News
HRH begins his tour in Sierra Leone
27th November 2006
The Prince of Wales was welcomed to Sierra Leone today with a vibrant performance of music, song and dance.
His Royal Highness was visiting the former British colony for the first time as part of an African tour that will also include Nigeria.
The Prince is visiting on behalf of the UK to highlight the partnership between the two countries and show support for the nation's reconstruction efforts after a decade of fighting between rebels and government forces left the infrastructure and economy devastated.
The visit is the first by a member of the British Royal Family since The Queen visited in 1961, the year Sierra Leone achieved independence.
A vibrant cultural reception was held at Freetown golf club in honour of The Prince's visit.
The reception celebrated traditional and modern elements of Sierra Leone culture and included a performance by the National Dance Group of Sierra Leone with drummers in national colours, green, blue and white and female dancers in gold and white dresses.
When The Prince was offered a pair of drumsticks he happily joined in, beating out a rhythm while the dancers performed.
With other guests, including the British High Commissioner Sarah MacIntosh and national politicians, The Prince watched a specially commissioned play by the Freetown Players about the deforestation of the country's rainforests.
The Prince also toured a number of displays in the grounds of the golf club highlighting the republic's heritage, wildlife and environment and the work of organisations fighting to improve the lives of the disabled.
The Prince was impressed by fascinating artefacts from the country's national museum which included a traditional African drum, a carved mask featuring a woman's face and examples of Country Cloth – a hardwearing fabric made from wild cotton that is much stronger than European materials.
The Prince also saw a carving depicting the British Royal Family at leisure.
The wooden sculpture showed The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh with their children The Prince of Wales, The Princess Royal and The Duke of York. Three of The Queen's corgis also featured in the carving.
Celia Nicol, curator of the Sierra Leone National Museum who pointed out the artwork to The Prince said: "The Prince said the carving brought back fond memories of when he was a young boy and he said he was very fond of the dogs."
Earlier in the day, The Prince received a ceremonial welcome to the country when he was greeted by The President of Sierra Leone, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah as he stepped off his plane onto the tarmac at Lungi airport just outside the capital.
A ceremonial Calabash, a polished gourd, was presented to The Prince on behalf of The President.
The Prince and The President stood still under hazy skies and in hot and humid conditions as their respective national anthems were played.
An honour guard of Sierra Leone forces was inspected by The Prince before he travelled into the capital to begin his tour.
In the evening, The Prince made a speech at a reception held at The President’s Lodge in Freetown attended by government ministers, religious leaders and other leading members of the community.
The Prince told the assembled guests Britain had a special bond with Sierra Leone.
He said: "Our two nations, two Commonwealth partners share a long and close friendship and I know only too well within the lifetime of everyone here Sierra Leone has suffered so deeply and so tragically."
The Prince said it was "heartbreaking for people like myself to watch it happen".
During the civil war in the diamond-rich country, tens of thousands were killed and around two thirds of the population of more than five million were displaced.
The Prince said: "Already today amongst the groups of people I've met I've seen encouraging evidence of the new Sierra Leone determined to turn away from those dark years.
"I realise how immense and overwhelming the challenges you face in trying to rebuild this country and rebuild its economy.
"I realise too how urgently you need to attract new investment."
The UK is the republic's largest bilateral development partner, spending £40 million a year in the country. The Prince told the audience eco-tourism would probably have an important role to play in the economic future of the country.
The Prince went on to praise the "truly remarkable" role British Armed Forces played in helping to bring peace and stability to the country towards the end of the civil war but he highlighted that Sierra Leone still faced serious problems - "poverty, troubled justice system and scarce economic opportunities".
President Kabbah told The Prince in his address: "Your visit is the clear indication of the special relationship that exists between the people of Sierra Leone and Great Britain spanning a period of 200 years."
He added: "Although your stay will be brief we hope it will create lasting memories, friendship, trust and goodwill between our two countries."