Catalyst for Peace (formerly Catalyst Peacebuilding)

We thought it would be helpful to write down some of the little things that we see, hear and smell every day on the street.

1. Poda-podas are the vans that pile in as many people as possible to take them throughout the city. They usually play music, as our driver, Mohammed said “No body goes in the poda-podas if there is no music!” At night, they look like mini party buses as some of them have blue lights on the front or inside.

2. Almost every poda-poda and taxi have sayings painted above the bumper. They all reflect how deeply religion, Christianity or Islam, runs in the lives of Sierra Leoneans. Here is a sampling: “Fear Judgment Day”, “It’s On!”, “Life is Good”, “Who is to blame?”, “God is our Provider”, “In Detail Study of Man and Things”, “Live on Hope”, “Without Struggle There is No Success”. There is also the all-popular “God Bless Islam” and “God Bless”.

3. Traffic is a problem in Freetown. This is mainly exacerbated by the small rotaries throughout the city, the many people that are walk along and across the streets, the frequent stops of the taxis and poda-podas, and the “occasional” car trouble. As a consequence, the exhaust smells are stiffling.

4. Just about every possible space available for advertisement is used up by the cell phone companies: Africel, Celtel, and TiGo. Any other space available is taken by Comium, the communication systems company. Everyone has a cell phone, even those without a physical address…

5. I was so happy to see that there are a few billboards that are not used by the technology companies but by NGOs encouraging caution against HIV/AIDS, corruption, and abuse. Angie’s favorite one states “Hug your child at home, belt them in the car.”

6. Although I have not seen much wildlife here (apparently there is not much in Sierra Leone, even in the National Parks up north), there are quite a few dogs that roam the streets. My only comment is that every dog in Freetown seems to be of the same breed! Short haired, some with black and brown coats, others with white and brown coats. They are beautiful…

7. There is a very strong presence of Lebanese in Freetown, and it seems that they have a good handle on the private sector. We have been to just about every super-market in town, and they are all owned by Lebanese, as are most of the restaurants. Most restaurants also feature Lebanese foods, along with African food.

8. When it rains, most people have umbrellas. Those that don’t tie plastic bags around their heads. We actually got laughed at when at the market yesterday because we were not protecting ourselves from the rain!