Bringing Villagers' Voices to Life: Stories from Sierra Leone

Nancy Edwards and Dauda Mansaray with Bringing Villagers' Voices to Life: Stories from Sierra Leone

Sunday, January 12, 2025, 2:00 pm ET | Blackbox Studio, Arts Court and On Demand

Two storytellers weave together their experiences of rural life in Sierra Leone, West Africa, giving voice to villagers. They engage audiences through narrative, spoken word poetry, and song; sharing complementary yet contrasting perspectives on village life from Sierra Leone’s post-independence and civil war periods. Compelling and powerful stories reveal the ancestral roots of knowledge and oral traditions; the strengths of family, community, and social connections; the hardships of poverty and child labour; and the trauma and injustice of civil war. Vivid and heartfelt stories are sprinkled with hopefulness and humour. Their insider and outsider cultural perspectives intersect as they share the bonds of our common humanity, and reconcile their cultural dislocation from Sierra Leone, a country they both love.

About the Storytellers:

Nancy Edwards is a public health nurse, researcher, and grandmother from Ottawa, Canada. She has received three honorary doctoral degrees and is Professor Emerita, University of Ottawa. Her story-telling inspiration comes from years immersed in cultures with strong oral traditions including five years living and working in Sierra Leone. In 2022, she self-published a memoir about her public health experiences in that country. Nancy has now written, directed, and performed a story-telling play "Rethinking Good Intentions", which is largely based on her memoir. She performed this show at five Fringe Festivals during the summer of 2024.

Dauda Mansaray is a poet, storyteller, and emerging musician from Sierra Leone, whose artistry is deeply influenced by his experiences during the country's civil war. Born and raised amidst conflict, Dauda's poetry reflects the resilience and spirit of his people, offering a voice to those silenced by political corruption and violence. Infusing his poems and songs with the storytelling tradition of the Mende people, he transports audiences to the heart of Sierra Leone, where resilience in the face of adversity has been the hallmark of generations.

On Demand Ticket Holders
The show is not live-streamed. Bringing villagers' voices to life: Stories from Sierra Leone will be recorded and made available on YouTube starting Monday, January 13. Ticket holders will be able to enjoy the performance for one week. This allows you to watch (or re-watch) the event at your leisure! A link to the recording will be sent to on demand ticket holders on Monday, January 13.