By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Kambia, January 9, 2026: Radio Bankhi-Solofaray FM 93.7, the community radio station of Bramaia Chiefdom in northern Sierra Leone, has been completely destroyed by fire, sparking urgent appeals for support from government, humanitarian organizations, and NGOs.
The blaze consumed the station’s building and equipment, including broadcasting materials and office supplies, leaving the chiefdom without its primary source of information. Widely regarded as one of the most trusted platforms for news, education, and community development, the loss has sent shockwaves across the community.
Station Manager Abu Bakar Conteh said the cause of the fire remains unknown but is believed to have started in or near the station before quickly engulfing the building. “We are devastated. This radio has been very important to our community and beyond. Now it has been completely destroyed. The station was our primary source of information, and we urgently need support to rebuild it,” he said.
Radio Bankhi-Solofaray FM, the first-ever radio station in Bramaia Chiefdom, was launched on December 20, 2024, in Kukuna Town. Its name, meaning “seven houses”, symbolizes the town’s shared ancestry. Known as “The Voice of Bramaia,” the station was established to promote unity, cultural expression, talent development, and community progress.
Conteh explained that the station was created through the efforts of the Catholic mission led by Father Franco, who responded to the community’s request for a radio station to help foster peace-building and nation-building.
The station’s board chairman, PC Kandeh Momoh Samba Sulaiman DE-Phoreh II, a former journalist and representative of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) in the northern region, has joined calls for urgent assistance.
Local residents have also appealed for support. Mahamed Kamara, a community member, said: “This radio station has served as a bridge for development, bringing people together and highlighting local achievements and concerns. We are asking for help to restore it.”
Despite the devastation, the people of Bramaia remain hopeful that Radio Bankhi-Solofaray FM will be rebuilt, restoring the vital voice that has long connected and empowered the chiefdom.