The Minister of Youth Affairs, Hon. Ibrahim Sannoh, today convened a high-energy roundtable with some of Sierra Leone’s top entertainers to discuss strategic plans for elevating the nation’s music and creative industries. Among those present were the Entertainment Ambassador Kao Denero, Colabo, Kracktwist, Artical Foyoh, and Mohamed B. Bayoh (commonly known as Eco), who also serves as the Entertainment Youth Coordinator. While not all invitees were able to attend, the atmosphere in the room remained vibrant and filled with promise.
The focus of the meeting was clear: how to propel Sierra Leonean music beyond national borders. Minister Sannoh announced that he has already initiated discussions with the Managing Director of Trace, one of the world’s leading music networks, creating a path for Sierra Leonean music videos to be featured on the platform.
“This is bigger than music,” the Minister emphasized. “It’s about branding Sierra Leone on the global stage through the talent and creativity of our young people. Our sound, our stories, our culture deserve international recognition. Trace is just the beginning—we are opening the door for Sierra Leone to shine.”
The artists warmly welcomed the news, calling it a long-overdue breakthrough for the industry. Entertainment Ambassador Kao Denero remarked, “We’ve been grinding for years to get international visibility. This kind of move changes the game. If Trace opens its doors, Sierra Leonean music will finally get its time in the spotlight.”
Prezo Colabo echoed the sentiment, adding, “This is history in the making! The government is finally giving the entertainment industry the support it needs. Now it’s on us as artists to raise the bar.”
In addition to the Trace initiative, Minister Sannoh also unveiled two flagship youth-focused events: the Mano River Union Youth Conekt 2025, set to take place in Sierra Leone this October with special recognition for creatives, and the country’s first-ever National Youth Festival, scheduled for December. He noted that the festival would not only celebrate music, arts, and culture but also serve a greater purpose—generating income to fund youth rehabilitation programs, particularly for those affected by drug abuse.
“Entertainment is more than fun—it’s a powerful tool for healing, empowerment, and nation-building,” the Minister stated. “Through this Youth Festival, we aim to raise resources that will support young people seeking a way out of addiction and toward a brighter future.”
The meeting concluded on a hopeful note, with mutual commitments from the Ministry and the artists to collaborate closely and continue driving Sierra Leone’s entertainment industry to new heights.
