Young Life in Freetown | Faith and Family

I'm Inyilla Borteh Karimata Conteh. I'm in my twenties and I'm preparing to do a mass communications degree at Fourah Bay College. Writing is something I have always enjoyed. As a Sierra Leonean, I have heard many stories. This is my Sierra Leonean story. 

 I was born in Bo district and relocated to Freetown when I was 5 years old. That was in 2002. I attended the Dele Preparatory School in Allen Town and then high school at the Holy Family Secondary School in Calaba Town, where I stay with my parents, kid sister, and a few cousins. My parents are Muslims and I grew up in an Islamic community. 

 I love the way my people practice Islam in our little corner, doing no harm. Peace is one thing that we value and maintain. 

 Growing up, my mum and dad would walk through the rooms by 6.00 a.m. each day, asking all of us to wake up and be ready for salat. I used to get annoyed and frown till the end of the prayer. I didn’t like waking up so early. Most times, I'd stay in my room pretending to pray but often I got caught. As time passed, I got used to waking up at six. I can't say I pray five times a day now but I try to do three prayers. 

 Ramadan is important a must for Muslims who are well and able to observe it. I love Ramadan because I get to fast and ask for forgiveness. When it's time to break my fast in the evenings, we gather at the mosque to pray. Food and drink are abundant with a better quality than other months. We learn the Qur'an in groups and you'll see the children cheerfully observing the month. My mother gives alms to the poor and she takes care of them till Ramadan returns. 

 When Eid comes, different Muslim groups gather in a field to offer praises to Allah. We share food and gifts with friends and family and congratulate one another on blessings earned. 

 Ali Morri Fula Masjid is the name of the mosque I'm a member of. It is in the Calaba Town community. I mostly attend the Friday prayers, where a lot of chapters in the Qur'an are narrated and simplified. We learn about Allah, the holy prophet Mohammed and other prophets. They also teach us values, respect, love, discipline hygiene, and everything pertaining to life.

 Over the holidays, I earned a little money and decided to help local centers in my community. I chose my mosque, the Ali Morri Fula Masjid, Masjid Khadija Mosque, and school, the Omar ibn Al-Khattab Islamic School, all in my little Calaba Town community.  The donations were small, but everyone appreciated the gifts.  

  For Young Life in Freetown, I'm Inyilla Conteh reporting.















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