P launched into ‘Personally’ and the field erupted once again. ‘This show will be Internationally acclaimed’ retorted one Junisa Safety Kamara, who is a member of the Agenda MT Vision-2028.
THE GOODBYE THAT LINGERS
It was not too long before dawn, Nigerian delegation gathered by their SUV Prado jeep at the edge of the field ready to be driven back to the Lungi International Airport to join the already booked flight back to base.
African China told the Local Press who had been itching for an interview, had this confession to make; “we had played Lagos, Atlanta etc, but the discipline, love and camaraderie we saw in Kailahun District was superb. Please tell Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally that we will come back not for the Show, but for the Cooperative.” Yemi Alade added ” they didn’t just watched us, they protected us. That is respect”
- THEY WERE GONE BUT KAILAHUN WAS NOT DONE
The Local artists rocked, mesmerised and thrilled the left behind audience till dawn.
The women sang Sowei songs of the Sande society, with Tarawally’s name pitched into the verses which could be interpreted as a higher/great honour in the Mende culture and tradition.
Elders repeatedly whispered the Billion Leones grant and the presidential promise, calculating what both could mean for seeds, school fees, loan settlements for the dignity of the district.
Youths replayed cellphone video recordings of the SLPP slogan, which they intend to teach the younger ones at home.
On the roads out of Luawa town, okada headlights moved in clusters, riders calling to each other with the slogan “2029 Na we Fos”.
Overall, on Monday 27th. April 2026, Kailahun did not BLINK, it bore WITNESS and took the PROMISE home.