Wherever you go in Freetown, you see women dressed in colorful dresses and skirts. It doesn’t matter whether you are walking through an informal settlement where the poorest people in the city reside or through a more affluent part of town – the women are sure to wear beautiful, colorful clothing.
Some wear carefully tailored dresses, others wrap the fabric around their hip. For me, it is one of the things that bring joy when walking or driving down the streets of Freetown.
Fabrics sold at one of the markets in Freetown. A colleague from the office took us there to buy fabrics for dresses that would be made by a tailor.
On one of our first days here, me and Stuti went on a walk from our house towards Lumley beach – a popular, vibrant beach in Freetown with restaurants and bars. As we navigated through the lack of sidewalks, between busy market stalls, honking cars, motorbikes, and kekes, a man passed us, running. He was not the only one. As we strolled towards the beach, we were passed by many people who were out for a run in the hot, blaring sun. Perhaps they were practicing for the Sierra Leone Marathon held just outside of Freetown in the beginning of June every year.
Running is not the only pastime here in the city. Freetownians also like to dance. This we discovered in one of the city’s most popular nightclub, the Warehouse, on our second weekend here. The Warehouse is the kind of club people go to as the last stop before going home – it is open and busy until 8AM. The DJ plays a mix of African and American music, the windows are covered, and the bar sells a range of alcoholic drinks.
Having drinks at the Warehouse. The photo was taken around 1AM, and the place wouldn't become full until much later.
Stories of places like Sierra Leone are often somewhat simplified. We hear about the difficult parts of people’s life – the poverty, the hunger, diseases, natural disasters, and lack of clean water. These things are all a very real part of the lives of Freetownians. However, they also wear beautiful clothes, go out for runs, have their hair done, make flavorful Sierra Leonian dishes, party on the weekends, and hit on potential partners in bars. They create their lives within this context and just as everywhere else, they find ways to bring joy and color.
Young boys play football in this area of empty land besides our house all day long. As long as there is daylight and the rain stays away, they will be playing.
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