By:Edward Dictionary Caulker.
If you have the opportunity to ask people on the streets of Sierra Leone about the entertainment industry, they would eventually talk about sports, music, comedy, and film. It is interesting to realize that there are many other forms of entertainment available in the country, including content creation, fashion, arts and crafts, painting, dancing, theatre, and more.
For a long time, Sierra Leone’s entertainment industry has been in the spotlight since the colonial era. Notable names include pacesetter Amie Kallon, Bunny Mack, Gerald Opino, Vicky Fornah, Jimmy B, Charlie Haffner, Ebenezer Calendar, Alie Ganda, Sorie Kondi, Sister Cordelia, S.E Rogers, Star Zee, and more. One thing they have in common is a passion for their talents. However, they faced enormous challenges that this generation of entertainers cannot withstand.
Quite recently, I decided to compile a couple of epic radio interviews I have done with entertainment legends, namely Charlie Haffner, King Fisher, Dr. Julius Spencer, Papa Ray, and more. Besides them, accessing online articles, newspapers, blogs, and videos from other entertainers brought forth the realization of the issues affecting the entertainment industry. It is evidently clear that the industry is under a life-saving machine. Despite the establishment of the Office of Entertainment and Investment, headed by Ambassador Kao Denero, much is yet to change.
Listing these issues affecting the entertainment industry raises many questions. One major issue is the lack of respect among entertainers, which has led to unresolved disputes. Another pressing issue is the leadership structure; the struggle for power has led to a lack of stability among entertainers. Additionally, access to modern technology is a major impediment to the growth of our industry, resulting in low-quality movie and music products that cannot compete with our growing neighbors, Ghana and Nigeria.
Since 2011, when an attempt was made to implement a copyright law, the industry has faced further constraints due to the lack of filmmaking, fashion, and cultural policies that would protect our local content.
Resolving these issues starts with establishing a structured foundation for the entertainment industry. By doing so, other issues can be effectively addressed and managed.
