Memories of Freetown: A Day Trip to Makeni
Early one morning, we headed upline—to visit family in Makeni.
The drive was long, taking us out of the city and into the Northern Province.
We left around 7 a.m., early enough to miss most of the traffic.
It was hot, but the air moved.
The sky was mostly clear.
As we drove through town, the day was already unfolding.
Along the beach, people were out running together—
men and women moving at the same pace,
encouraging one another.
It felt casual, familiar, like a local run club.
In the streets, people wore Ankara,
heading somewhere important.
Market sellers opened for the day,
laying out dried fish, beads, palm oil, produce.
Everything in its place, one piece at a time.
By afternoon, we returned, around 4 p.m.
The drive back felt shorter.
We stopped near the beach to eat.
The air was still warm.
Food vendors lined the road:
grilled fish, attiéké,
keke weaving between lanes.
Suya sizzled over coal, wrapped in newspaper,
its smoky scent drifting along the street.
Cassava bread with fish,
served with onions sautéed with peppers.
By the beach, people ran again—
men, women, children—
calling out to each other as they passed.
Nearby, boys played soccer.
Down the road, people queued at Gigi Bonta
for ice cream by the water.
The city moved steadily,
from morning into evening.
(Based on a true story: Freetown → Makeni, 2022)
The Kushé Journal explores culture, place, and design across Africa and its diaspora.
Ann, Josephine. Memories of Freetown: A Day Trip to Makeni. Visualized by Kushe Designs, 2026.
© Kushé Designs — Culture in every detail.
