By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Freetown, Sierra Leone – Dr. Kitty Fadlu-Deen, co-founder of the Ballanta Academy of Music and Performing Arts (BAMPA), has called for urgent national action to preserve Sierra Leone’s indigenous musical traditions, warning that valuable cultural knowledge could vanish if traditional musicians continue to be overlooked.
Speaking on cultural preservation, Dr. Fadlu-Deen stressed that traditional performers play a critical role in safeguarding skills and practices passed down through generations but often receive recognition only when invited to perform at cultural events. “Many of our traditional musicians are only remembered when someone needs them to perform. Beyond that, they receive very little recognition despite possessing extraordinary knowledge, skill, and cultural wisdom,” she said.
She drew comparisons with countries such as the United States, which recognizes highly skilled traditional artists as “master artists,” and Japan, which designates cultural practitioners as “national treasures” and provides them with financial support and training opportunities. “This is important because when these master musicians pass away, their knowledge can disappear with them if no one has learned from them,” she warned.
Dr. Fadlu-Deen emphasized that every ethnic group in Sierra Leone has unique musical traditions, instruments, songs, and dances that deserve preservation. She expressed concern that insufficient national attention is being given to cultural heritage, cautioning that some traditions could be permanently lost if action is delayed.
She recalled a visit to Limba communities last year, supported by philanthropist Peter Bayuku Konteh, where she met cultural custodian Sheikah Mansaray. Mansaray expressed concern that few young people were interested in learning traditional practices—a situation Dr. Fadlu-Deen described as “deeply troubling.”
While acknowledging the popularity of modern genres such as Afrobeats and reggae, she argued that traditional and contemporary music can coexist. “The younger generation needs to recognize the value of these traditions and understand that preserving them does not mean rejecting modern music. The two can coexist and enrich one another,” she said.
She highlighted the contributions of cultural practitioners such as Dr. Kposowai, whom she described as a “cultural treasure,” and urged that more master artists across Sierra Leone be documented and celebrated.
At BAMPA, traditional music remains central to instruction, with practitioners like Abdul Bunduka and Jeremiah Mattia teaching students through apprenticeship-style learning. The Academy also incorporates traditional music and dance into concerts and community outreach programmes, working with schools such as Thomas Peters School, Regent Square School, and Butler Street Infant School to expose young people to cultural practices.
Dr. Fadlu-Deen compared culture to the roots of a tree: “A tree cannot survive without its roots, and a nation cannot flourish if it abandons the cultural foundations upon which it was built.”
A lifelong advocate for music education and cultural preservation, she continues to urge Sierra Leoneans to recognize, support, and celebrate traditional musicians whose artistry remains essential to the nation’s identity.