Freetown, Sierra Leone | One Nation Reggae Festival Identity, a Special Event to Enhance the Cultural Ties between Africa and the Caribbean

Freetown, the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a major port on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country will host from 25th to 30th November 2025 the One National Reggae Festival, a special event which aims to enhance the cultural ties between Africa and the Caribbean.  

Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs has unveiled the logo for the festival, confirming the preparations for a weeklong programme in the capital of the West African country framed under the theme “Shared roots, Shared rhythm, One Love, One Vibe”.

The event aims to showcase Sierra Leonean and Caribbean culture while deepening diaspora ties with protagonist Reggae music, renowned and successful Jamaican music genre which uses cross - rhythmic patterns with African origin, found in the use of syncopation, drums and bongos used in combination with other percussion instruments like cowbells and shakers to create complex rhythms, mirroring African drumming tradition. 

These connections in music between Africa and the Caribbean are also reinforced through the influence of the Rastafari movement, which emphasizes African consciousness, identity, and the concept of returning to Africa that emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s, with core beliefs centred on the divinity of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I. 

The ministry named internationally acclaimed artists like Miguel Orlando Collins, known by his stage name Sizzla Kalonji or Sizzla, a Jamaican reggae musician considered one of the most critically successful contemporary reggae artists, and Cristoper Oteng Martin, a well known  reggae/dancehall singer and songwriter from St. Catherine, Jamaica, among the headliners.

Organizers said that the programme will feature headline concerts, cultural showcases, craft markets and culinary events. Officials emphasised safety, inclusivity, and measurable community benefits, positioning the festival within the government’s 2025 Year of Ecotourism drive. 

Following a preview activation in August, the festival is expected to stimulate visitor demand, support small businesses and strength Sierra Leone’s profile as a welcoming hub for cultural exchange.

Link 
https://atta.travel/resource/sierra-leone-unveils-one-nation-reggae-festival-identity.html