By Emmanuel Gaima
In many parts of the world, being different can be dangerous.
For Fanta Tunkara and her close friend Isata Bangura, it has led to humiliation, violence, and a heartbreaking tragedy.
What started as mere whispers quickly turned into a nightmare fueled by fear and intolerance.
Fanta and her friend shared a strong bond one that, in a conservative society like Sierra Leone, sparked suspicion.
Rumors spread that they were in a same-sex relationship, a serious accusation in a country where homosexuality and Lesbianism are criminalized and deeply stigmatized.
The first blow came from Fanta’s own family.
Her uncle, Baba Tunkara, reportedly chastised and even molested her after hearing the rumors, though details remain unclear.
But the real danger came when their community turned against them.
Friends and neighbors who once treated them with kindness suddenly saw them as outcasts.
What started as whispers of disapproval turned into open hostility, with some believing it was their duty to “correct” what they saw as wrong.
Then, the violence erupted.
One evening, a mob stormed their home, dragged them into the street, and brutally attacked them.
They were beaten, humiliated, and stripped of their dignity while bystanders either joined in or watched in silence.
Though they managed to escape, the emotional scars were deep.
Unable to bear the shame, fear, and rejection, Fanta’s friend Isata tragically lost her life.
Whether by suicide or another fate, her death was a direct result of the persecution they endured.
As for Fanta, she has disappeared without a trace.
Whether she is in hiding or has chosen to cut ties with her past, no one knows.
Her silence speaks volumes about the fear and stigma that still grip those who find themselves accused of defying societal norms.
This is not just Fanta’s story.
It is the story of many others who suffer in silence, afraid to live their truth in a society that refuses to accept them.
Until conversations about tolerance and human rights take center stage, many more will continue to pay the price for simply being themselves.