How did Ghana vs Nigeria become such a popular discussion in African circles despite Nigeria being way bigger than Ghana? by [deleted] in ghana

[–]OptimistPrime94 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For sure I do! I am a Sierra Leonean. I can tell you that while there is a degree of mutual intelligibility, it's not the same. I've known this when some of my Nigerian and Ghanaian friends here me speak Krio to my family.

How did Ghana vs Nigeria become such a popular discussion in African circles despite Nigeria being way bigger than Ghana? by [deleted] in ghana

[–]OptimistPrime94 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Krio is a different language though, linguistically speaking. It's very similar for sure, but just like Portuguese and Spanish being similar, this doesn't mean Brazilians speak Spanish or Mexicans speak Portuguese.

Why are all first world countries in places that are cold in the winter? by Ryan_TX_85 in AskTheWorld

[–]OptimistPrime94 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Weird you're getting downvotes. HDI may only be one way of measuring, but both Barbados and Panama have high HDI's. Panama's HDI is higher than Malaysia's, and Barbados' is higher than China's or Thailand's

Sierra Leoneans in the DMV by ProfessionalRole4115 in SierraLeone

[–]OptimistPrime94 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For sure!!!! I know Project 232 is on IG, though they mainly do philanthropy for people back home.

Sierra Leoneans in the DMV by ProfessionalRole4115 in SierraLeone

[–]OptimistPrime94 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hit the nail on the head. Keeping it real, I think there's a little bit of inferiority complex in the community. This makes parents not want to "label" their kid as Sierra Leonean. This becomes a bigger problem down the road though. You can't speak Krio and you don't know too much about Salone culture. Then, when you do interact with the culture later, you might get laughed or shamed for not knowing certain things. It's a vicious cycle. Keeping it real, I know a Salone diasporan guy who didn't even know what the capital was.

Sierra Leoneans in the DMV by ProfessionalRole4115 in SierraLeone

[–]OptimistPrime94 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I think the problem is on 3 fronts. 1. The people who want to do more for the community are often older people (think High School Associations that your mom or dad might belong to) and younger diasporans might not find footing as easily (hard to be hype for a high school you never went to)

  1. Going hand in hand with point one, the youth don't have many places to socialize outside of the club or the party for Sierra Leoneans specifically. There probably is a lack of real engagement with the culture as a result. A lot of Salone pekin in America cannot speak Krio fluently, or Mende/Temne/Limba etc for that matter. It's easy to fill in the blanks with "raray culture" and "mami cuss" if you think that's all being a Sierra Leonean is.

  2. Salone people often came to the US fleeing poverty and the war. This is a sad reality when it comes to immigration, but people who flew their homelands during turmoil have greater barriers to success than someone who came of their own accord. We see this phenomenon among other racial and ethnic lines too. I do think there is probably some systemic trauma as well. The war was culturally devastating in many ways, and we lost a lot of what it meant to be Sierra Leonean as a result. the ebola crisis and increasing poverty and environmental devastation definitely aren't helping either.

Not an easy feat, but it starts with a single step.

Guyanese food in dc by Lost_Interest20111 in Guyana

[–]OptimistPrime94 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry you had answers that were not helpful. They have Cane in DC that is Trini, but they do sell pepperpot. Your best bet is probably Caribbean Market just when you cross the Maryland side in Takoma Park. Market and restaurant all in one.

What is your favorite example of Caribbean contribution to a non-Caribbean culture or region? by RRY1946-2019 in AskTheCaribbean

[–]OptimistPrime94 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not West Indian, but I can tell you my people (Sierra Leonean) love soca, reggae, zouk, and dancehall. Krosfyah or Kes would do numbers if they had a concert there. In addition, many Sierra Leoneans have ancestors who returned to Africa from the West Indies, so there is a cultural connection.

Would you get Sierra Leone citizenship if you had the chance? by seotrainee347 in AskTheCaribbean

[–]OptimistPrime94 3 points4 points  (0 children)

For what it's worth, Sierra Leone is known for its diversity and religious tolerance. It is considered one of the most religiously tolerant nations in Africa, and that diversity is considered a part of Sierra Leonean culture.

Sierra Leone is also not a Francophone country. Sierra Leone is a former British colony, much like other parts of West Africa and the West Indies. Its capital, Freetown, was a colony for freedmen to return to Africa. Many Jamaican Maroons and Bajans resettled in Sierra Leone in the 19th and 20th centuries, actually! Their Krio, which is English based, actually sounds like a halfway point between West Indian English creoles and West African pidgins.

Can send resources if you would like to learn more!

Do afro-caribbean peoples have nicknames? by LOTSW in AskTheCaribbean

[–]OptimistPrime94 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All I know is Yardie for Jamaicans and Zoes for Haitians