Theme: Light Dɔn Kam

TEDxWallaceJohnsonStreet will bring on stage 10 catalysts of change in Sierra Leone. Each of their talks will reflect refreshing, inspiring and spirited local ideas that speak to the essence of the event's theme. Our theme for this year is “Light Dɔn Kam!” for the reason that the phrase is closer to home in lingo and applicability. The talks at TEDxWJS will contribute to the idea of light as a symbol for enlightenment, education, and initiative. The aim is to positively trigger our audience for the common good and for them to cultivate the practice of thinking outside the box for sustainable lives individually and collectively.

Freetown City Hall
17 Wallace Johnson Street
Freetown, Western Area (Freetown), 2322
Sierra Leone

Abu Theodore M. Rogers

Student

Abu Theodore Rogers is a gamer, a technology and space travel enthusiast, a Formula 1 lover and prides himself in being the only Sierra Leonean resident whose name was sent to the red planet with the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. He is a student at the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology & interns as a Jr. Developer & Product Designer. His TEDx talk will be about career paths in Information Technology, highlighting the process and parties involved in bringing a product idea (software, application or web platform) to a finished product/market.

Alfred Akibo-Betts

Chartered Accountant + Tax Expert + CEO of The Betts Firm SL

Alfred Akibo-Betts is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Betts Firm. Alfred is a Chartered Accountant with a Master’s Degree in Taxation from the University of Pretoria and an alumnus of Harvard University, holding a Certificate in Comparative Tax Policy and Administration and a Public Leadership Credential. Alfred is an internationally renowned Tax Expert, with over eighteen years of experience, including working in senior positions at the National Revenue Authority and internationally for the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, African Tax Administration Forum and international consultancy firms.

Amos Simche Lansana Esq (Prodigy Sim)

Lawyer + Artiste

Amos Simche Lansana Esq is a Corporate Lawyer, Record Executive and the Chairman and Chief Executive of Simplay (SL) Limited, a full service entertainment company based in Sierra Leone. He received his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Sierra Leone in 2017 and was admitted to the Sierra Leone Law School in the same year. He was called to the Sierra Leone bar in 2018. Under the Alias Prodigy Sim, he has released two studio albums; Game Time in 2017 and Dormai in 2020; and has featured on many notable songs alongside popular Sierra Leonean artists. He aims to inspire young creatives to maintain their academic pursuits without sacrificing their passions in the creative sphere.

Ariana Oluwole

Educator

Ariana Oluwole is a changemaker who believes in the power of holistic education as a tool for nation building and development. She refers to herself as an edupreneur and is intentional about inspiring and working with professionals in honing their innate skills and talents to produce great outcomes. She has worked on numerous projects in the areas of transformational coaching, training and development. Her work has been featured on Guardian Nigeria, Africa X- Project, BBC -focus on Africa and in July 2021: CNN- African Voices for a Change Maker special feature. Ariana is a storyteller who is passionate about uplifting others, transforming people and careers through her lifestyle blog : www.arianadiaries.com

Charlie Haffner

Theater Artist

Charlie Haffner is Sierra Leone’s foremost Theatre Artist. Haffner is a playwright, song writer, oral historian, tutor, actor, composer, publisher, founder, proprietor and Director General of Sierra Leone’s award-winning performance troupe the ‘’Freetong Players’’. As a playwright and traditional communicator, he has worked extensively to use drama as a tool for development, education, entertainment and Peace to advance Sierra Leone’s post-war reconciliation. Haffner is also the founder of ‘’Tangains’ festival, spanning 25 years. Charlie Haffner is the winner of several national and international life achievements awards, most notably, the Commonwealth Africa Initiative Award for outstanding Contribution to Art and Media (March 2017), World Master in Arts and Cultural awarded by the World Masters Committee of South Korea. (July 2019) and Sierra Leone highest National Award “Officer of the Order of the Rokel (OOR) April 2021

Cheukai Makari

Student

Cheukai Makari is a 4th-year undergraduate student at the University of California, Berkeley pursuing a dual degree in International Business and Global Sustainable Development in West Africa. Makari has professional and research experience with the Center for Effective Global Action. Cheukai seizes every opportunity to explore places with large African/Black populations for insight into her career pursuit of promoting national self-sufficiency and sustainable economic growth development. In her TEDxWallaceJohnsonStreet talk, Makari will shine a light on how Sierra Leone can achieve self-sufficiency and economic growth and the role that our youth can play in this journey towards self-sufficiency.

Eleanor Thompson

Lawyer + Policy Advocate

Eleanor Thompson is a lawyer and policy advocate who is passionate about innovations that drive solutions to social justice problems. She currently works with Namati Sierra Leone to help communities know, use and shape laws to protect their land rights and environment. She is also a private legal practitioner with GPKLegal. Eleanor works with and for girls and young women, creating opportunities for them to be empowered and inspired to achieve their goals. She is the Chair of the Board of She Can.We Can., a non-profit organisation that seeks to cultivate young, innovative female leaders in Sierra Leone. Thompson is also passionate about promoting females in sports. She is the manager of the Luawa Angels Football Club.

Fatu Forna

Obstetrician-Gynecologist + Writer + Co-Executive Director of The Mama-Pikin Foundation

Dr. Fatu Forna is an obstetrician-gynecologist, writer, and Co-Executive Director of The Mama-Pikin Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to improve the health of women and children in Sierra Leone. She received her undergraduate degree from Florida A&M University, and her medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine. The title of Dr. Forna’s talk is “Bring light to the world.” Forna aims to motivate young Sierra Leoneans and let them know that they have the unique skills and perspective to bring light to the world.

Haja Isatu Bah

Environmental Activist

Haja Isatu Bah graduated from Skidmore College with a BA in Environmental Studies. She is a current fellow with the El-Koony Center in Kenya through the Princeton in Africa Fellowship. Haja is passionate about the environment and issues affecting women. She is the founder of Uman4Uman, a social enterprise that produces and sells reusable sanitary pads for girls and women in Sierra Leone.

Muriel Samuels

Food, Nutrition, and Health Strategist

Muriel is a Health and Nutrition Strategist using art and media to inform and inspire populations about public health practices that improve their quality of life. She works with organizations to create healthier, vibrant communities.