Barmmy Boy and Freetown Media Centre
Many of the photographs and short films from Sierra Leone, which feature on our website, are produced by Barmmy Boy (Lansana Mansaray) who has been working with the Freetwon Society for many years.
In 2009 the Freetown Media Centre (also known as WeOwnTV Media Center) opened, with the support of the WeOwnTV programme which was founded by American filmmaker Banker White.
Today, the Freetown Media Centre, led by Sierra Leonean media makers Arthur V. A. Pratt and Lansana ‘Barmmy Boy’ Mansaray is one of the most respected professional filmmaking collectives in Sierra Leone.
The vision of the Freetown Media Centre is to contribute to the advancement of creative arts and digital media in Sierra Leone and the world at large and to continue to lead in the promotion of storytelling and self-expression. They promote freedom of expression through the development of digital media, using community engagement, education and capacity-building programs. Their goal is to ensure that Sierra Leone in particular and Africa generally takes it rightful position in the world stage of creative entrepreneurship and digital media production. They conduct filmmaking workshops for all areas of filmmaking and also train human rights campaigners on how to use video and conduct human right campaigns on video and radio. They are involved in all aspects of performing arts and provide professional services to support these. Through their work they support other filmmakers, musicians, artists and journalists through media education, mentorship and promotion.
As a result of their continuing partnership with WeOwnTV they have launched “The WeOwnTV Filmmaker Fellowship”, a regional film fund and professional development programme which supports the production of independent documentaries directed by Guinean, Sierra Leonean and Liberian filmmakers.
