By Mackie M. Jalloh
The Sierra Leone Broadcasters Association (SiLBA) on Saturday, 24 January 2025, paid a solidarity visit to Dramala Chiefdom in Kambia District following the devastating fire that destroyed the premises of Radio Bankhi–Soloferay earlier this month. The fire, which occurred on 9 January 2025, reduced critical broadcasting equipment to ashes and forced the community radio station off air, leaving a major communication vacuum across Dramala and its surrounding chiefdoms, including border communities closer to Guinea.
The visit brought together SiLBA executives, journalists, traditional authorities, station management, and community members in a show of unity and shared grief. Leading the delegation was SiLBA President, Stanley Bangura Jr., who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Hope FM in Makeni. Addressing stakeholders, Bangura emphasized that SiLBA’s relevance is most visible during moments of crisis within the media landscape.
“SiLBA exists for moments like this,” he said. “Whether a station is a registered member or not, when disaster strikes the media, it is our collective responsibility to show empathy, speak with one voice, and stand in solidarity.”
Bangura disclosed that SiLBA currently brings together more than 45 broadcasting stations nationwide, and has already taken steps to draw national attention to the tragedy. He confirmed that the association has issued a formal appeal to the Government of Sierra Leone, particularly the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, while also calling on development partners, non-governmental organizations, corporate institutions, and well-meaning citizens to support efforts aimed at restoring the station.
He described the fire as more than a loss of physical infrastructure, calling it a serious setback to community development. According to him, Radio Bankhi–Soloferay had become an indispensable platform for public education, local governance dialogue, and information dissemination in Dramala Chiefdom.
“We may not be rich financially as an association,” Bangura noted, “but we are rich in voice. And that voice must be used to amplify the needs of this community and ensure this station returns to the airwaves.”
Station Manager, Abu Bakarr Conteh, gave an emotional account of the impact of the fire on staff and their families. He described the incident as deeply distressing, noting that the station is not only a source of information for the community, but also the primary livelihood for those who work there.
“As a family man, this has been extremely difficult,” Conteh said. “The hardship is real, and at the moment, the future feels uncertain. But the encouragement and solidarity we continue to receive from the community and from SiLBA give us hope.”
He highlighted the role the station has played in amplifying local voices across Dramala, its sub-chiefdoms, and cross-border communities, adding that its absence is being strongly felt. Conteh thanked SiLBA for standing by the station, and urged staff to remain resilient as recovery efforts continue.
The Paramount Chief of Bramala Chiefdom, PC Kandeh Momoh Samba Sulaiman (De-Phoreh II), also addressed the gathering. Reflecting on his own background in journalism and service within the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), he spoke passionately about the importance of community media and the sense of loss now facing the chiefdom.
“This incident shows why belonging matters,” he said. “When you are part of a professional family, you are not alone in times of difficulty.” He announced that Radio Bankhi–Soloferay would formally register as a SiLBA member and expressed his willingness to host an official visit by SLAJ in the future.
Although SiLBA stressed that it is not a philanthropic body, the association presented a modest token of support to the Paramount Chief on behalf of the station, symbolizing commitment, empathy, and continued solidarity.
As the community awaits concrete assistance and rebuilding efforts, the visit underscored a central message: the survival of community radio is inseparable from the survival of community voice, identity, and development.