Original photo by Ridhima H Hegde

Sierra Leone turns 55 today. To celebrate, our friend Bajah of Bajah + The Dry Eye Crew has a special message to share for Salone:

I want to wish Mama Salone and all the people of Sierra Leone a very happy Independence Day. We’ve been through a lot, from the war to Ebola, but thank god that we can celebrate Independence Day with no disaster. It’s a good thing. It’s a blessing. Sierra Leoneans we just need to continue to be courageous and keep the faith. One day we’ll get the right leader that’s going to make a change for each and every Sierra Leonean. We’ve been through the worst for a long time. But for today we just have to celebrate and keep showing love to Mama Salone, because we still believe Mama Salone is the Athens of Africa.

Happy Independence Day to all Sierra Leoneans.

"Sierra Leone, I love you / Sierra Leone is my home / And there’s no place like home"