By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Sierra Leone — October 22, 2025: Tennson Ncube, popularly known as S’phongo and founder of Inkundla Spaces, has announced the upcoming Inkundla Arts Festival 2025: Mind Matters, Stories That Heal, a three-day event dedicated to addressing mental health challenges through art, dialogue, and community engagement. The festival will run from October 31 to November 2 at Mongo Peak in western Freetown.
Inkundla Spaces, an organization committed to nurturing talent and promoting creativity across Sierra Leone, is spearheading the initiative in response to growing mental health concerns. According to recent data from the Ministry of Health, over 5,000 mental health cases have been recorded in Freetown alone — a statistic that inspired the festival’s unique focus.
“Inkundla means a meeting place — a circle where people gather to share stories, ideas, and solutions,” said S’phongo. “This festival is not just about performances; it’s a conversation in many forms: poetry, music, painting, storytelling, and community sessions designed for openness and reflection.”
The festival’s timing aligns with World Mental Health Month and follows a series of creative workshops held in Foredugu, Lunsar, Kenema, and Freetown. These sessions have helped shape the festival’s programming, which centers on personal narratives and the healing power of artistic expression.
Highlights of the festival include:
- Family Colour and Paint Day with Paint Pages
- Rise and Riot Poetry Slam
- A pop-up gallery constructed from recycled pallets
- Intimate performances by artists from mental health workshops
- The Jabulani Party, a vibrant celebration of sound and movement
Artists are selected based on authenticity and storytelling, with open calls issued across regions to ensure diversity. “We prioritize courage and honesty over popularity,” S’phongo noted.
Inclusion is a core principle of the festival. Most programs are youth-led or youth-focused, with intentional space for women, people with disabilities, and first-time performers. Events are free or pay-what-you-can, and organizers have committed to ensuring physical accessibility and language inclusion.
Beyond entertainment, the festival aims to foster cultural dialogue and community connection. “Whether it’s an artist speaking about anxiety in a poem or a parent and child painting together, every part of the festival is designed to spark conversations that policy and institutions sometimes can’t,” said S’phongo.
He described Inkundla Spaces as a bridge — connecting generations, art forms, and personal expression with community dialogue. “Sierra Leone doesn’t have many spaces where art exists just for art’s sake, so we try to fill that gap,” he explained.
S’phongo concluded with an open invitation: “Inkundla is for everyone. Whether you’re an artist, a dreamer, or just someone curious about life, you have a place in our circle. Art doesn’t need to be perfect; it just needs to be true.”