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THE MAGIC IS IN THE DOING: LESSONS FROM PELUMI NUBI ON A DATE WITH AFRICELL SIERRA LEONE
In an inspiring meet and greet organized by Africell Sierra Leone. We had the honour of being among a select group to meet Pelumi Nubi, the remarkable Nigerian woman who drove from London to Lagos. Her sensational journey left us all motivated, sharing invaluable lessons on resilience, resourcefulness, and self-discovery. We couldn’t help but curate some of the golden nuggets and 5 major life lessons from this thought leader, adventurer and brilliant creative. 1.Embracing YourselfPelumi’s story began with an interesting childhood (relocating from Lagos to London) where she faced bullying due to her appearance. Seeking solace, she retreated to the library, where she discovered a love for reading. Books, she…
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WHY EMERGING FILMAKER, MARIAMA WURIE, IS CURATING CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS IN HER IRRESISTIBLE SHORT FILM SERIES – SLOW MORNINGS
In a world often dominated by power dynamics and elitist structures, Mariama Wurie emerges as a beacon of authenticity, pluralism and people-power— challenging norms of fear and silence,in her debut independent short film series, Slow Mornings. A promising learning experience designer and thought leader, Mariama’s work is deeply rooted in her commitment to questioning harmful social norms, and dreaming up collective solutions for transformative change— for the arts, for gender justice, for education justice and overall economic development. Mariama has already served her country’s education sector as a specialist at the World Bank, where she led research and development for gender-responsive and inclusive education programming, and EdTech innovation. She’s…
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BREAKING CHAINS: CONFRONTING ADDICTION IN SIERRA LEONE
In the heart of Sierra Leone, amidst the vibrant culture and acclaimed resilient spirit, lies a silent war raging against an invisible enemy – substance abuse. It’s a war not just against the physical manifestations of addiction, but against the systemic failings of our human ethos, the erosion of hard work, and the insidious grip of greed that threatens to swallow us whole. As we confront this epidemic, it’s imperative to peel back the layers and examine the root causes that drive individuals into the abyss of addiction. It’s easy to dismiss substance abuse as a moral failing or a lack of willpower, but the reality is far more complex.…
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40 Things I’ve Learned at 40: A Mini Masterclass in Growth, Purpose & Becoming
Turning forty is often framed as a milestone of arrival. For me, it is something far more sacred: a milestone I was not always certain I would reach. My early years were marked by significant personal trials: near-death accidents, a season of facial paralysis, complex reproductive health battles including fibroids, adenomyosis and endometriosis, the private grief of infertility, business disappointments, personal failures and seasons of immense loss. There were moments when the future felt uncertain, when long-term planning felt aspirational rather than guaranteed. Longevity was never something I took for granted. Yet surviving is not the same as living. Somewhere between hospital rooms, boardrooms, classrooms and prayer closets, a shift…
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GRIEF KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES: BREAKING SOCIETAL LIMITATIONS
“Grief is a cruel kind of education. You learn how ungentle mourning can be, how full of anger. You learn how glib condolences can feel. You learn how much grief is about language, the failure of language and the grasping for language” ― Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Notes on Grief We often fail to realize how frequently we are interconnected with, affected by, and influenced by grief until it strikes suddenly, much like a bolt of lightning! When grief unexpectedly descends upon us, the world continues with its usual course, and those who find themselves grieving – be it the loss of a cherished experience, a loved one, or a dear pet who…
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Don’t tell me not to cry: A Story around Grief, Toxic Positivity and Religion
My earliest recollection of grief was at 5 years old when my grandfather passed away. The adults were very kind to me as they knew how connected I was with him. Grandpa and I had spent hours upon a time, bonding in the kitchen, and he would pick me up from school. If it were not for pictures, it would be hard for me to describe his features – what stayed imprinted on my mind were how his hands looked and the experiences we shared. How warm and secure they felt when he held me in a hug or carried me to different spaces. As young as I was, I…
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#VOTESAFUL : AFFIRMATIONS TO HELP YOU WITH UNCERTAINTY
As we prepare for elections tomorrow in Sierra Leone, tensions are rising and there is an air of anxiety. These extreme emotions and behaviours are associated with nearly every goal defining process for humans and animals alike, in the natural order of things. Our young people are eager and ready to vote in candidates of their choice! The President- H.E – Julius Maada Bio has advised the nation in a public address to exercise their rights peacefully, in a calm and relaxed manner. #VoteSaful At Ariana Diaries, we believe in Affirmations! They can play a significant role in creating a purposeful life.Why? They help in…
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Volte Face : An Ode to Sierra Leone’s Iconic Cotton Tree
The cotton tree is truly reflective of our strife We were supposed to care for her as a dear wife Devil-may-care, the lantern parades lighten her up at night We all said we loved her, oh we lied Happy-go-lucky, we pierced her heart with a knife. ♥♥♥ Unreliable protection we offered, we let her leaves dry Skrik, our forefathers will cringe and cry For the bats and vultures that soar high Stayed loyal to her as we watched her legacy die Nature did the honors and ended her misery, sigh! …
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LIFE LESSONS FROM CHEF HILDA BACI’S COOK- A – THON
Hilda Effiong Bassey, better known as Hilda Baci, is a Nigerian chef, restaurateur, actress, and soon to be current holder of the Guinness World Record for marathon cooking. In August 2021, she won the Jollof Faceoff competition. ‘Breaking a world record’ isn’t easy, but Hilda Baci made it look like a piece of cake! LIFE LESSONS THAT WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM I. Hilda Effiong Bassey popularly known as Hilda Baci is Nigerian, a chef and an entrepreneur – Tough as the 🇳🇬 environment is, it’s still possible to make it big here if you discover and work on your calling. She didn’t start cooking this month. She’s only just…
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COMMUNITY- THE DYSFUNCTION, NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT IN SIERRA LEONE
Freetown, Sierra Leone, is one of the most beautiful places in the world. This beauty opined by the writer is based on its rich religious tolerance, its welcoming nature to foreigners, it’s very diverse ethnic backgrounds and the overall natural landscape and resilience of its people. But like every other country in Africa, Sierra Leone faces a lot of socio-economic and political constraints. The purpose of this article is not to deep dive into the socio-political or economic issues faced by this beautiful country but to explore the concept of community. For this article, the writer has defined a community as a collective group of people/individuals working in a collaborative,…
