Hello everyone!

From Winnipeg, Canada, respect to all my fam, fans, and friends.

The weekend vibes are here – the Golden Child back after three weeks on holidays, SALNAM Awards Nite 2023 & Bubas & Jane’s traditional wedding happening tonight, Buhari Bello passes away in China, APC/SLPP tussle in the question of the day, plus lots more. You're about to read another bone-cracking edition of “Behind the Scenes". This column is the radical thoughts of one guy called Lans Omar aka the “Golden Child” - born and raised in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Let's do this: Hey fellas, first, I must say I missed all of you and the weekly responses and reactions I get from writing this column. It has been a pleasure for me writing this column and disseminating news and stories to the Sierra Leonean communities for over a quarter of a century, yes 25yrs, since the days of Concord Times in Freetown. Anyways, for the past three weeks, I was on holidaying and criss-crossing three major cites in the US and Canada. Three weeks ago, I was in Minneapolis, in the US, for a cousin’s wedding. The event was totally off the hook. The other week after that, I was in Toronto, Canada, for Caribana; the parade is the biggest street festival in North America with over two million (2,000,000) people on the streets of downtown Toronto for the festival. I had a blast. Last weekend, I quickly run in and out of Grand Forks, North Dakota to get some blazers at JC Penny and grab some goodies from the stores.

I’m back again in the city and rolling the dice with all the latest entertainment, political and cultural news for you all. Stay tuned.

Switching gears: Both the SALNAM Awards Nite 2023 & Abu Bubas & Jane’s traditional wedding are happening tonight in Winnipeg, Canada. SALNAM had initially moved the August 5, 2023 scheduled date to accommodate the United Madingo Association of Canada convention in Winnipeg. The SALNAM awards nite will be held at the Nor-Villa Hotel at 1763 Henderson Highway, Winnipeg, MB., tonight, commencing at 7:00pm till 1:00am. Abu Bubase and Jane’s traditional wedding will also take place this evening in Winnipeg, MB., starting at 6:00pm. This traditional wedding is strictly by invitation.
Next stop: On Tuesday August 8, 2023, the call came at exactly 11:00pm from Shenzhen, China (it was Wednesday morning August 9, 2023 in Shenzhen, China). The caller wasted no time in telling me: “Lans Omar, this is not the good news, Buhari Bello just died at the hospital”. I froze; a cold chill run down up my spine. I held the phone for over twenty seconds without saying a word. Buhari is gone – gone too soon. For the first time in years, I cried, I wept like a baby, I cried! I cried! I called him Bellman, rest in peace Bellman.

If you’re wondering who Alhaji Buhari Bello was – BellMan was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone into a strong Islamic home to a Nigerian father and a Sierra Leone mom. He was a pioneer member of the teenage-idol dance group, the Great American Tourists and a member of the London, UK, based Afro Arts Productions. Bellman’s sense of fashion was unmatched to anyone in the past, present, and most definitely in the future. Up to the time of his passing, BellMan was a devout Muslim who observed his five daily prayers. For the past twenty years, he was living in China and doing international business. On that fateful August 8, 2023, he had a heart attack and passed away at the hospital where medical expects tried to resuscitate him, but Allah’s calling cannot be denied. Take your rest Bellman; rest in peace my childhood brother/friend!

Question: How far now? Lol. Just checking with the APC protests of not participating in the parliamentary process in Sierra Leone. Nar buff case ya. In the third world, especially the Sub-Sahara regions of Africa, and especially West Africa, if you play dumb in a presidential elections and results were announced, you’ll have to go tell it to the birds, wait another five years or simply go bury your dead. Nar buff case APC, Oona sleep nar oona wing.

Finally: Again, the weekend is here! SALNAM awards nite, Bubas & Jane's traditional wedding and Lance Kon's baby's 1st birthday this afternoon at the park. I'll be attending all the events.

Fellas, if you’re partying this weekend, please be careful. You know the rules – If you’re drinking, don’t drive – if you’re driving, don’t drink. Have a great weekend! Lonta.

I'm out of here!  

Cheers fellas!

The Golden Child.