Y Square POD

This week Y Square Pod is back with Episode 3 of Season 2!

S02E03 – Humble and Honest (The Game Episode)

In this episode the duo share their June affirmations before playing the game that exposes the differences in American and British English. In the theme of language, they also discuss the national language spoken in Sierra Leone (Krio) and where some of the words are derived from. Yasmin and Yasmine touch on how language and food impact culture and identity.

Interesting Fact: The year Sierra Leone gained Independence (1961) and the year Sierra Leone became a Republic (1971).

African Quote: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” – By Nelson Mandela

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Y Square Pod is back with Episode 2 of Season 2!

S02E02 – Our Entrepreneurial Journeys in Sierra Leone

In the episode the duo discuss the pros and cons of being self-employed in Freetown Sierra Leone. We also talk about support systems, mentors, our respective businesses and the glamorization of entrepreneurship.

Interesting Fact: The flag colours and their meaning.

African Quote: “Only entrepreneurship can create opportunity where none seemingly exists” – By Tony Elumelu

Notes from episode:

AWEC – African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative

Opportunities of Africans

Tony Elumelu Foundation

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S02E01 - Travel in Africa!

In this episode, the duo talk about travel hacks, tips & experiences in Africa & why everyone who can should travel within the continent.

Interesting fact: surrounding islands of Sierra Leone

African proverb: A roaring lion kills no game

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In the last episode of Season One, the duo look to the older generation on Salone Trade (Salone then)& turn to their mothers & Aunty Ada (the family cook) for insight. The duo offer their perspective on Salone Tide (Salone now) from a millennial lens.

Featured are: Dr. Aisha Fofana Ibrahim; Senior Lecturer at Fourah Bay College (FBC) - University of Sierra Leone (USL)

Yvonne Tagoe - Founder & Owner of Mama Lu's Kitchen; Former Executive Assisant to former President Ernest Bai Koroma of the Republic of Sierra Leone

Aunty Ada - Beloved family cook

Interesting Fact - natural resources & cash crops

Proverb - "HAWεVA TIN TRANGA TETE, I DE DכN." (Kono Proverb)

However bad things are, they won't last.

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S01E06 – Mediocrity Is The New Excellence

In this episode, the duo (Yasmin Metz-Johnson of @yasmin_tells and Yasmine Bilkis Ibrahim of @minabilkis) discuss mediocrity in some aspects in Salone and question why is the bare minimum is accepted and celebrated here in Sierra Leone. How it effects us and why the lack of patriotism of the nation may be one of the contributing factors to low standards alongside, politics, education and more.

Interesting Fast: The 3 Seasons in Sierra Leone

References in episode 6:

Board Houses: ‘Bod Ose’ in Krio

Bunce Island: Slave Fortress

Gola Rainforest:

Black and British: A forgotten History Documentary by David Olusunga

Sierra Eye: Sierra Leonean Magazine

Terms used:

‘The Make Do Complex”

Sycophancy

SLPP: Sierra Leone People’s Party

APC: All People’s Congress

African Proverb: “For tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”

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In this episode, the duo (Yasmin Metz-Johnson of @yasmin_tells & Yasmine Bilkis Ibrahim of @minabilkis) talk about how having too many friends in a small knit community can be problematic in regards to the millennial hook up culture in Freetown.

Sponsored by: Ori From Sierra Leone

Ori is a unisex natural shea butter body & hair line infused with carrier & essential oils. There are 3 products: body, hair & bug repellent. 5% of our proceeds goes to Girl Up Vine Cub Sierra Leone.

FB, Twitter & IG: @orifromsierraleone

Tel: +23278280081

Launch:

Date: Friday, March 15 2019

Time: 7pm

Venue: New Brookfields Hotel

Interesting fact: Animals found in Sierra Leone

African proverb: "If the full moon loves you, why worry about the stars?" - Tunisia

© YSquare Pod

On our fourth episode, @ysquarepod (Yasmin Metz-Johnson of @Yasmin_Tells & Yasmine Bilkis Ibrahim of @minabilkis) discuss the terms 'JC' and 'Homebase' in Sierra Leone and the perception of both groups & introduce a unique perspective contrary to the polarized two…Returnee (R). What are you in your country? Feel free to tell us & follow the conversation on Twitter, FB &/or Instagram.

Sponsored Ad:

Mama Lu’s Kitchen offers unique and authentic Sierra Leonean snacks, smoked meat & fish all sourced locally.

Address: NP Station, Campbell St, Freetown, Sierra Leone

IG: @mama_luskitchen
+23278016300

Interesting fact: Sierra Leone is Anglophone & not Francophone! :)

Intro & Outro: We Are Waiting (poem)

Poet: @minabilkis (Yasmine Bilkis Ibrahim)

Director: @black_supahero (Abu B. Yillah) of @young_salone (The Young Sierra Leonean)

Proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go to together” - Old African Proverb

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On our third episode, @ysquarepod (Yasmin Metz-Johnson of @Yasmin_Tells & Yasmine Bilkis Ibrahim of @minabilkis) discuss the terms 'suffa posh' and 'gentri' alongside identity, classism and names in Sierra Leone today.

Do you have of another term for 'suffa posh' where you are from? Leave your comments below and follow the conversation on FB, Twitter & Instagram: @ysquarepod using the hashtag #YSquarePod

*Correction: Fourah Bay community is in the East end of Freetown, not West

-Interesting fact: 16 ethnic groups in Sierra Leone

-African Proverb: from Tanzania

-Movie reference: The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)

-Song titles: Suffer Posh - Innocent

-Boku Tok - Preacher Man

Toute le monde est corrompu et* tout le monde a son prix - Everyone is corrupt, everyone has their price. (French quote, source unknown)

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S01E02 - #DemSay & Valentine’s Day

On this Valentine’s Day episode, @ysquarepod (Yasmin Metz-Johnson of @Yasmin_Tells & Yasmine Bilkis Ibrahim of @minabilkis) addresses misconceptions & myths in Salone society. Have you ever heard of these #DemSay questions? Leave your comments below and follow the conversation on FB, Twitter & Instagram: @ysquarepod using the hashtag #DemSay

Interesting fact: Fourah Bay College

African Proverb: by Chinua Achebe

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Yasmin Metz-Johnson (@yasmin_tells) & Yasmine Bilkis Ibrahim (@minabilkis) are the co-hosts of the podcast Y Square. They touch on different topics about living & working in Sierra Leone & offer their perspective through a millennial lens.

To follow the conversation, listen to the podcast & follow the conversation on our following pages:

Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @ysquarepod