By Joseph Momoh, Reporter, D.S.
The 2025 Salone Civic Festival officially kicks off today, organized by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education. This three-day event is set to foster civic awareness, promote national dialogue, engage youth, and celebrate cultural expression.
Running from December 11 to December 13, the festival’s agenda features a wide range of activities, including town halls, plenary sessions, educational workshops, and public performances.
The festival begins today with a Civic Awareness March Pass scheduled from 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM, followed by the Feed Salone Civic Townhall from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM. In addition, side events such as a Civic Hackathon and a Higher Education Training session in collaboration with Columbia University will take place from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. The official opening ceremony is set for 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, highlighting a keynote address by H.E. President Julius Maada Bio.
After a booth inspection from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, the day’s activities will conclude with a Salone Civic Movie Night from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Day Two of the festival will commence with an Opening Plenary led by Chief Minister Dr. Sengeh, followed by a civic town hall focusing on data trends and youth empowerment from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Following a lunch break, a Human Capital Development Townhall will occur from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. An important side event on Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) with UNFPA is also scheduled from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM, alongside the Inter-School Quiz and Debate Final. The day will wrap up with a Youth Creative Night from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
The festival’s final day, December 13, promises a major civic town hall addressing the new constitution, census, and localities from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. This will be followed by a UNESCO-supported side event titled “Learning from Violent Past.” The Closing Plenary, led by Hon. Vice President Dr. Juldeh Jalloh, will tackle issues surrounding the national economy and productive sectors from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, concluding with a Peace and Unity Concert featuring top national and regional artists from 7:30 PM to 11:30 PM.
Throughout the festival, booths and exhibitions will be accessible daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
In a related development, Minister of Information Chernor Bah has successfully mediated a scheduling conflict between the country’s Peace Ambassador, Alhaji Amadu Bah (Boss LA), and Entertainment Ambassador, Amara Denis Turay (Kao Denero). The festival coincides with Kao Denero’s launch of his new album, “All Game Final,” on December 13.
Minister Bah reassured the public of the government’s impartiality towards both ambassadors, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peaceful relations. To resolve the conflict, a video call was facilitated between the artists, resulting in an agreement for Kao Denero to make a special appearance at the festival on December 12. This arrangement allows him to proceed with his own album launch on December 13. In a symbolic gesture of unity, the two ambassadors are also collaborating on a peace anthem to promote harmony within the entertainment sector.
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