WeOwnTV: Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is a country known for its rich culture and oral tradition. Still healing from a horrific 10-year civil war (1991-2002) marked by the struggle for control of the country’s diamond mines, forced recruitment of child soldiers and displacement of more than half of the country’s population. Sierra Leone is now faced with a generation of young people who have lost their families, history and identity–their stories.
WeOwnTV was founded to provide a platform and resources for young people to tell their stories. Independent media and entertainment can play a significant role in defining a generation. Audiences of today and tomorrow will not only experience these compelling stories—but also take heart in their unrelenting hope, take pride in their creative vision and be inspired to engage with their own unique voice.
community
portrait
family
New Orleans
behind-the-scenes
musician
filming
Michalla Sallu
filmmaker
ex-combatant
celebration
short-film
loss
media center
script idea
childhood
underprivileged youth
the kid
pastor
Guinea
B-roll
documentary
motherhood
African dress
opportunity
With the idea that no one is more qualified to tell the story of Sierra Leone than Sierra Leoneans themselves, WeOwnTV debuted in 2009 facilitating a month-long filmmaking workshop for 18 young men and women in Freetown, the country’s capital. As a result, the young filmmakers below are creating new works to share with you. In July 2010, fueled and inspired by these young collaborators, the doors of the WeOwnTV Sierra Leone Media Center opened to provide a space to meet, create, procure professional work and to continue their education.
Mariama Bah
Youth Filmmakerage 20
Small Seffadu Village, Kono
My own aim and objective is to be educated.
Ibrahim Bangura
Youth Filmmakerage 29
Benki Village, Lunghi
WeOwnTV will be the path to share with the world what I have to offer.
a WeOwnTV Collaboration
The Groupage 4
Freetown & San Francisco
WeOwnTV works in creative collaboration with young filmmakers in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
Abu Zagalo Conteh
aka Abu ZedYouth Filmmaker
age 27
Makeni Town, Bombali
WeOwnTV includes everyone…if you are disabled it is ok for you to be here.
Mohammed Conteh
aka TysonYouth Filmmaker
age 24
Makeni Town, Bombali
These things I am doing [in filmmaking] help me greatly to forget about the past.
Fanta Jabbie
Youth Filmmakerage 22
Small Seffadu Village, Kono
I don’t want my baby girl to suffer like me; that is why I go to school…to be good in the future.
Alhaji Jeffrey Kamara
aka Black NatureWeOwnTV Co-founder
age 24
Makeni Town, Bombali
WeOwnTV encourages young people to tell their powerful and important stories.
Mohamed Alie Kanu
Filmmaker & Community Liaisonage 34
Seaside, Freetown
We want to go to school; we want to learn…but we don’t have the means.
Abdulai M'Bawa
Youth Filmmakerage 25
Kokwaima, Kono
Let’s not copy people outside; let’s try to portray our culture first.
Fatmata Mansaray
Youth Filmmakerage 25
Grafton, Freetown
WeOwnTV gives me the opportunity to do something to better my life.
Lansana Mansaray
aka Barmmy BoyFilmmaker & Mentor
age 23
Cockle Bay, Freetown
There are talented young people here that want to make filmmaking their profession.
Arthur Pratt
Filmmaker & Manger, WeOwnTV: Sierra Leoneage 35
Cole Farm, Freetown
Storytelling can transform and heal a community.
Salaymatu Sankoh
Youth Filmmakerage 28
Seaside, Freetown
If young women are given the chance to go to school here in Sierra Leone, they will help build up this country.
Ibrahim Sorie Sesay
Youth Filmmakerage 26
Seaside, Freetown
With this program, I believe plenty of youth will feel that there is a future for them.
Alhaji Sheku Sheriff
Youth Filmmakerage 25
Small Seffadu Village, Kono
I want to direct film and tell stories.
Allusaine Soumah
aka AlluspaYouth Filmmaker
age 26
Kossotown, Freetown
With storytelling we can forget some of the things that have happened to us.
Kanku Thoronka
Youth Filmmakerage 22
Small Seffadu Village, Kono
After the war, we didn’t know how to start our own life history.
Yeali Thoronka
Youth Filmmakerage 20
Small Seffadu Village, Kono
I dream to share the benefit I am getting from WeOwnTV with my family.
Facility
The WeOwnTV Media Center is an important educational and creative hub in the heart of Freetown, Sierra Leone. WeOwnTV filmmakers will be able to utilize the Media Center as a continued education, production and equipment rental facility, empowering them to sustain careers and project work as professional filmmakers. Given the unique skills of its team and access to equipment, WeOwnTV will also offer a range of media production services.
WeOwnTV: Sierra Leone
20 Old Railway Line
Freetown, Sierra Leone
Education
WeOwnTV focuses its curriculum on community-engagement techniques to teach the craft of storytelling and video production to young adults. The curriculum was developed by the WeOwnTV team in partnership with humanitarian fieldworkers in Sierra Leone, regional media advocacy programs and the Bay Area Video Coalition in San Francisco. Read more »
Services
WeOwnTV staff and trained filmmakers are available for hire for all stages of film and video production. Recently completing a range of production work, including narrative, music videos, promotional videos for non-profit organizations and news stories, the WeOwnTV team is also skilled at location scouting, community engagement, crew hire, script development and post-production.
To inquire about services, please contact Banker White at sierraleone@weowntv.org.
WeOwnTV: Sierra Leone Media Center
Donate
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