We often say we have forgiven and forgotten the past, but have we really? In Sierra Leone, forgetting doesn’t erase trauma; it lingers, shaping our identity and our future in ways we rarely admit.

In this episode of Honestly Speaking, Antonia Howard sits down with writer, historian, and human rights lawyer and advocate Joseph Ben Kaifala to explore the dangers of forgetting. From colonial legacies to the civil war and its aftermath, we ask: what happens when a nation chooses silence over memory? And what are the consequences of building a future on stories half-told, or not told at all?

If we forget our past, are we destined to repeat it?

Democracy is not just about elections, it is also about citizens' participation. But how engaged are Sierra Leoneans in shaping the future of the country?

In this episode of Honestly Speaking, Antonia Howard sits down with Valnora Edwin, a leading civil society leader and governance advocate, to unpack the state of citizenship in Sierra Leone. From political literacy and participation to fear, apathy, and systemic barriers, we explore why many citizens remain on the sidelines and what it would take to build a culture of accountability and everyday engagement.

We discuss:

• What active citizenship really means beyond voting

• Why some Sierra Leoneans remain silent, disengaged, or disillusioned

• How citizens can move from being spectators to powerful drivers of democracy

The big question: Are we truly engaged citizens, or are we still waiting for change to come from above?

#HonestlySpeakingSL #Podcast #AfricanLeadership

In this episode of Honestly Speaking, Antonia Howard sits down with youth advocate Mariama Sahid to explore the state of youth engagement, leadership, and service in Sierra Leone. From political spaces to grassroots movements, we unpack the opportunities and barriers facing young people who want to lead.

We’ll discuss how mentorship, intergenerational cooperation, and skills development can prepare young leaders for real impact, and what needs to change for the next generation to step confidently into positions of power.

#ARFICANYOUTH #YOUTHLEADERSHIP #SIERRALEONE #HONESTLYSPEAKINGSL

Speaking truth to power sounds noble, but in Sierra Leone, it can come with a heavy price.

In this episode of Honestly Speaking, Antonia Howard sits down with journalist Umaru Fofana to unpack what it really means to challenge authority in a country where truth can be dangerous — and sometimes, even for sale.

From political backlash and personal risk to the quiet pressures of survival in a fragile media landscape, we explore how power responds when questioned, and why truth itself can become a commodity.

What does it cost to stand against corruption, inequality, and injustice?
Who pays the price? And who benefits from silence?
And what role do ordinary citizens play in defending (or undermining) the truth?

#HonestlySpeakingSL #Journalism #SierraLeone

Sierra Leone’s classrooms are full, but not always inclusive.

In this episode of Honestly Speaking, Antonia Howard sits down with a specialist teacher trainer working to support children with special needs to unpack the hidden crisis of exclusion in our education system. From undiagnosed learning disabilities to outdated teaching methods, we explore how many children are being labelled as “dull,” “difficult,” or “disruptive” when in reality, they simply learn differently.

What does inclusion really mean in practice?
Are teachers equipped to identify and support children with learning challenges?
And what kind of system are we building? One that works for all, or only for some?

Sierra Leone has survived war, disease, economic instability, and natural disaster, but what has it done to our minds?

In this episode of Honestly Speaking, Antonia Howard sits down with mental health advocate Dr. Carol Labor to explore how unspoken trauma, cultural stigma, and the absence of support systems continue to affect the nation’s emotional health.

We unpack the long-term psychological effects of the civil war, even on those born after it, and examine how traditional and religious beliefs shape the way mental illness is understood and treated. From schools and homes to national policy, what does real support look like?

What role does mental health really play in a country’s development? And how do we move forward if we’re still carrying wounds we never named?

We talk about beauty all the time in Sierra Leone, but rarely do we stop to ask what beauty actually represents.

In this episode, Antonia is joined by Hawa Turay - pageant coach, entrepreneur and Sierra Leone's first representative to Miss Universe, to reflect on how beauty pageants shape society’s expectations of women. They discuss the perception of beauty as power, but also the drawbacks that may come with being in the spotlight.

Hawa also speaks candidly about her own journey and challenges us to think differently about what beauty means.

#HonestlySpeakingSL #BeautyPageants #SierraLeone #Women #ImageAndIdentity #AfricanPodcast #Africa

We talk about bad roads, corruption, poor education systems, but how often do we name patriarchy as a root cause of Sierra Leone’s slow progress?

In this powerful episode, lawyer and activist Nicky Spencer-Coker challenges us to rethink development through a gender lens. She argues that until we address gender-based oppression - at home, in schools, in parliament, in the court, we’ll continue building a nation that leaves half its population behind.

#HonestlySpeakingSL #GenderJustice #PatriarchyAndProgress #SierraLeone #WomenInLeadership

In this special solo episode, I’m taking a moment to pause and reflect. No guest, just me, Antonia, sharing the heart behind the podcast and what I hope it does for you, for us, for Sierra Leone.

This episode is about the why: The thoughts that sparked it. The love that fuels it. The honest conversations we desperately need but rarely have.

If this podcast has ever made you pause, laugh, nod, think, see something differently or feel slightly uncomfortable, that’s the point. And we’ve only just begun.

Let’s keep talking...

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Feminism is a word that sparks debate — sometimes curiosity, sometimes backlash.

In this episode of Honestly Speaking, Antonia Howard and Dr. Aisha Fofana Ibrahim explore the meaning, the misconceptions, and the lived realities of feminism in Sierra Leone.

From cultural resistance to structural inequality, the conversation unpacks why some view feminism as threatening, how power and patriarchy shape daily life, and what it truly means to advocate for gender equity in a society still redefining its norms.

This episode is a reflection on identity, inclusion, and the systems that still determine who gets heard, who gets space and who gets left behind.

🎧 Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube.

#HonestlySpeakingSL #FeminismInSierraLeone #GenderEquity #MindsetShift #Patriarchy #NewEpisode #africanhistory #podcast #sierraleone