Sabewo Cultural Performing Arts Foundation

Her songs advocating for violence against women and political oppression are all worth fighting for. Memoire of my mother,
Sabewo's Cultural Performing Arts Foundation. Sabewo, the tiny woman with the huge voice, had a melodious voice that rocked the Kpai mende regions of Moyamba district, Sierra Leone and beyond in the 1960s to early 1980s. She was my mother and mother to all. To me, she was n

ot just an ordinary entertainer in cultural performing arts. She was also a humanitarian who dedicated and spent most of her life time randomly adopting children, mostly less privileged children with or without parents within the family and beyond. I admired my mother most for her huge passion for feeding the hungry, sheltering strangers and building houses with her own bare hands, using local materials just to accommodate people. She also loved to provide befitting funeral rites for those who needed it, without questions. Her generosity, humbleness and sense of humor across all ages are testimonies you may hear about throughout her hometown, Mano Dasse, and beyond. My mother never had any formal education, yet she strongly valued education. Her strong determination and priority to give me the best education she never had, compelled her to give me up for adoption to someone she dearly trusted. Unfortunately, that decision changed our lives for the worse. It was a decision that, I believe, she regretted for the rest of her life. My mother was fearless, bold and brave enough to break traditional barriers and myths stemming from generations back. For example, women were condemned, marginalized and demoralized in society by men for becoming musicians, or engaging in other performing arts activities. Women in entertainment were considered defiant and not fit to become housewives or mothers and mother would always say this in her songs. One such lyric stated, "they say women who sing can never bear children, but I thank God I have one I call ‘ngela lui’, meaning an only child. She was ridiculed and humiliated at a point in her life during her musical career, when she was struggling with infertility. She once mentioned to me that having me in her life completely changed her entire life and career. My mother was a strong and liberated woman who spent most of her lifetime living single by choice and, I believe, this was to have complete control over her life and career. Her strength as a single mother never once changed her passion for adopting other children, and hosting perfect strangers unconditionally. This, clearly taught me to be humble, loving, and to never judge people regardless of their situations. She also taught me to always work hard and be independent, believe in myself, never give up on my dreams, and always do my best in anything I do. My mother was very intelligent and naturally talented. She composed, memorized, and produced all of her own songs in her native Mende dialect without writing them on paper. She used her dance floor to be an advocate and spoke her mind in parables with an ultimate goal to promote justice for all and to stop violence against women, gender inequality and political oppression. Her braveness and courage to excel in her performing arts career beyond all odds against women was an inspiration to me. She mentored and empowered so many single mothers through music to become independent, self sustainable, and never stay in abusive relationships. My mother had zero tolerant for violence against women, and she was never hesitant to defend women against violent men. My mother’s strong belief and passion in preserving and maintaining her cultural values, also inspired me to become who I am today; an African dancer, humanitarian, philanthropist and a spokeswoman for sexual violence against women. I am , therefore, also using my dancefloor to establish this foundation in order to maintain, and continue teaching our rich cultural values, and her humanitarian legacies. Every cause she stood up for, and worked so hard for, are all worth fighting for. Though Sabewo is gone, together, we can all help continue her legacy, keep her dreams alive, and make the World a better place. This is Sabewo’s Legacy and I officially welcome you all to Sabewo Cultural Performing Arts Foundation.