Sierra Leone Adult Education Association-SLADEA

11/07/2025

🎬 Are you an emerging African woman filmmaker aged 21–35?

Apply now for the UNESCO/Tamayouz Cinema Foundation Residency – a fully funded, 6-week creative journey in ! 🇲🇦

🗓️ Residency Dates: 15 Sept – 27 Oct 2025
📍 Location: Rabat & Marrakech

🎥 Highlights:
• Work with acclaimed directors
• Create your own short film
• All expenses covered
• Connect with filmmakers across Africa

⏰ : 31 July 2025

📌 Learn more & apply: https://www.unesco.org/creativity/en/articles/apply-now-unesco/tamayouz-cinema-foundation-residency-young-women-african-filmmakers

Matamba Film Labs For Women WOMEN IN FILM & TELEVISION Women In Film African Women First African Women's Development Fund Nisha निशा International Film Makers Associated - IFMA Film Maker

07/07/2025

The project MOVING BEYOND will bring together twenty film-makers and aspiring
film-makers.
If you are interested in being part of the MOVING BEYOND project as a film trainee,
Pick up a form at: SLADEA Secretariat, Adult Education House, 90 Sanders Street, Freetown
then please fill in the application form and
Drop a copy to: Madam Beatrice Sesay at the same address above.
Contact: Madam Beatrice Sesay, +232 76 794166
Or send a soft copy to [email protected]

Application Closes on Monday, July 14, 2025. 12 Mid-day, at the latest.

21/03/2025

07/03/2025

SLADEA Hosts Successful 2-Day Acting Training with Adetokumboh M’Cormack

The Sierra Leone Adult Education Association (SLADEA) recently conducted its first-ever acting training since launching its film training program in 2015. The two-day event, held on the 5th and 6th of March 2025 at 29 Jones Street, was led by renowned Sierra Leonean-American actor Adetokumboh M’Cormack. The training provided participants with a solid foundation in both stage and voice acting.

The first day of training focused on the fundamentals of acting, starting with essential voice and speech warm-up exercises. These exercises helped participants improve their vocal projection, clarity, and emotional expression. The session then progressed into core acting concepts, emphasizing the importance of stakes in performance. Participants explored key questions such as their character’s identity, motivations, objectives, and relationships, culminating in live performances where they applied their newfound knowledge.

On the second day, participants revisited their voice and speech exercises before diving into the world of voice acting. Each participant was assigned a specific character to portray, allowing them to experiment with different vocal tones and expressions. This session introduced them to the skills required for voice-over work in animation, radio drama, and dubbing, broadening their understanding of acting as a versatile craft.

The workshop was met with enthusiasm from all participants, who appreciated the interactive and immersive learning experience. Coach Adetokumboh M’Cormack’s expertise and hands-on approach significantly contributed to the success of the training. This milestone marks an important step for SLADEA as it continues to expand its efforts in fostering a thriving film and acting industry in Sierra Leone.

Given the success of this inaugural acting class, SLADEA is encouraged to build upon this momentum by establishing a structured schedule for acting workshops to provide ongoing skill development, expanding future sessions to include improvisation, method acting, and emotional depth exercises, offering participants opportunities to showcase their skills in short films or theatrical performances, allowing more time for in-depth exploration of acting disciplines, connecting participants with industry opportunities both locally and internationally and also to cascade this initiative to other regions in Sierra Leone.

By implementing these initiatives, SLADEA can further solidify its role in shaping the future of acting and film in Sierra Leone, nurturing a new generation of talented actors ready for both local and global stages.

This is a project by The Sierra Leone Adult Education Association (SLADEA), Loma Mansa Productions, German Embassy Freetown, Sierra Leone and Weltfilme.org
,SierraLeone

05/03/2025

🌟 Day 1 of the SLADEA Acting Class with Adetokumboh M’Cormack!🌟

The Sierra Leone Adult Education Association (SLADEA) is thrilled to kick off our 2-Day Acting Class today, led by the talented Adetokumboh M’Cormack a renowned Sierra Leonean-American actor celebrated for his work in film and television! 🎬

The training is an initiative of SLADEA, German Embassy Freetown, Sierra Leone, Loma Mansa Productions and Weltfilme.org.

04/03/2025

🎦 Meet Mohamed Alarini Bah!
Mohamed Alarini Bah is a filmmaker from Sierra Leone. Mohamed Alarini Bah is a trainer for documentary films and also part of Media for Peace (M4P).
Learn more about his passion for film and the filmmaking process in this Spotlight Series!

How does/did Weltfilme support you? What part did Weltfilme play in your journey? Weltfilme has been invaluable in my journey as a filmmaker since 2015 as I am part of the first cohort in Sierra Leone. Their support has provided me with both practical resources and moral encouragement. They’ve given me the tools to refine my craft, the platform to share my work, and a network of like-minded individuals who inspire me daily. Working with them has deepened my understanding of global storytelling and broadened my vision as an artist. Their role in my career has been transformative, and I’m deeply grateful for their partnership.

What is on your mind at the moment? What worries you? At this moment, I’m thinking about the changing landscape of film and the increasing difficulty for smaller, independent voices to break through, especially for filmmakers in Sierra Leone. I worry that, as audiences grow accustomed to quick, consumable content, the demand for deeper, more nuanced storytelling might fade. Yet, this challenge also motivates me to continue creating, to hold onto the importance of authenticity, and to trust that there’s always an audience out there for meaningful films.

01/03/2025

Adetokumboh “Ade” M'Cormack is an award-winning actor and filmmaker originally from Sierra Leone and lived in Nigeria and Kenya before moving to the United States. He graduated magna cm laude with a BFA in Acting from the Conservatory of Theatre Arts & Film at SUNY Purchase. His acting credits include the Oscar-nominated film Blood Diamond, Battle: Los Angeles, and Captain America: Winter Soldier. M’Cormack voices “Isaac” in the hit Netflix animated series Castlevania for which he received two Voice Arts Award Nominations. He also won the Best Actor Award at The Oregon Cinema Arts Film Festival for his portrayal of Henry “Box” Brown, in the film Boxed. M’Cormack has also starred in The Chosen, Blood of Zeus, NCIS, Lost, 24, Gilmore Girls, and Heroes.

21/02/2025

Yesterday SLADEA was invited by the German Embassy Freetown, Sierra Leone Ambassador to give a talk on “The Role of Media and Cultural Memory in Adult Education” after the screening of The German King directed by Adetokumboh M’Cormack a Sierra Leonean - American actor.

Insights from SLADEA

The Sierra Leone Adult Education Association (SLADEA) has been a pioneer in adult education since 1978. In 2015, SLADEA expanded its efforts by training filmmakers to create films addressing social issues. This initiative highlights the importance of media and cultural memory in adult education, offering valuable lessons for sustainable and impactful learning.

Media, particularly film, is a powerful and accessible medium that transcends literacy and language barriers. It uses visual storytelling to communicate complex social issues in an engaging way, making it ideal for adult learners. Films can raise awareness about critical topics like health, gender equality, and human rights, fostering critical thinking and discussion. SLADEA’s use of filmmaking aligns with this approach, enabling communities to address pressing social challenges.

Cultural memory, the shared knowledge, traditions, and experiences of a community plays a crucial role in adult education. By incorporating cultural memory, learning becomes more relevant and meaningful to learners. It also helps preserve local heritage, which is especially important in post-colonial contexts like Sierra Leone. Valuing cultural memory empowers learners, fostering pride and motivation to engage in lifelong learning and community development.

Media reflects the realities of a community, amplifying marginalized voices and fostering empathy. It serves as a catalyst for dialogue, encouraging collective action on social issues. Additionally, media documents cultural and social transformations, creating a historical record for future generations. This dual role of media and cultural memory supports SLADEA’s mission to promote active citizenship and social responsibility.

SLADEA’s initiative to train filmmakers demonstrates how media and cultural memory can be integrated into adult education. By addressing social issues through film and preserving cultural heritage, SLADEA not only educates adults but also contributes to long-term cultural and social development.

Media and cultural memory are essential elements of adult education. They make learning accessible, relevant, and empowering while serving as tools for social change. SLADEA’s innovative approach exemplifies how these elements can be harnessed to create impactful and sustainable adult education programs, fostering both individual and community growth.

18/02/2025

EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH STORYTELLING
In a significant step toward empowering women in the creative arts, the Sierra Leone Adult Education Association (SLADEA) successfully conducted a five-day training program for ten women in writing, directing, and producing for both fiction and nonfiction. The training, held from February 10th to 14th, 2025, at 29 Jones Street, Freetown, aimed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the world of storytelling and media production.
The program, designed to foster creativity and technical expertise, brought together women from diverse backgrounds, each with a passion for storytelling and a desire to amplify their voices through film and literature. Over the course of the training, participants engaged in hands-on workshops, interactive sessions, and collaborative projects, guided by experienced facilitators in the fields of writing, directing, and production.
The training curriculum was carefully crafted to address the unique challenges faced by women in the creative industries. Participants learned the fundamentals of scriptwriting, character development, and narrative structure, gaining the tools to craft compelling stories that resonate with audiences. In addition, the program emphasized the technical aspects of directing and producing, including camera work, editing, and project management.
For many of the participants, the training was more than just a learning experience—it was a transformative journey. By providing a safe and supportive environment, SLADEA empowered these women to overcome societal barriers and embrace their roles as storytellers and creators. The program also emphasized the importance of representation, encouraging participants to tell stories that reflect their experiences and perspectives as Sierra Leonean women.
“This training has given me the confidence to pursue my dream of becoming a filmmaker,” said by Aminata Kabba. “I now have the skills and the belief that my voice matters, and I can’t wait to share my stories with the world.”
The SLADEA training program is part of a broader effort to promote gender equality in Sierra Leone’s creative industries. By equipping women with the skills to succeed in writing, directing, and producing, the initiative seeks to challenge traditional gender roles and create opportunities for women to thrive in fields that have historically been male-dominated.
The success of the program has already sparked interest in expanding similar initiatives across the country. SLADEA plans to continue its efforts to support women in the arts, with future training programs and mentorship opportunities in the pipeline.
As the training concluded on February 14th, the ten women left with not only new skills but also a sense of camaraderie and a shared vision for the future. Their stories, once confined to the margins, are now poised to take center stage, inspiring others and contributing to a more inclusive and diverse creative landscape in Sierra Leone.
The SLADEA training program, stands as a testament to the power of education and the transformative potential of storytelling. By investing in women’s creativity, Sierra Leone is taking a bold step toward a future where every voice is heard, and every story has the chance to shine.

17/02/2025

Loma Mansa Productions, the German Africa Foundation, the Ministry of Information and Civic Education of Sierra Leone, and Sierra Leone’s Adult Education Association we proudly present:
THE GERMAN KING �- a special black history month movie night -
Date and time: February 20, 6.30-8pm�Location: Residence of the German Ambassador Freetown
Join us to watch this award-winning movie by Sierra Leonean filmmaker and actor Adetokumboh M'Cormack, meet and discuss with experts on media, history, and cultural memories between Germany and African countries. Join us for a deep dive into history over 140 years back - be our guest and sign up soon. Space is limited – first come, first served.
RSVP before February 19 by email to: [email protected]

14/02/2025

SLADEA stands as a beacon of hope and creativity, dedicated to nurturing the voices and visions of Sierra Leonean filmmakers. Through mentorship, resources, and unwavering support, we empower storytellers to illuminate the richness of our culture, challenge boundaries, and inspire change. Together, we are building a legacy of cinematic excellence that resonates across the globe.