The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs has officially unveiled the logo for the One Nation Reggae Festival, confirming the government’s readiness to stage the weeklong celebration of music, culture and diaspora ties from 25 to 30 November 2025. The logo reveal, presented at a formal event attended by senior ministry officials and cultural stakeholders, precedes a programme structured to fuse Sierra Leonean and Caribbean cultural expressions under the festival theme, “Shared roots, Shared rhythm, One Love One Vibe.”
Permanent Secretary Judith C. Jones framed the festival as a marker of unity and national identity, noting the event’s role in showcasing Sierra Leone’s cultural heritage to a wider audience while elevating the country’s profile as a peaceful destination. The Permanent Secretary emphasised that the visual identity is part of wider preparations by the Ministry and its agencies to host an inclusive cultural movement that advances tourism and community engagement.
Unveiling the logo, Hon. Nabeela Farida Tunis described the moment as more than a visual launch, she said the logo “symbolises unity, identity and shared heritage between Sierra Leone and the Caribbean,” adding that the festival will be a platform for artists, dancers, designers and chefs to “express their truth and creativity with pride.” In her remarks, the Minister underscored the festival’s diplomatic and commercial potential, stating the event positions Sierra Leone as a welcoming hub for cultural exchange, connection and investment.
Director-level officials from the Ministry, including Mohamed Jalloh, Director of Tourism and Exchange Programmes, and Foday Jalloh, Director of Culture, Creativity and Innovation, highlighted the festival’s distinct purpose, they emphasised its role in connecting Sierra Leone to Africa and the Caribbean through common musical and cultural threads. The event team said preparations will prioritise safety, inclusivity and measurable community benefit.
The One Nation Reggae Festival is presented as a two-phase engagement, beginning with a pre-festival teaser and launch party in early November to build national awareness, followed by the main festival week from 25 to 30 November. The main programme will combine headline concerts, cultural showcases, craft markets and culinary experiences designed to foreground Sierra Leonean and Caribbean artistry.
Organisers confirmed a lineup that brings international and local acts to Freetown, the programme will feature performances that include both marquee names and emerging talent. The Minister named internationally acclaimed reggae artists Sizzla Kalonji and Christopher Martin as part of the bill, and the festival factsheet lists additional performers across the programme. The festival’s repositioning as “Sierra Leone’s Grand Homecoming” frames the event as a cultural bridge aligning reggae, Bubu and Maringa rhythms with a national drive to strengthen diaspora ties.
The One Nation Reggae Festival follows a successful preview activation on 1 August 2025 at Family Kingdom along Aberdeen Beach Road, an event organised under the Ministry’s “2025 Year of Ecotourism” initiative in partnership with Olive’s Garden and Reggae Union Sierra Leone. That preview brought together local audiences, diaspora visitors and international guests, and featured performances that illustrated the festival’s cultural and commercial ambitions.
Nabeela Tunis, Sierra Leone Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs
Officials said the festival is intended not only to entertain but to contribute to tourism-led economic strategies, it will be integrated into broader efforts to generate jobs, support small businesses and create pathways for creative entrepreneurs. The Ministry signalled plans for inter-agency collaboration and private-sector partnerships to ensure logistics, crowd safety and vendor inclusion are managed in a way that spreads benefits beyond the capital.
As preparations advance, the Ministry has indicated that the festival will target visitors from across Africa and the diaspora, and that programming will be accompanied by promotional activity aimed at converting cultural interest into visits and investment. The One Nation Reggae Festival, organisers say, is a strategic component of Sierra Leone’s cultural diplomacy, intended to deepen cultural connections while supporting the country’s tourism objectives.
One Love, One Vibe, shared roots and shared rhythm remain the central message of the festival’s newly revealed identity; the logo is designed to embody that visual and symbolic commitment to unity, creativity and cultural exchange.
