Oona and Me Togedda Mek We

“Historical Study Tour of Sierra Leone” (#8 of 9)

The Ghanaian Adinkra symbol, Sankofa, means “Return and Get It” and “Use the Past to Inform One’s Future and Present.”  I reveled in being among Gullah Geechee tour participants and others who have been involved in longstanding cultural and historical preservation. We had returned to the homeland of our ancestors to reestablish the familial and cultural circle.  Some discoveries, however, were both surprising and alarming. 

Learning that Sierra Leone no longer produces rice commercially or exports it was confounding. Although rice remains a dietary staple, it’s produced for sustenance only in rural communities and is imported from foreign markets.  Some imports from China have been found to be made of plastic. Furthermore, imported rice is sold only in large quantities, which many families cannot afford. Families generally only purchase rice by the cupful, which doesn’t last long.  Commercial rice production is a business investment interest that was floated.

Another eye-opener was learning about Sierra Leone’s recent Civil War of 1991-2002. It ensued when Rebels united with the Government to overthrow former President Mohmoh, who had heralded connections with Gullah communities in the United States in 1988.  January 6 marked the anniversary of “No Living Thing,” the rebel assault on villages. During this onslaught, sheets of paper were thrown onto the ground upon their arrival.  The papers were marked “Foot,” “Leg,” or “Head.” Upon selection of either, villagers were mercilessly slaughtered or maimed, accordingly. The war’s rippling effects continue to involve the country’s people, infrastructure, government, rice heritage, and culture.

Throughout our celebrations, explorations, and discoveries, we embodied the meaning of Sankofa. We’d “returned to get it” and in so doing “would use our Past to inform our Future”! I wrote the song, “We Bring Sankofa” about a week and a half before our departure and performed it with my family members on several occasions throughout our journey. The lyrics are:

“We bring Sankofa / shru / de Door of Return

We’ve crossed de big wata

From de past, we’ve learned

(Look aroun now) Oona an me togedda make we

An we complete de famalee tree

(Yasss, Gawd!) We complete de famalee tree”

 And lyrics to the Bridge are:

De futcha dey bin hope fa

E da ya. E right ya now!

De circle no longa is broken; you see

Sierra Leonean and Gullah Geechee famalees

De circle no longa is broken; you see

Sierra Leonean and Gullah Geechee famalees

“Oona an me [You and I] togedda make we [together become “we”] An we complete de famalee tree [We reunited the family tree] (Yasss, Gawd!) We complete de famalee tree”

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