By Muctarr Jay
Alhaji Amadu Sesay, a farmer from the small village of Mafunthorh in Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone, was born into a deeply rooted cultural and religious community. Raised in an extended Muslim family, he respected and embraced his faith but was also surrounded by the traditions and expectations of his village. However, these cultural ties would soon become the source of a harrowing ordeal, thrusting him into a conflict he had never anticipated and ultimately forcing him to leave his homeland in search of safety.
The turning point in Alhaji Amadu Sesay’s life came on February 14, 2022, with the passing of his father, a respected leader in the local Poro secret society—a traditional institution with strong cultural influence in his village. As per village customs, when the leader of such a society passes, the role is often inherited by his son. Alhaji Amadu, being the only son remaining in the village, was expected by the community’s traditional leaders to take his father’s place. However, he did not want to be initiated into the Poro society, as it conflicted with his personal beliefs and values.
Upon refusing the position, Alhaji Amadu found himself increasingly alienated and under pressure from the society’s members. What began as verbal insistence turned into relentless harassment and intimidation, as the society’s members were determined to initiate him into their fold. They saw his refusal as a rejection not only of his father’s legacy but also of their cultural values. For Alhaji Amadu, this decision represented a stand for his personal freedom and a refusal to engage in practices he didn’t support.
As days turned into weeks, Alhaji Amadu’s defiance sparked anger within the community. The situation escalated quickly; he began facing verbal abuse, threats, and acts of intimidation. The society’s members would often confront him, demanding that he submit to the initiation rites. He was not only harassed but also physically threatened, with warnings that his continued refusal could bring harm to him and his loved ones.
According to family sources, the breaking point arrived one evening in June while Alhaji Amadu was at his farm with his wife and children. A group of society members appeared, intending to forcefully initiate him into the society. He was assaulted, beaten, and dragged toward the society’s shrine for the ceremony. However, in a desperate struggle for freedom, he managed to escape their grasp and fled the scene. Fearing for his life, he sought refuge, realizing that staying in the village was no longer an option.
Alhaji Amadu ultimately decided to leave Sierra Leone to protect himself and his family from the persistent threats and dangers. After fleeing, he learned through a trusted friend that his situation was even more precarious than he had anticipated. According to his friend, since he had already been taken into the shrine without undergoing the full initiation, the society viewed him as having broken a sacred boundary. This, in their eyes, justified severe repercussions if he were to return.
Alhaji Amadu’s decision to escape was also driven by concern for his family members who remained in Sierra Leone. He feared that if the society members couldn’t find him, they might turn their anger toward his family, especially his dependants, Alhaji Alieu Sesay, Adnan Latif Sesay, and Hawanatu Sesay. As his immediate family, they were at risk of being harassed, intimidated, or even harmed as a means of punishing Alhaji Amadu for his defiance.
Alhaji Amadu’s departure didn’t end his worry; instead, his concerns shifted to the safety of his loved ones. His dependants now faced the threat of harassment and persecution in his absence. The society members were likely to search for them, using them as leverage to locate Alhaji Amadu or to express their anger over his refusal to comply. He feared that Alhaji Alieu Sesay and Adnan Latif Sesay, as well as Hawanatu Sesay, could face serious harm, including physical and emotional abuse, as retribution for his actions.
Alhaji Amadu Sesay’s story highlights the clash between personal beliefs and traditional obligations, illustrating the difficult choices faced by individuals who find themselves at odds with powerful cultural institutions. Forced to abandon his home and community, he now seeks safety, hoping that his family will also be spared from the persecution he endured. His journey underscores the resilience needed to stand up for one’s principles, even when it comes at a great personal cost.
Due to this, his wife and children were forced out of the village and only able to reach them through his brother’s effort who visited an unknown village to see them.