MAMA SALONE ~ Lioness of the West Coast

Dear Mr. Minister:

You started a recent post, in response to Sierra Leoneans who condemned the St. Joseph’s Girls twerking video with the expression: “There are certain things I believe in with my core-one of them is Freedom and the other is Education for all.” You went on to say that it is these core beliefs that led you to work with Youssou Ndour and other artists to produce the “Raise Your Hand,” video, which you shared in your post.

I share these core beliefs with you, as I am sure most Sierra Leoneans do. Also, as a woman born and raised in Sierra Leone, who experienced education marginalization, I, along with most Salone women and men, have been raising our hands for education, especially girls’ education, for decades. Therefore, in the interest of our shared core principles of Freedom and Education, I write in response to your post in which you chastised Sierra Leoneans who condemned the twerking girls on video at the St. Joseph’s Convent School in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

In your post, you stated that you were responding to people who condemned the girls for engaging in twerking while in a place that appears to be their classroom and during school hours. You further stated that critics have called for the girls to be expelled or suspended, to which you added “no, they weren’t expelled, nor will they be suspended.” Of course, I would not call for the girls to be expelled nor suspended; however, you could have reported this fact to the public in a more informative way, without making it sound so condescending toward Sierra Leoneans who disagree with you, given the public office you are currently occupying.

You also said “Girls must be girls. Children must be children.Do not talk about children’s body parts. Do not sexualize the play of children. Do not make a big deal out of children dancing and yes twerking in school (an all girls school, in their classroom, on their lunch break.)” 

As a mother, I remember when my kids were little and would engage in behavior I did not approve, especially in public; I would first say to him or her, ‘cut it out!’ If the child persisted, I would say, ‘Do not…’ And that would be immediately received by the child as a serious command from Mommy, which had consequences if not obeyed. Mr. Minister, I use this example to call your attention to our mutual principle, “Freedom.”

Why would you start any response to the Sierra Leonean adult public with the words “Do not?” Do Sierra Leoneans have the “freedom” to express how they feel about seeing schoolgirls engaging in twerking in their classrooms? Are you standing on your platform of power as a government minister to silence Sierra Leoneans who do not share your views on the publicly displayed sexually expressive dancing of our schoolgirls? I have no doubt that you hold “Freedom” as a core belief, as you freely express how you feel in your post. But I am a little concerned about you giving us the impression that other Sierra Leoneans do not have the same freedom to express how they feel.

Before I continue, here is the definition of twerking from Oxford Languages:

Twerking: Dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance.

Yes, the St. Joseph’s Girls got twerking to a T!

They were dancing in such a sexually provocative manner that left nothing to the imagination, in front of a video camera. So, when you say to Sierra Leoneans who condemn this, “Do not sexualize the play of children,” are you saying that it is the Sierra Leonean critics who are sexualizing the girls’ dancing moves? You would be wrong if that is your assertion. It is the girls whose dancing is entertaining to viewers who enjoy watching sexually expressive dancing of girl children; that is the problem Sierra Leonean critics are trying to point out in their condemnations.

Mr. Minister, twerking is not “…play of children” as you put it. In a country like Sierra Leone, where rape of girls is rampant and unabated, girls cannot afford to adopt sexually provocative dance as their chosen dance form to record and share on social media. Yes, girls have a right to self-expression, but they also need adult guidance as to how they can safely express themselves in creative ways, without attracting the wrong attention. Twerking is a form of dance that could inadvertently promote the very problem that is plaguing our girls and keeping women in their chronically marginalized status in Sierra Leone.

As the minister of education, who is fully aware of the fact that girls in Sierra Leone continue to lag behind boys in completing secondary school and in attaining higher education, due primarily to adolescent pregnancy and early marriage, you should understand why Sierra Leoneans would feel so strongly about girls engaging in behavior that could jeopardize their chances of attaining their highest educational potential.

You mentioned in your post that the girls in the video were in their final year of secondary school. Are Sierra Leoneans wrong to feel that these senior girls are setting the wrong example for the girls behind them? You also said that you were “tremendously proud of the leadership of St Joseph’s convent.” Is this your way of telling us that you influenced the decision of the school’s leadership on this issue? So, you are proud of them because they agreed with you, but you are saying “Do Not…” to those who do not agree with you, and you accused critics of cyber bullying the girls.

Mr. Minister, your response and reaction to Sierra Leonean critics, as previously pointed out, could be construed as a form of cyber bullying. You are a person in a position of power in government, therefore, responding to the reaction of ordinary folks who do not agree with you should not begin with “Do not…,” which does not spell “Freedom.”

Of course, I personally, would not ask for the girls to be expelled or suspended, regardless of whether they were in their junior or final year in school. Yes, St. Joseph took the right steps to offer counseling and speak to the parents. However, since this was out there in the public domain, Sierra Leoneans in the public domain should have the “Freedom” to react also, because they too wish the girls success in achieving their educational goals. As such, seeing them engaged in behavior that could be detrimental to their success in some ways, is troubling and must be called out.

I find your concluding remarks as a threat or warning, given that Sierra Leone now has a cyber law. and your remarks are also contradictory to your stance in this issue. You said,  

“It brings a few things to my attention- how we create and share digital content. Did those girls consent on sharing their videos? When you share and make sexual innuendos, do you know you are contributing to the gender-based violence?”

So, the girls who twerked, and were obviously twerking FOR the video camera, meant for social media, were, in your view, engaging in child’s play. But people who share that video, are breaking the law and “…are contributing to the gender-based violence?” This could be interpreted as your way of silencing Sierra Leoneans who do not agree with your views. Do you see why you should be careful what you say or write while holding a position of power?

Then you pose a very disturbing question to Sierra Leoneans who disagree with your views “… what did you dream last night to have so much hate in you for children?” Are we still talking about citizens condemning a bunch of schoolgirls dancing in a sexually provocative manner in front of their classroom? Why is it “hate” when Sierra Leoneans exercise their freedom to express distaste for girls behaving in this manner?

Most Sierra Leoneans may not hold government minister positions, but they passionately want to see girls self-expressing in creative ways, especially in ways that reinforce girls’ self-development and enhance their chances to succeed in attaining their highest educational and professional potential. Sierra Leoneans do not criticize because they hate any of those girls, in fact, they criticize out of love. I know I would not want to see any of my daughters twerking in front of their classroom to entertain sick minded sexual predators out there.

By the way, I watched the video you shared, and twerking was definitely NOT one of the dance forms included in it. I’m sure it would have been rejected had anyone suggested twerking to be part of it.

Mr. Minister, when you are in a position of power and influence, you must be cautious in exercising your “Freedom,” to admonish the public for exercising their “freedom” to express their views about issues in our society.

As a government minister, you are like a person running while holding a pair of scissors. Be careful!